How many holes (StinkBud) in the PVC posts, if I want to max out?!

Hi everyone,

I am, finally, assembling my systems. I am using the most up-to-date StinkBuds book, in which he advises to cut 3 holes per post. I have noticed that in his first version he used the same length post, pretty much the same amount of sprayers (7 former, 6 latter, different spread distances); but he had 7 holes in the post.

I would imagine that 7 must be overcrowded, therefore he reduced. However, 3 seems very little (nice spacing though). I think he did that to comply with the local law allowance.

I would like to run around 4 or 5, rather 5. I would like to ask experienced Aero growers: What's the optimum amount of holes?

My res is 106L; the length of the post is 50", but the dedicated area for holes (where the sprayers will be) is 40".



Thanks everyone!

I imagine it would be the same answer as any how many plants scenario. It depends on how you plan to grow them

For holes for the sprayers ... It depends on your pump.

If you're running the red EZ sprayers as he uses, the common guideline is that these take ~20 GPH to run each, so if you have a 200 GPH pump, use 10 EZ sprayers.

For the post ... it depends on grow room size and how you grow.

I'd recommend approximately 1'4-6" square per plant, but that's because i manage my ladies differently to most. 40" for 5 plants equates to 8" per plant so may be pushing it a little. I'd stick to 4 per post unless you've got experience with a ScrOG and you're good at canopy management.

Hope this helps!

rambotheman said:

For holes for the sprayers ... It depends on your pump.

If you're running the red EZ sprayers as he uses, the common guideline is that these take ~20 GPH to run each, so if you have a 200 GPH pump, use 10 EZ sprayers.

For the post ... it depends on grow room size and how you grow.

I'd recommend approximately 1'4-6" square per plant, but that's because i manage my ladies differently to most. 40" for 5 plants equates to 8" per plant so may be pushing it a little. I'd stick to 4 per post unless you've got experience with a ScrOG and you're good at canopy management.

Hope this helps!

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Thanks. Yes, I have the red cloner-sprayers. I have 470 gph pump. That pump will be supplying 2 posts. I'll have 7 sprayers in each post, so 14 sprayers per pump. That should be okay.

Yes, I will stick to 4. thanks.

[QUOTE=" It depends on how you plan to grow them[/QUOTE]

Not entirely sure what you mean.

Fuck it, I'm not gonna be greedy and will go with 3 holes as instructed; I don't wanna lose pressure! I would have to add 4 more sprayers per system to have good coverage.

I run 3 rail systems with 4 plants & 4 sprayers per rail. The rails are about 48"-50" long. I did 7 per rail on first design and it was way too crowded, I got more yield and much less work when I went to 4 per rail. I am seriously considering 9-10 spots instead of 12 on my new system I am building now. If you need help I have lots of rail experience.

superstoner1 said:

I run 3 rail systems with 4 plants & 4 sprayers per rail. The rails are about 48"-50" long. I did 7 per rail on first design and it was way too crowded, I got more yield and much less work when I went to 4 per rail. I am seriously considering 9-10 spots instead of 12 on my new system I am building now. If you need help I have lots of rail experience.

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Just moving on to finish my setup. Was testing out my rails and am getting paranoid that it doesn't work as it should.

I drilled 3 holes per rail in the end; 6 sprayers per rail (12 per wand). I am using 470 gph pump. Now when I lifted up the net pot to feel the sprayers with my finger, I felt almost nothing! I have drilled the sprayers about 1.5" away from the net pot on each side.

Don't get me wrong the NFT part is fine, water is flowing in abundance. But the sprayer part can't be really felt. The sprayers are4 very close to the top, though.

For instance, when you put your hand into my cloner or Vegging unit, you can feel the rain , but it is a much smaller circuit.

Is it meant to be in the rails like that? I mean, I have used the same measurement as he recommends, same amount of holes and sprayers AND ON TOP OF THAT I am using 70 gal/p/h stronger pump....

Here is a video....my phone ain't very good and didn't have a flashlight, sorry

P.S. I have also leak from the back of the rail, will fix that with some extra glue.

Most upgraded pump size, I use the eco plus 633 in my 3 rail systems that have a total of 12 spray heads. And proper sizing of delivery system is crucial.

superstoner1 said:

Most upgraded pump size, I use the eco plus 633 in my 3 rail systems that have a total of 12 spray heads. And proper sizing of delivery system is crucial.

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But will my current system work? It delivers plenty in NFT from the end to the beginning of the rail. I need to start growing soon. This exhausted all my funds, broke as hell. I might upgrade the the pumps later on.

- will the NFT be enough when the spraying is lacking a bit?
- should keep my pumps (in rails) on 4 mins of one 1 on, or will just leave them running 24/7, or 15/15?
- how much water should I put in my res? My res is 106L. Will I half fill it? Or 3/4? The more water I give it the more nutes it'll waste....



Thank you very much.

The bigger the res the easier the grow, its never aa waste of nutes unless you use too much.

^^Yeah right... still having trouble with basic math I see

Daithy said:

- will the NFT be enough when the spraying is lacking a bit?

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Likely yes. Especially if you ensure the water disturbs plenty on the returns.

Daithy said:

- should keep my pumps (in rails) on 4 mins of one 1 on, or will just leave them running 24/7, or 15/15?

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24/7, especially if your sprayers are lacking. Timers are for aero, non-applicable to NFT.

Daithy said:

- how much water should I put in my res? My res is 106L. Will I half fill it? Or 3/4? The more water I give it the more nutes it'll waste....

Click to expand...

Half is fine for starters (about my total rez size that is). If the spraying is lacking, higher return waterfall can even some of that out.

Sativied said:

^^
24/7, especially if your sprayers are lacking. Timers are for aero, non-applicable to NFT.

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Thanks for the great reply! Side note: Won't having running the pump 24/7 make the water warmer, thus root rot? Thanks.

superstoner1 said:

The bigger the res the easier the grow, its never aa waste of nutes unless you use too much.

Click to expand...

Thank you.

Daithy said:

Thanks for the great reply! Side note: Won't having running the pump 24/7 make the water warmer, thus root rot? Thanks.

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Warming up can be a downside of running a pump 24/7 yes, and indirectly if you let the temps get too high that could cause root problems yes. Differs a lot per pump too. The smaller Eheim pump I used for my chiller gets hotter than a Sicce pump with twice the capacity. Solution is to control temps, and/or get better pump and/or get external pump, and not to turn off the pump. The continuous flow actually helps prevent problems (the flowing itself, the continuous aeration) especially if you think the sprayers are lacking as you mentioned (I never have root probs, similar setup, I don't use teas, bleach, enzymes or w/e, just the flow with essential elements. Chiller only on a couple of times per light on period during veg, not during flowering when canopy is closed). Sprayers are just extra, a touch of aero, a selling point for the AeroFlo from GHE, focus on the flow and you'll be fine. Turning off the pump on a timer will only cause the roots to be soaked in a solution that quickly depletes oxygen and when that (inside of trays/poles/tubes) warms up the risk of problems becomes much larger.

All that said, part of setting up a system like that is dialing it in, finding the balance, so do a lot of measuring initially and see what works best for you.

Sativied said:

Warming up can be a downside of running a pump 24/7 yes,.....

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Thanks a lot. I am gonna follow your advice. I will run my cloner and vegger on 15/15, however, since there'll be way less water, only a 1/4 or 2/5.

Flowering machines I will run 24/7, but I will watch the temps of the water very closely. Would you agree that if the temp of the water will start to raise above 62 than something has to be changed? I'll try to keep it at 60.


Later on in the future I will try to improve the pumps so I can increase the benefits from Aero, and run it on a timer.

I prefer 62-68f actually, chiller kicks in around 69 and brings it down to 65.

Keep in mind that if you have different pump schedules during veg and flowering that the plants will need to adjust after the transplant to flowering setup. They won't like going from 15/15 to always on or from always on to 15/15, will get droopy and look over-watered. Although they will be able to adjust, may be better to transition them from on/off to always on gradually.

I would never run a flower unit 27\7, that's just begging for problems. I run 80secs on, 8mins off for cloner, veg, and flower

This is a hybrid system, letting the roots breathe is crucial.

superstoner1 said:

I would never run a flower unit 27\7, that's just begging for problems. I run 80secs on, 8mins off for cloner, veg, and flower

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Thanks SS.