Dilemma (Bubbleponics OR Aeroponics?)

I pretty much have everything else I need either here or on the way.

Now I just need to finally decide on what system I will go with so I can get busy building it.

I can't really find all the answers I am looking for via the search function, so I am going to ask for a little help in making my decision.

1st of all, my goal(s). I am not going to grow commercially, but I would like a nice constant personal supply for myself and a few friends. So I want an effective system that I can eventually implement a SOG and have a steady and hefty supply.

That being said, I am trying to set up a system that I can continue to use as I gain experience. In other words I want the most EFFECTIVE, not merely the easiest for a 1st timer.

So I am trying to decide between a "Bubbleponics" system, an "Aeroponics" system, or possibly some combination of more than one system.

So onto my questions:

Aeroponics:
#1. Would it make any sense to combine an aeroponics system with misters/sprayers on the inside AND a drip system running in from the top? Or is that just redundant?

Reason I ask is because I am starting from seeds and I am not sure if the sprayers would be sufficient enough for the beginning until I can get some root development. AND maybe it would be beneficial throughout as well?

OR

combining it with a DWC?

#2. Do I still need air pumps in an aeroponics system? And if so, do I just use it in the reservoir to oxygenate the water prior to it spraying/misting out?

#3. What is the best ON/OFF cycle for the sprayers/dripper? On for 30 seconds and off for 3 minutes is what I have read a few times, bt then again I think I have also read that some people leave their sprayers/misters on 24/7?? And assuming it made since to include a drip system as well, what would the on/off be on that (same as the misting?)??

Onto the Bubbleponics setup.

#1. I am heavily leaning towards the aeroponic system, but I was wondering if I could achieve the same results with a bubbleponics system? It seems easier to set up and maintain, but again, I don't want to sacrifice my end results.



thanks in advance!

I would do bubble ponics because all irragation is left on 24/7 it's simple but effective just use a sog method and have at least one momma plant take two clones a week veg them for 3 weeks then flower for 9 weeks and boom you have a constant supply of weed

Just to be different, have you considered a flood table SOG? It would be more expandable later on than a bubbleponic system. I'm growing bubble but am thinking about flood due to the more plants and easy SOG

edit: It's hard to say without actually doing both with a mother plant which I haven't. I hear a lot that bubbleponic is best but I hear aeroponic people say that thats the best in various ways. As far as I know aero uses jets to periodically spray a mixed solution on the roots. So I think you could bubbleponic the bottom inch of the roots or so and aero the top roots. It seems like a waste of time because roots either suck air or water so if you put air roots in water too long I think they could die.

I prefer aero though bubble is good. With aero tubs ( I have a how to build these tutorial posted on this sites with pictures) its the fastest way to grow and very simple. just keep the water at ph 5.5 and your ppm in the nute charts levels and your good.You leave the misters on 24/7 no cycleing in these setups as growth and yield is better if left on all the time. An air stone is nice to keep the nutrient solution moving and mixed but not necessary.I hand water first few days if using a new clone or seed til roots hang through the net pots

FilthyFletch said:

I prefer aero though bubble is good. With aero tubs ( I have a how to build these tutorial posted on this sites with pictures) its the fastest way to grow and very simple. just keep the water at ph 5.5 and your ppm in the nute charts levels and your good.You leave the misters on 24/7 no cycleing in these setups as growth and yield is better if left on all the time. An air stone is nice to keep the nutrient solution moving and mixed but not necessary.I hand water first few days if using a new clone or seed til roots hang through the net pots

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Do you have a ink to that DIY thread? I would really like to see it.

So once the roots hang through then no need to water the top, right? How often do you water from the top for those 1st few days, once a day?

thank you

DarkSun said:

Just to be different, have you considered a flood table SOG? It would be more expandable later on than a bubbleponic system. I'm growing bubble but am thinking about flood due to the more plants and easy SOG

edit: It's hard to say without actually doing both with a mother plant which I haven't. I hear a lot that bubbleponic is best but I hear aeroponic people say that thats the best in various ways. As far as I know aero uses jets to periodically spray a mixed solution on the roots. So I think you could bubbleponic the bottom inch of the roots or so and aero the top roots. It seems like a waste of time because roots either suck air or water so if you put air roots in water too long I think they could die.

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So a flood table would work best with an SOG? This 1st time I am growing from seed, but I plan to run a SOG from there on out. I want to set up whatever is best for the long term.

One thing I wonder about with an Aero system is related to your point. Even though the tub/tubes are angled and the water mostly drains out, once the roots get full and sit on the bottom, water would naturally get caught in the mix. Couldn't this drown them? Or is there not enough pooling to harm them (anyone?)

thank you!

ForbiddenFruit said:

Do you have a ink to that DIY thread? I would really like to see it.

So once the roots hang through then no need to water the top, right? How often do you water from the top for those 1st few days, once a day?

thank you



So a flood tale would work best with an SOG? This 1st time I am growing from seed, but I plan to run a SOG from there on out. I want to set up whatever is best for the long term.

One thing I wonder about with an Aero system is related to your point. Even though the tub/tubes are angled and the water mostly drains out, once the roots get full and sit on the bottom, water would naturally get caught in the mix. Couldn't this drown them? Or is there not enough pooling to harm them (anyone?)

thank you!

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I'm on my first grow that will be successful and it's a bubbleponic. I think bubbleponic is a good starting point for soilless but my next grow I'm going slightly more commercial. I'm investing into a cool tube and making a flood table so I can get roughly 30 plants at about I'm hoping 1 oz dry each.

With bubbleponics you're going to need a fish air stone and an air pump to aerate the water. You have to keep your rockwool or other medium slightly wet constantly so you might wanna invest or build a top drip system.

DarkSun said:

I'm on my first grow that will be successful and it's a bubbleponic. I think bubbleponic is a good starting point for soilless but my next grow I'm going slightly more commercial. I'm investing into a cool tube and making a flood table so I can get roughly 30 plants at about I'm hoping 1 oz dry each.

With bubbleponics you're going to need a fish air stone and an air pump to aerate the water. You have to keep your rockwool or other medium slightly wet constantly so you might wanna invest or build a top drip system.

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Well, I am not going to go HUGE myself, but I would like to go "commercial" as well, in that I want to use the most effective system possible. I mean this is not going to be a small closet grow.

Sounds like I will need an airpump with an aeroponic system as well, from what I have read. A bit unclear on that actually. I've seen some people say there is no need and others who suggest it. It's cheap, so I guess if there is any benefit to it at all, then it's worth it.

As for keeping the rockwool wet, would that be accomplished to a satisfactory level with the sprayers in an aeroponic system?

thanks again

I can only assume that EVERYONE sprays the foliage on the plants regardless of the system they are using. I wonder how often that should be done?

the jets might get the rockwool wet as well. I assume you'd need an air stone for aero because of the nutrients that drip down into the container that the roots will be eventually going down into. You could have it all pumped/drained into a seperate reservoir lower than the aero tub though.

I'm a closet grower but my closet is 8 feet long and 3 feet wide. If I'm going to waste that closet on a grow I might as well use it ALL with light movers

I spray my plants every night alternating with regular water, peroxide and water, and epsom salt. Never water them with the same thing twice in a row. You only really need to spray them every couple days though

DarkSun said:

I spray my plants every night alternating with regular water, peroxide and water, and epsom salt. Never water them with the same thing twice in a row. You only really need to spray them every couple days though

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Interesting.. I have never heard that before. Glad you told me. Any particular reason for this OR is that just the best way based on your experience?

thanks

ForbiddenFruit said:

Interesting.. I have never heard that before. Glad you told me. Any particular reason for this OR is that just the best way based on your experience?

thanks

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a close work friend who's ex used to grow told me that. I think she was talking more about epsom salt every night though. Peroxide is nice to kill anything on the plant and water is a good break between the two I think

edit and peroxide in the water will make more oxygen making your plants more perky happy looking

ForbiddenFruit said:

I can only assume that EVERYONE sprays the foliage on the plants regardless of the system they are using. I wonder how often that should be done?

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Fletch: Yopu would be wrong on this assumption as most people do not spray plants ever unless using a hormone additive or for pest control which if this has to be done lights out is when to do this as misting plants isnt a good thing to do.....Heres the link to the diy aero tub i posted

https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/22362-30-minute-6-plant-aero.html

and then here was a post showing my mini flood table setups I build.. https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/118590-new-item-mini-flood-table.html


""Disclaimer- I am not trying to sell my products here i am just responding to a question and showing options this is not an ad selling these so before some jerk off says stop peddling my products I am just showing options people pm for questions on anything" sorry had to add that if I show anything i make or sell there are like 5 thread nazis who get their panties in a bunch...Both these setups work great for tight areas..The flood table is good for a sog garden though

FilthyFletch said:

Fletch: Yopu would be wrong on this assumption as most people do not spray plants ever unless using a hormone additive or for pest control which if this has to be done lights out is when to do this as misting plants isnt a good thing to do.....Heres the link to the diy aero tub i posted

https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/22362-30-minute-6-plant-aero.html

and then here was a post showing my mini flood table setups I build.. https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/118590-new-item-mini-flood-table.html


""Disclaimer- I am not trying to sell my products here i am just responding to a question and showing options this is not an ad selling these so before some jerk off says stop peddling my products I am just showing options people pm for questions on anything" sorry had to add that if I show anything i make or sell there are like 5 thread nazis who get their panties in a bunch...Both these setups work great for tight areas..The flood table is good for a sog garden though

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lol Nice disclaimer.. I have seen you catching hell elsewhere.. I for one appreciate your taking the time to help me out and took it NO other way. Really nice of you.

I decided to take 3-50 gallon roughnecks and I will put them side by side (which will make the whole thing 4' wide and 6' long). Run some misters through each of them and put a separate reservoir (18-30 gallon should be enough to feed all 3 PVC systems, right?). I figured that 3 of these would be easier and better than running fence posts. Hope my thoughts were right. Think I should be able to fit 15-20 plants per 50 gallon bin. Sound about right to you?

BTW I bought 4 different kind of misters/sprayers and will be making a thread tonight asking people which they think would be best.. I would really appreciate your thoughts on that as well.

again.. thank you very much. I appreciate and respect your opinion/thoughts.

So 4 500 gallon tubs and one 18-30 gallon res???? thats not gonna work out. First i assume your gonna have the tubs elevated then as your gonna want the water to drain from each tub back via hose to the res. unless your drain is in the bottom of each tub figure eash will hold 3 gallons of water as it does its drain so thats 15 gallon now you have to have enough water and reserve to match your misters and pump so figurethe misters are like 5 gallon or 5 GPH and lets say each tube has like 12 so that 60 times 12 or 720 gallons per hour so dive that by 48 misters you get 15 gallons just to fill the misters now add 12 for the water each tub has built up during use thats 15 plus 12 so thats 27 gallons plus now add about 5 gallons for the run of pvc and hoses so your at 32 gallons and your gonna want about 10-15 gallons more in the res so the pump is always submerged and as the plants drink the water wont go so fast along with evaporation which will make your ph a nightmare sothat qbout 45 gallons then you want a bit of space so your res isnt filled to the top rim so say a 50 gallon res would be needed for safe. i use a 60 gallon for my fence post aero setup with 32 plants and they drink alot daily when growing so i ad 15 gallons roughly every 2 days... as far as misters you want the red ones made for aero and clone macxhines. The kind fromwal mart or lowes or home depot wont work. Things to avoid are spinners and the round cyclinder 360 kind that are usually red and blue and have little holes all around the edges. Also figure into your pump size your rise and lift of hose to the units so you get enough extra pump to push the pressure

FilthyFletch said:

So 4 500 gallon tubs and one 18-30 gallon res???? thats not gonna work out. First i assume your gonna have the tubs elevated then as your gonna want the water to drain from each tub back via hose to the res. unless your drain is in the bottom of each tub figure eash will hold 3 gallons of water as it does its drain so thats 15 gallon now you have to have enough water and reserve to match your misters and pump so figurethe misters are like 5 gallon or 5 GPH and lets say each tube has like 12 so that 60 times 12 or 720 gallons per hour so dive that by 48 misters you get 15 gallons just to fill the misters now add 12 for the water each tub has built up during use thats 15 plus 12 so thats 27 gallons plus now add about 5 gallons for the run of pvc and hoses so your at 32 gallons and your gonna want about 10-15 gallons more in the res so the pump is always submerged and as the plants drink the water wont go so fast along with evaporation which will make your ph a nightmare sothat qbout 45 gallons then you want a bit of space so your res isnt filled to the top rim so say a 50 gallon res would be needed for safe. i use a 60 gallon for my fence post aero setup with 32 plants and they drink alot daily when growing so i ad 15 gallons roughly every 2 days... as far as misters you want the red ones made for aero and clone macxhines. The kind fromwal mart or lowes or home depot wont work. Things to avoid are spinners and the round cyclinder 360 kind that are usually red and blue and have little holes all around the edges. Also figure into your pump size your rise and lift of hose to the units so you get enough extra pump to push the pressure

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2-50 gallon tubs.. Maybe 3.

And yes, I will now get another 50 to use as a reservoir, thanks to your advice! The water pump I have is 550GPH. I hope that's enough. In the end I will probably just have 2-50 gall tubs per reservoir.

If you happen to come back and if you have a moment, please take a quick look here: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/233933-spinners-sprayers-use-pics.html and let me know if you think ANY of the following sprayers/misters are OK. I was hoping that at least one of them would be good, since I can pick them all up locally.

And yes, I plan to put the drain at the very bottom of each tub. I don't want to have any water accumulating in the main tubs.

thanks again for your time/response

can you transfer a plant in a 5 inch net pot in an aeroponics table using hydroton as its medium and move it from one foom to another for their cycles and also if so is cutting roots possible