Aeroflo, How do roots get oxygen?

Im thinking about making my own. Ok so i know the sprays are facing down spraying the roots but how do the roots get oxygen. I was thinking about putting airstones but the water drains in a aeroflo system so the airstones are no good. How do the roots get oxygen in an aeroflo system.

Plants in an aero systems where the roots are suspended in air take in over 99% of their oxygen from the air in contact with the roots, ie the DO (dissolved oxygen) in the nutrient water provides oxygen to the roots that are actually in/under water. True aero systems are in general more efficient for this reason, and are followed by well draining inert hydro sytems such as Ebb and flow etc. No small tube aero and NTF are not true aero. The concentration of oxygen dissolved in hydroponic water is generally between 2 and 10 ppm, whereas the concentration of oxygen in water is about 270,000 ppm.

You put your airstones or aerator pumps in the aeroflo (or DIY system)
reservoir. And yes, you do need them (as well as the turbulence from the water return itself) for good oxygenation.

Hidden Dragon said:

You put your airstones or aerator pumps in the aeroflo (or DIY system)
reservoir. And yes, you do need them (as well as the turbulence from the water return itself) for good oxygenation.

Click to expand...

Actually the best option is a needle wheel pump as used by reef aquarists for protein skimmers: http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=PS-SM3500-RP

or simply install a venturi valve on a submersible pump.
http://www.aquariumguys.com/turboventuri1.htmlor
or
http://www.petsolutions.com/Turbo-Venturi-Valve+I12515435+C1.aspx

All of these work better than air stones or a simple pump.

The above will assure your reservoir water has the highest possibe DO level so as to provide the best conditions for the roots that are hanging down into the water. Air stones really are not good at boosting the DO unless they provide alot of turbulence at the waters surface. That is not likely to happen with roots in the water. The needle whheel pump and the venturi both put huge amounts of very small bubbles into the water. This provides a much greater DO boost to the water regardless of the roots being in the water as it does not matter if the waters surface becomes turbulent. Airstones and air wands produce too few bubbles and the bubbles are too large.