Aeroponics Method Build: 1 Powerful Option

Aeroponics Method Build Intro

This Aeroponics Method Build is extremely similar to our Deep Water Culture(DWC) build, the only difference is the nutrient water delivery system. With the DWC system, the water stays in the reservoir and the roots grow down into it. With the Aeroponics Method Build the nutrient water is sprayed up onto the roots, then drips back down into the reservoir. 

Aeroponics Method Build in a storage container, We use a Totes or similar storage container with a lid.  Make sure the container is as tall as you can find for its overall dimensions. You don’t want the plant roots to reach the nutrient water solution until harvest time. 

Need more info or are not sure how to proceed? Take a step back and learn more about Aeroponics or check out some other Aeroponics designs before you jump in to start your build.

Aeroponics Method Build in a Storage Container

Materials

• 27 Gallon Reservoir, or similar size (or choose 1 of the following options)
  • Non-transparent or translucent Totes or storage container (Size will depend on what is locally available, how much room you have, and your garden plan)
    • You will always want to select a none transparent or translucent reservoir in order to limit light getting to your nutrient solution as this will cause algae growth.
    • Can I use a fish tank if I already have one? (Sure, why not? This selection could make your Deep Water Culture System an Aquaponics System! Just don’t select large plants or you won’t be able to lift the styrofoam lid to service and feed the fish!
    • If you choose a reservoir or container that has holes in the base for lid-locking handles, remove and caulk or it will make a mess when the system is on.
• Submersible Water Pump
• 1/2″ Black Water tubing
• (1) 1/2″ x 10′ schedule 40 PVC pipe 
• (4) 1/2″ schedule 40  90 degree elbows
• (1) 1/2″ schedule 40 “Tee”
• (1) Spears 474 Series PVC Pipe Fitting, Adapter, Schedule 40, White, 1/2″Barbed x 1/2″ Socket
• Net cups
  • 2″ – 3″  or 4″ (Net cup size will depend on the size of your reservoir, and plants selection)
    • 2″ lettuce, Greens, Herbs
    • 3″ Kale, Chard, larger greens
    • 4″ Larger and Vining vegetables
• Air pump (aquarium or other) This one comes with 2 air hoses, check valves, and air stones 
• Air hose (Usually comes with the air pump)
• Check valve (Comes with better quality air pumps)
• Airstone (Comes with some air pumps. Get the biggest one your reservoir and air pump can handle)
• Distilled or Filtered Water (preferably reverse osmosis filtered)
• Raindrip 360JET010B Full Circle Stream Micro Spray Jets, 10 Per Bag, Red
• Raindrip 180JET010B Half Circle Micro Spray Fan Jets, 10 Per Bag, Blue
• Plants
  • Fresh Plant cutting (if you are cloning a plant)
  • Seedling
  • Seeds in a net pot and Rapid Rooter starter plugs  (These work amazing! But, If you find them a little too expensive you can use the stone wool starter cubes)

Tools

• Power drill
• PVC Pipe Cutter
• Hole saw Match your net cup size selection. This may be more difficult than it seems as the exact hole saw size you need may not come in your hole saw kit. See more details in the instructions below.
• 1/4″ Drill bit for wood or plastic. The size of this hole will depend upon the diameter of the air tubing you have purchased.
• Razer or Exacto knife  to cut tubing

Instructions

Reservoir

• Clean the selected reservoir. Be careful with your cleaning solution here. Don’t use anything you would not use to clean your own drinking glass. We like to use clean water with a little Hydrogen peroxide. It’s best to follow the manufactures instructions as each bottle is sold with different strength percentages.

Assemble 

• Assemble the spray manifold according to this diagram.
• These diagrams show directions for a 10 hole/net pot configuration.
• If you use the 20 hole template (below) you will need 1 more center PVC pipe. 2 more PVC Tees and 2 additional 360-degree sprayers.
• Spray nozzles point down.
• Make the outer connections first and check for fit inside the reservoir, then add the inner pieces.

• 1/2″ pipe length measurements will vary depending on the size of your reservoir.
• Measure and cut to size or cut a little larger and trim as needed for a tight fit.
• Make the outer side of the manifold large enough to fit snug against the inside of the reservoir about 2″ down from the top of the reservoir
• Make sure the PVC pipe slides into the fittings most of the way to make a good seal after gluing. make a mark with a dry erase marker at every glue joint to indicate exactly how far each PVC pipe is inserted into each fitting. (The glue makes it easier for the pipes to slide in further than originally measured for and your manifold can get misshapen or off on size if you don’t do this) Make the entire manifold first before gluing together. Make sure you push the pipes into the fitting only up to your dry erase marker marks so the fit is the same. 
• Make sure the PVC pipe slides into the fittings most of the way to make a good seal after gluing. make a mark with a dry erase marker at every glue joint to indicate exactly how far each PVC pipe is inserted into each fitting. (The glue makes it easier for the pipes to slide in further than originally measured for and your manifold can get misshapen or off on size if you don’t do this) Make the entire manifold first before gluing together. Make sure you push the pipes into the fitting only up to your dry erase marker marks so the fit is the same. 

• Lay the manifold over your lid and mark rough locations for the center of each of the holes to be drilled for the net cups.
• Refine the locations with one of the templates in the next section

Cut

• Layout and Mark net pot hole locations (Here are 2 layout options.) These layouts are set up for the Homz Tough Durabilt Tote Box, 27 Gallon, Stackable, 2 Pack, Black/Yellow. You may have to rescale and /or print multiple pages to get it to fit right for your selected reservoir) No need to engineer this or be super critical here. If you have space between each plant and the edges of your reservoir your plants will be fine.

• Drill Holes in the lid with a hole saw. The size will depend on your net cup size selection. Remember, the drilled hole size needs to be the diameter of the net cup just before the lip (or flange) at the top. Don’t make it too big or the net cups will fall through the holes. (running the drill backward at a slow speed will make it easier and won’t destroy your delicate styrofoam. You can use a razor knife here as well, but be extremely careful!)

• Mark and Drill a 1/4″  Hole for the air hose in one of the corners.

Place 

• Place the reservoir in its permanent location
• Place your net cups into each drilled hole
• Push the air hose through the 1/4″ hole

Fill

• Fill the reservoir with filtered water (Make sure the water  level touches the bottom of the net cups when the styrofoam is placed on top of the reservoir)
• Add nutrients as per manufacture instructions
  • Pre mixed Nutrients are easier to use
  • Later you can learn how to use dry nutrient ingredients and mix yourself. They are cheaper to purchase and easier to store.
• Check pH
  • pH will rise or drop after adding the nutrients (usually drop)
  • Adjust the water pH with pH up or pH down to read about 5.8 to 6 

Connect

• Cut a small 6″ or so length of hose and connect to the air pump
• Connect the end of the air hose inside the container to the air stone
• Connect the outside end of the air hose to the check valve. Look closely on the check valve to see an indicator on the side indicating the proper direction of the flow of air and position the direction of the check valve accordingly.  Note that the air flows from the air pump to the air stone inside the container. If you are uncertain, you can blow through the valve one side at a time. One side will be more restrictive. That is the side that will connect to the hose or tubing that goes to the airstone.

• Connect the check valve to the small 6″ piece of hose already connected to the air pump.

Plant

Option 1 – Seedlings

• Put your plants into each net cup

• Fill each cup with the medium of your choice (we like using expanded clay pebbles)

Option 2 – Starter plugs and seeds

• Seeds in a starter plug
• Put Starter plug in a net pot and fill with the rest of the space with medium

Learn more

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