aeroponics and roots submerging in water

It seems to me that most aeroponics systems that once the roots become vertically long enough that eventually they become submerged in water. Wouldn't a better design be to have a secondary container to act as the water reservoir? If you watch seemorebuds vol. 1 where they use an aquamist system you can see exactly what I'm talking about.

So here's a very basic concept I drew with mspaint. With a drain tube to a secondary container that houses the pump, water/nutrients.



What do you guys think of the idea?

Any input well appreciated.

that would work fine. only 2 problems I see are:
1) height, it detracts from room to grow if you have normal ceilings. and 2) roots could clog the hole where the drain hose is, causing the whole thing to flood.

YaK said:

that would work fine. only 2 problems I see are:
1) height, it detracts from room to grow if you have normal ceilings. and 2) roots could clog the hole where the drain hose is, causing the whole thing to flood.

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Thanks for the input about the drain being possibly clogged. I will take that into consideration. The height issue isn't really a problem because the ceilings are pretty high, and I dont plan to grow 8ft monsters but more numerous shorter plants.

An advantage that just came to mind about going this route would be the ease you can check the reservoir levels/ph, etc

HSM747 said:

Thanks for the input about the drain being possibly clogged. I will take that into consideration. The height issue isn't really a problem because the ceilings are pretty high, and I dont plan to grow 8ft monsters but more numerous shorter plants.

An advantage that just came to mind about going this route would be the ease you can check the reservoir levels/ph, etc

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I've used an aero tub before, to check PH/PPM levels, I got a spout that they use for 5 gallon bottled water, like a tap, it has a rubber seal on both sides. I'd pour some res water in a cup, test it, then dump it back in.

The drain hose clogging could be a big issue, but you could probably put a safety measure in by putting an upright safety drain hose up to about the middle or upper third of the container holding the plant roots, if the main drain hole clogged and water rose up, it'd act like a safety and I'm sure you'd catch that before it had a chance to clog as well.

it's doable, and a good idea, go for it, let us know how it works.

definitly works well, but like yak said, those tubs are about 16-22" tall, therefore making the unit 32-44"tall

Wouldn't the plants roots be happy in aerated neuts? That way it's like a little Aero and a little DWC?

StreetRider said:

Wouldn't the plants roots be happy in aerated neuts? That way it's like a little Aero and a little DWC?

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I would think that a pure aeroponics system would be better. I could be wrong.

roots dont really care about hanging in the water. i had an aero unit where half the roots would just hang in there. typically the water is aerated enough from the misters to provide enough oxygen to the submerged roots. you can also add an airstone if you want to get more

I do not use DWC, but it would seem to me that if it was done perfect it would allow the plant to feed the most.

StreetRider said:

I do not use DWC, but it would seem to me that if it was done perfect it would allow the plant to feed the most.

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I'm not even having to change water, now. In my DWC system the plants are taking up every bit of water and nutes. Every three to four days I have to refill the reservoirs, because there's only about 1/4" of water left. the temps never get above 80.