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- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008 edited
At the Greenhouse we use Aeroponic units for plant propogating. Areoponic units work
by fogging, misting or spraying fertilized water on plant cuttings to
promote rapid root growth.
The combination of warm, fertilized and highly, oxygenated water produces
roots much faster then standard Hydroponic units.
These units can be very expensive to buy from a retailer, but luckly they are easy enough to build yourself!
We have seen fantasic results with our DIY unit, it generally produces
roots in half the time our standard Hydroponic unit does.Fisrt we will look at the items we need---> -
- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008 edited
Items needed:Heavy Duty Plastic Container with
Reinforced Plastic Lid. Make sure the lid is concave so any water
overspray will not run off.
$17.88
200 GPH Fountain Pump, adapter for Hose connection & Wire tie.
We think a smaller cheaper pump might work as well, but we are worried about the backpressure.$34.97
50' - 1/2" Poly Tubing. You
really only need about 4 feet of this, but its cheaper to buy in bulk.
Make sure your tubing fits your fittings, there are several proprietary
poly tubs out there and they are all different sizes.
$8.69
3 T type poly connector.
3 x $0.38 = $1.14
6 - 12 360 degree misting or fogging spray nozzles with 1/4" fitting.
2 x $3.37 = $6.74 10 Fogger Nozzles $5.79
4 - 8 1/4" poly tube extenders.
2 x $1.74 = $3.48
Hose Fitting to attach pump to 1/2" tube.
$1.98
Clear vinyl Tube.
We will use this for a Water Level Indicator.
$2.70 (Only approx. 12" needed)
Angle connector, Misc connectors and Rubber Washers for Water Level Indicator.
$0.26 + $0.37 x 2 + $1.28 = $2.28
EPDM Weather Stripping. (Optional)
This is to help seal the lid to the base, not needed but you will have to refill the tank more often.
$5.97
Plastic Spring Clamps (Optional)
Use these to compress the lid down against the weather stripping.
4 x $1.98 = $7.92
30-40 2" Net cups.
Approx $.30 per = $9.00
30-40 2" Neoprene collars. (Optional)
We currently buy these pre-made, but are exploring other options to make them ourselves.
Approx. $0.20 per = $6.00
Total Cost with all options = $107.06
Similar 30 site Areoponic units retail for $425.00 to $600.00
We just saved over $300.00!
Next is Tools--->
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- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008
Tools needed:
Drill with a 2" hole saw, Approx 5/8" Hole bit and a Wire Brush.
Sharpie for marking.
A couple of pair of channel lock pliers for tighten fittings.
A serrated knife for cutting, be very careful using a serrated knife they are extremely sharp!
Zip Ties.
These are always handy to have around for any project.
Next, lets get building!---> -
- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008
Prepare the Plastic Lid:
Using the 2" hole saw and drill, cut as many holes as you can
with out cutting thru the structural ribbing. If your anal you
will want to mark all of your holes first to make sure they are evenly
spaced. Make sure to keep the left over plastic "doughnuts" you can
use these instead of the Neoprene Collars, by simply cutting a slit
from the center hole to one of the edges.
Our final pattern looks like this:
We end up with 40 holes this way.
Use the wire brush to clean up the holes and remove the burrs, don't use it too long in one spot or you will melt the plastic.
Next, The Water Level Indicator--->
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- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008
Prepare the Water Level Indicator:
The Water Level Indicator lets us know how much water is in the reservoir without removing the lid to check.
First cut a small hole near the bottom of the reservoir. The size will
depend on the thread size of the connector pieces you have, ours was
5/8".
Next, attach the fittings with a rubber washer on the inside.
Finally, attach the clear vinyl tube and secure by drilling 2 small
holes in the handle of the reservoir and threading the wire tie thru to
secure.
Next, The Plumbing--->
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- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008
Tubing, Pump and Nozzle Assembly:
The exact sizes for your
tubing will depend on the size of your container / reservoir. Measure
the inside of your container L x W. Approx. subtract the L - 4" and the
W - 4".
Use the Hose connector and T fittings to create an "8" that
is your L - 4" x W - 4". The fitting are compression fittings, so no
glue is required. Attach the
entire "8" to the pump with a lead long enough that the "8" sits
several inches above the water line. The pump should be completely
submerged with several inches of water above it.
Attach the Spray Nozzles evenly around the "8".
Insert the heads into the 1/2" Poly-tube by punching a small hole then
threading on the heads. Direct the heads so that the spray
will cover the entire area.
We found that this little pump was a bit unstable and wanted to tip
over, so we attached it to a plastic pot base, by drilling two small
holes and using zip strips to secure it down.
Next, Time to Test!--->
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- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008
Testing the system:
Fill the Tank with water, enough to cover the pump by a few
inches. Make sure to remove any debis from the reservoir as these
particles may clog the pump and burn it out.
Plug the pump in and see how the spread is.
Looks pretty good at this point!
Next, Final Assymbly--->
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- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008
Final Assymbly:
Weather Strip the Containers Edge. Run the weather striping around the rim of the
container; be sure to clean the lid first to assure a good fit. This step is to prevent overspray from dripping down the
sides of the unit.
Modify the reservoir by cutting slots in the side and the lid to allow for a place to run the power cord.
Secure the lid down with the spring clamps.
Insert your Net pots and Neoprene collars. Also this is a good time to
pull out that Sharpie and mark your water level on the clear tube.
Next, Finishing Up--->
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- CommentAuthorkykeon
- CommentTimeMar 15th 2008
Finishing Up:
After testing the unit one more time with the Net cups in,
we determined that we had a few dead spots. So we added a few more
heads, small spinner type this time, to get the full coverage we are
looking for.
Optional Accessories
As an option add a small aquarium heater to the reservior,
this is only necessary if the temperature where you have your unit will drop below 60 degrees.
Insert your favorite plant material and Don't forget to add some good Organic fertilizer to the water, we
suggest Seaweed Extract and Bat Guano! Also, the unit will need to be
cleaned with a dilution of bleach in water after each cycle, this is
to prevent harmful fungus and bacteria. Enjoy! and Happy Growing!
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