February 1, 2009 by Peat
Posted in
OK, next mad project... convert the AeroGarden into a proper aeroponic unit...
This is how I want to build it. I have no idea if this will work, leak, flood my house or grow stunning plants quicker than hydro...
Blue Print
The parts...
1. Sicce Nova (flow adjustable) water pump, 250-800 lph (66-211 gph), 13mm diameter water outlet pipe.
Edit: this pump was found to heat the water up too much, trying another one! (Sicce Mi Mouse, 30 to 300 lph (7.9 to 79 gph) ).
Edit2: this pump works a treat, it does not heat the water up and the spray is much more gentler - sorted!
2. Rigid plastic pipe, 13mm diameter.
3. Various 'T' pieces and pipe end caps, 13mm diameter.
4. Air pump (for water bubbler), already have this from before, it's a Rena 400 model. I will attach a cylindrical air stone to this.
5. Two types of sprayer to see what works best - the green one has 360 degree spray pattern and a small spinner, the brown one has two 180 degree fixed spray outputs.
The Build
1. Remove the AG water pump and central column from the AeroGarden to free up the space, the column is only held on by one screw.
2. Cut two sections of rigid plastic pipe, each 5½ inches long, I used a very sharp knife for a clean cut.
3. Measure and cut another section of pipe to go onto the water pump. This measurement will vary depending on your model of pump, you want the sprayers to be just below the top of the AG lid once it's clicked into place.
4. Assemble all the pieces, pipe, 'T' piece and ends as per diagram below.
5. Drill 4 holes in the pipe and screw in the 4 sprayers, 2 in each side and equally spaced.
6. Mount the whole assembly in the AeroGarden, put on the lid and check the bar runs centrally in between both sets of pods.
7. Check the operation of the device, I have fitted an optional cylindrical airstone at the front to provide an injection of extra oxygen to the water. Once it's all going, then the task of checking for leaks begins... It will leak from the back, because of the hole left by the AG pump and also from the front lid - both solved by using some duct tape to seal the problem off. I have not tried different ways of doing this yet, work in progress...
Due to the aeroponics system, the possibility of the sprayers getting blocked is increased. I would recommend you put the water pump in a fine micron mesh bag (which you can buy in aquatic shops) that can filter any debris from the plants, wayward roots etc. Failing that, you can use some panty hose which acts as a good filter.
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Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:10
#2
Week 2
Probably just about on
Week 2
Probably just about on par with all the other lettuce grows timewise. The pod at the back didn't germinate so was replanted, I also threw in an old AG salad green pod at the front.
I wanted to increase the nutes but have had to keep them low due to the new pods, too strong otherwise.
Mild Growth Stage, Flora Micro 4.2mL, Flora Grow 8.5mL, Flora Bloom 4.2mL (all per 3.2 litres), pH is 6.0, EC (after adjustment by adding more water) is 1.5
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 04:06
#3
Week 1
First full week now,
Week 1
First full week now, the system is working fine so far. There is one at the back however which is slow to get going.
Feeding schedule changed: Mild Growth Stage, Flora Micro 4.2mL, Flora Grow 8.5mL, Flora Bloom 4.2mL (all per 3.2 litres), pH is 6.0, EC (after adjustment by adding more water) is 1.5
Fri, 03/20/2009 - 12:18
#4
Day 1
A small update on day
Day 1
A small update on day 1, the unit is still leak free and running well. The pods have quite a bit of condensation in them, much more than I have experienced.
Could be a good thing - I probably have 100% humidity (due to the sprayers), which is ideal for hydro.
Could be a problem - could cause damping off, and could mean the rockwool is too saturated and subsequently not getting enough air.
We shall see then...
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 15:10
#5
Hi Peat: I'm watching this
Hi Peat: I'm watching this with great interest. But I won't be going to such great lengths with my classics. All I want to do is add an aerator. Is there an easy way to do that? Or should I just use one of the pod areas, maybe with the hose going thru a space saver? I don't like losing a spot, but don't know if there's another way.
On my classics, the pump goes off with the lights, and the new design in the 6's seems to show that it's better to have the aerator run 24/7.
Thanks for any help.
(your nutes plan for my cukes is working wonders! One has already got it's first tendril! No pics up yet, in the next few days probably)
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 15:43
#6
Hi Judith, it just so happens
Hi Judith, it just so happens that I have already done a blog about this.
If you drill down to post number 10, you will see how I got over the air line problem. Drilled a small hole in my Classic, put a small rubber grommet in and passed the air line through this. It makes a very good waterproof seal - just make sure you don't put the hole too low, don't want wet feet with all the water coming out. 
Would you want to do this though?
The other alternative is to give up a pod hole, run the air line through this, not what you want though - decisions, decisions...
The air pump MUST be run 24/7 to aerate the water, let the water stagnate and the plants will object. Keeping the pump on will also fend off a variety of fungus/bacterial problems that would love to flourish in your water.
That's great news on the cuke, I'm so pleased that my nute plan is working for you. 
Thu, 03/19/2009 - 11:05
#7
Week 0 - (starting week)
At
Week 0 - (starting week)
At long last we have a go on this little project.
I've planted Tom Thumb, back right and left. In the other 4 are a a mixed leaf lettuce/brassica - Euro Mesclun Salad, something like the AG one but more variety.
All seeds went into my usual rockwool grow medium.
I'm only going to run this for germination purposes only, once the seedlings are a decent size they will go into my DIY Aeroponic System I built. If they grow OK then it should be a matter of weeks before I can get them across to the other system. You will notice that there are only 6 pods planted, the DIY system only has 6 holes.
If this modification succeeds then I will have to think up something else to grow, I kinda like the idea of peas - but we will see.
Week 0 (starting week) - Seedling Stage, Flora Micro 2.1mL, Flora Grow 2.1mL, Flora Bloom 2.1mL (all per 3.2 litres), pH is 6.0, EC (after adjustment by adding more water) is 0.8
Not a very inspiring photo, I tried to take the inside with the sprayers running but kept getting the camera and myself soaked!
Thu, 03/19/2009 - 11:11
#8
Nice, Peat - the Tom Thumb
Nice, Peat - the Tom Thumb butterhead looks interesting.
Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:29
#9
Thanks. I tried to grow that
Thanks. I tried to grow that in soil last year, it bolted and died. 
Anyhow, time to give it a go in hydro/aero, hopefully it will come good this time.
Tue, 03/10/2009 - 10:34
#10
This has not been forgotten.
This has not been forgotten. 
I've been running the AG for some time to see where the leaks are, pretty much sorted now - probably plant this up this weekend with some mixed lettuce.
A few alterations, the two struts that run through the bowl have been put back in, this holds the new pump securely in place - it's very light and was apt to wander around inside! I've found that a small plastic bag placed between the lid and top of the bowl sorts out the water leaks - no more duct tape.
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 14:40
#11
Eeek, no pressure then.
Eeek, no pressure then. 
Technically, it should be better... Aeroponic will outperform hydroponic - well, I hope it does in this case!
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 14:44
#12
Agreed, it should in general.
Agreed, it should in general. On the other hand, it's not clear there's any room for improvement over the aerated hydroponic lettuce performance - just because it already grows so well! Might see more effect in a slower-growing species.
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 15:02
#13
I agree, it's going to be
I agree, it's going to be hard to see any difference in a fast growing crop like lettuce. As long as it grows well, then I will be pretty happy.
I'm thinking of putting that other pump in a rubber maid type container, convert this to a large aeroponic growing rig. Hydroton baskets, a decent 125 watt CFL lamp and reflector, full blue spectrum for vegetative growth only... I don't want to get back into HID lamps again, I will need to get a ballast etc, etc. I'll stick with 'simple' for now.
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 15:04
#14
That sounds awesome, possibly
That sounds awesome, possibly for a rematch with growing tomatoes. 
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 15:14
#15
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 16:32
#16
I'm thinking my opinion on
I'm thinking my opinion on tomatoes isn't worth having.
Sun, 03/01/2009 - 16:46
#17
... So of course I looked
... So of course I looked anyway... What do you think of these? Patio Princess and Bloody Butcher ?
(I'm not all that fond of cherry tomatoes - I like slicers and romas best.)
Other than Thompson & Morgan, I dunno what seed companies you have available in the UK. Do any of the big US seed companies sell there?
Sun, 03/01/2009 - 16:55
#18
Bloody butcher looks good,
Bloody butcher looks good, although I do like the cherry toms.
I'm not sure what the big seed companies are with you, I usually buy T&M, Suttons or Nicky's Seeds. Probably gravitate to T&M mostly, they do a large range and are easily found in our garden centres.
Sun, 03/01/2009 - 18:12
#19
Burpee and Ferry-Morse are
Burpee and Ferry-Morse are the ones I usually see in mass-market retailers - sometimes labeled as a store brand (like Burpee or Ferry-Morse for Walmart). Mass-market stores being like supermarkets, Walmart, Home Depot, etc.
Mon, 03/02/2009 - 11:47
#20
There is no Walmart or Home
There is no Walmart or Home Depot over here, they are pretty much US based. The closest I have got to Walmart is when they took over one of our larger supermarket chains - ASDA.
I was deliberating on whether I should get another Classic, or, just do a simple rubbermaid type build with my own CFL lamp. After much thought, I'm afraid the AG got relegated to last place. What swayed it was the price, I can put together a better system (I have most of the parts anyhow), for much less.
So, I'll do this instead. I have a number of plants using just the AG lights at the moment, once I get my new light I will move them and start planting up my Aero-AeroGarden (AAG).
Mon, 03/02/2009 - 13:25
#21
Oh, I figured as much re
Oh, I figured as much re Walmart and Home Depot - though as you said, Walmart is international, after a fashion. Popular in China, and apparently operating under another name in the UK, as you said.
How much do classic AG's run at the moment in the UK?
Is that radishes and strawberries I see in that picture? And I haven't a clue re the back right and left.
Mon, 03/02/2009 - 14:01
#22
A Classic comes to £107,
A Classic comes to £107, approx. $150?
You have good eyes, spotted my radish in perlite/vermiculite grow (haven't put this one up yet, on the way 
). Strawberries are correct, carrots (still growing!); back left are two pots of rosemary (in coco-coir and per/ver), back right is thyme (in coco-coir).
The whole lot will be put under my new CFL lamp (125w blue spectrum), this AAG will then have my lettuce.
Future project... Aeroponics in a rubbermaid type container (using my spare water pump and sprayers), and, possible DWC also - I can use the same container, try both methods.
It's getting a bit busy at home.
Mon, 03/02/2009 - 14:08
#23
I was afraid of that,
I was afraid of that, pricewise. Here they're a better deal - at the moment, you can pick up an AG classic on the Aerogrow site for $90, shipping included.
DWC?
I can definitely relate to the gardens getting too busy at home. My seed-starting pageant is getting a bit much...
Mon, 03/02/2009 - 14:13
#24
DWC - deep water
DWC - deep water culture.
Grow the plants to seedlings in the AG, transplant into net pots with hydroton, put them in the rubbermaid, fill with water, aerate with an airstone and sit back while the plants grow.
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 14:15
#25
The new pump works a treat,
The new pump works a treat, it's small, quiet (no anti-vibration foam required), the spray is much gentler and it does not heat the water up.
This seems like the one for the job, a little more testing to do and then I will plant my mixed lettuce seeds.
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 14:24
#26
Wow, it's tiny! Looking
Wow, it's tiny! Looking forward to seeing the results on your lettuce! You still have reference pix of the same seeds growing under the old regime, right? Will be nice to compare.
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 16:41
#27
The new water pump has
The new water pump has arrived, it's sat in the Post Office at the moment though - they delivered it whilst I was at work and took it back to the depot. 
I'll try and pick it up tomorrow.
I hope this will sort the water heating problem out...
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 08:02
#28
Well, it's all built now.
The
Well, it's all built now.
The green sprayers are doing their job, hopefully not too violently, and my cylindrical airstone has been installed in the front.
The whole thing has not been without problems...
1. The water pump is quiet, until installed in the AG. I had the same problem with an internal air pump which I trialled out, the plastic of the bowl acts as a very good loudspeaker - resonating the noise from the pump! I have had to place thick foam under the pump to quell this annoyance, even now, it's not as silent as I would like.
2. A few more water leaks! I've got round this by taping the offending joins with waterproof duct tape, the poor AG isn't looking the prettiest it has been, all patched up.
Remember, ALWAYS, to switch off the pump when opening the front hatch - you know I didn't...
I'm going to run this without anything in it for now, just to make sure it all works - and the pump does not heat up the water too much... If it's fine, I will plant the obligatory mixed lettuce seeds for quick germination.
Oh, I did try the original AG water pump, the poor sprayers stayed static and just trickled with water.
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 21:37
#29
Great innovation, Peat. Hope
Great innovation, Peat. Hope it works but man, there's a lot of water spraying in there. I noticed one difference after I put an airstone in my pepper AG, the water temp dropped about 6*F no doubt due to the air temp air bubbles. No problem so far but it would be a little low for some seeds to germinate, like my green chiles.
That is so cool!
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 22:30
#30
I think some of the heat in
I think some of the heat in the pump-based systems is waste heat from the water pump itself.
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 23:12
#31
I think some of the heat in
I think some of the heat in the pump-based systems is waste heat from the water pump itself.
Not much if any, the water temp in the peppers with airstone is almost exactly room temp, 70*. The herb garden has been at 76* from the beginning and the black, almost bare lettuce deluxe is now almost 80* after a month or two of being 76*, shielded from the lights by lettuce.
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 09:52
#32
One of the main concerns with
One of the main concerns with water pumps, in small spaces, is that they can heat up the water too much, in a larger tank this is not such an issue. The AG water pump, in contrast, is so small, and low powered, that it probably has only a small effect on the water temperature.
My initial thoughts about this have now been confirmed, I have major problems with the water temperature in my AG. To test the device, I put in water at 19°C (66°F), after 6 hours (with no AG lights on), the water temperature rose to 30°C (86°F)!
Now, this is not good; I'm slightly outside the ideal growing temperature, and this is without the heat from the bulbs. I have no idea what this would rise to after a number of days say.
So, this project is now dead in the water (no pun intended), and the only option I have is to get a much smaller pump - otherwise the whole thing has been a waste. 
A much smaller pump = less temperature, but, it must still be able to get over the back pressure from the system and power the sprayers.
Looking on the positive side, I now have an aeroponic system which could be incorporated into a larger (lightproof) container. I could drill holes in the top lid and put baskets filled with hydroton rocks in, in these will sit already grown seedlings in rockwool, I could grow some decent plants this way - all is not entirely lost.
Edit: Number two pump has been ordered, a Mi_Mouse from Sicce, it's the smallest pump that still affords me some control of the flow. I'm getting a very good sprinkler operation by only using 250 lph (66 gph), this pump can vary from 30 to 300 lph (7.9 to 79 gph) - this should more than suit my purpose, it's small and hopefully won't heat up as much! Everyone cross their fingers...
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 11:31
#33
Good luck, Peat!
If you
Good luck, Peat!
If you instead transferred the aeroponics to a bigger tub, would you put the sprinklers on a taller stalk?
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 11:35
#34
Thanks.
Yes, the sprinklers
Thanks.
Yes, the sprinklers would have to be up by the plants to get the full benefit - I still have plenty of pipe left to do this if I want.
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 18:34
#35
Wow, I would have never
Wow, I would have never guessed the pump would heat the water that much. How much of a throw distance do the sprayers have? My AutoPot tank is 47 liter, it's tall but not much larger than an AG deck. It's probably started life as a trash can and the depth would help cool the water. Just thinking out loud, in case the small pump heats the water too much, I hate it when experiments go awry by something you never imagined. Good luck, too!
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 18:47
#36
Cheers Bruce.
I'm unsure of
Cheers Bruce.
I'm unsure of the throw distance for the small pump, but I read somewhere (no idea where?), that the distance for the original pump was 3.5 metres - that's why I keep getting soaked whilst trialling this.
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 11:03
#39
The finger is well on the way
The finger is well on the way to recovery, so I have had a go at getting this project off the ground.
Here is a video of how it all works when running in my test container, I'm now in the process of getting it all working in the AG. I'll put up some construction details/pictures when I dry off...
Edit - I'm getting some problems downloading this video, it does not always work. Is it the same with you guys?
Try this one if the above does not work, it's much slower to download but, hopefully, more reliable - plus, the video has not been truncated. 
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 11:19
#40
Very cool! I'm sure the
Very cool! I'm sure the roots will love that!
Is the aeroponic assembly in a rubbermaid type tub? Is it going to stay in the tub, or move inside a Classic? Certainly easier to see how it works on the blue background.
Edit: the first download link spawned blocked external pages, then eventually showed a very short video. The second was longer.
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 11:33
#41
The whole lot is destined for
The whole lot is destined for my Classic, it's running in there right now. It went into the tub to show you how it all worked, impossible in the Classic as the water goes everywhere, and I mean everywhere!
A few niggles to sort out at the moment, the pump is vibrating so will need some soundproofing - rubber feet or foam. The second, which I thought would happen, is that it leaks at the front, fortunately nowhere else though. Probably need some foam insulation tape or something to seal that small gap.
Apart from that, it all seems fine. There is good coverage of the pods, the sprayer bar runs straight down the middle in between both sets of pods, the ones at the front do get a little more though. Pretty happy with it so far.
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 03:06
#42
Wow, that thing throws some
Wow, that thing throws some water, nice work. Love how they spin around so fast, I'd imagined something slower for some reason. It's not going to be strong enough to damage baby roots, do you think? That looks pretty powerful. Anyway, great job as is my airstone in the pepper AG, thank you very much.
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 11:34
#43
Just been doing some sprayer
Just been doing some sprayer comparison.
The brown ones don't do 360 as I thought, they only spray out at polar ends - it's a sort of flat spray pattern. The green ones are really cool, they throw water off everywhere and are much more interesting. It's a shame this 'snapshot in time' can't show this, perhaps I need a video clip of it.
Anyhow, I think the green ones are my favourite and I'll go with these. And I did get soaked!
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 13:20
#44
Agree, that is a great
Agree, that is a great picture. Are those droplets going to be small enough for your aeroponic experiment?
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 15:38
#45
Thanks, I had to take several
Thanks, I had to take several until I found the right one.
The water droplets are not the smallest in the world but will suffice, there will be a secondary reaction also - the water droplets will splash against the AG bowl and be broken up into a smaller 'mist'.
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 13:09
#46
I have to disagree, Peat.
I have to disagree, Peat. That is a very cool picture!!! I love the way the water droplets are captured in their arcs!
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 12:48
#47
Parts are in... Yay, broke my
Parts are in... Yay, broke my middle finger last week - not so yay... 
Manual dexterity has dropped through the floor, it's difficult to rig all this together now, holes to drill, pipes to cut etc. Maybe some delay with this project, until the finger has recovered enough to be pain free! I'll have put this to 'pending' for now, this is so annoying.
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 13:24
#48
Feel better soon!
How much
Feel better soon!
How much did those sprayers & stuff cost, btw?
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 17:06
#49
Just a little under £40,
Just a little under £40, what's that with you, about $57
The pump was the major part, the sprayers a very cheap.
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 19:26
#50
Sorry to hear about the
Sorry to hear about the finger, how are you going to express yourself at football games or in traffic? 
Did you slip in the snow?
That's a really small pump for the output, very nice. I wonder if the rotating sprayers will last long, is there any advantage to them over the constant 360* ones? I bet you'll have to beef up the pump filter or put one inline.
I used to have the ultra fine misters around our back patio for summer cooling and they worked well but needed tending often even though I had a 12" long microfilter inline. A little soaking in vinegar did the job when they clogged with minerals. How much bigger are these sprayer's orifice?
Anyway, can't wait to see how your project comes out.
Week 2 (ish)
End of this grow, pop along to the DIY Aeroponic System to see them transplanted...
Conclusion: They grow just fine using my modification, nothing spectacular, about the same as a normal really. The Tom Thumb lettuce has done particularly well, shooting up very quickly.
It's been an interesting project to do, has taken up many hours and I've learnt quite a bit about aeroponics in the process.