Hello Peeps

Been reading about autopots, bubblers and the like. Now in me Farm I did use airstones, and had them in the res, but since reading about the autopots, was wondering if I should be having them amongst the roots.

Do you think that as it is a dripper system, the solution is being aerated enough without the stones?

Would I be better off putting them amongst the roots, but wouldn't that be a bit noisey (hissy)?

Anyway, let me know your views. On a new grow now without stones at the mo, and am thinking about getting some again.

Where (in your opinion) should they go?

in the solution g it oxygenates the water as it gets fed to your plants

Hey GW, i got my air stones in the res's and i have 4mm soaker hose feeding air to roots.
A 4mm soaker ring will emit air evenly and over a bigger area.
Hozelock do some 4mm soaker hose.

Airstones in water, saoker hoses in pots.

Right!

Thanks peeps

PD, I found a very cheap website with free p+p for nice airpumps, so I'm gonna go a shopping...

Stealth! Genius!!! As cheesy, I will have to copy that for the next time round

So, it's airstones in the res, and a 4mm soaker ring amongst the pebbles

Wicked

VRG's idea lads, i'm just the messenger .

Voted both because...............airstone in water resevoir circulates solution and that's all fine and good if solution's in there for a few days, airstone in amongst roots is a must. Not only delivering air to the roots whilst wet but also circulating water in trays. Trays have large surface area and are well oxygenated but need circulation to prevent from going stale too.

Interpet AV4 airpump, £33. Dual outlet, 300lph each outlet, online aqaurium shops.

Definatly, both!

The more oxygen you can get to the roots, the better.
If you can get a decent airpump, like the one BB mentioned, stick an air-ring about 2" below the surface of your medium, one 2" up from the bottom of your medium, and a couple of monster air-stones in your res!

VRG

Guys

Lovely!!!

So the final plans for the next grow will be to have a single airstone in each Farm res, and then two in each for the roots in the 2" up 2" down fashion

Just one more thing

£33 can't do but could someone (bearing in mind that the res of a WaterFarm is only about 12 litres) have a butchers 'ere please...

Let me know how cheap I can go, I was gonna get a dual outlet one and then add two of those air line "X" pieces to handle all the stones.

Thanks again!

I've got an air compressor not an air pump, it has 6 outlets and comes with a 6 outlet junction,
look here.
Its pretty noisy though, ive got my flower room well insulated so it makes no odds to me, cant hear it outside the GR.
It is expensive though.

If you go for a lesser outlet model and use T pieces to spread it to more locations it will diminish your litres per hour.

Your circumstances are different to mine so i would say the quad outlet pump is your best option GW.

I had to go with the res not only is it good for your roots it keeps your nutes mixed nicely

I'm keenly awaiting arrival of airpump. Checked out all sorts of makes and models and in the end came down to three. Point to watch is good air delivery from each outlet, many models will quote an output but that is then divided up between outlets.

Rena Air 400, 2x 200lph,
Interpet AV3, 2x 250lph,
Interpet AV4, 2x300lph.

All good output pumps for £25-40, without having to go overboard.

gwhiz if ur drippign or using an irrigation ring a controllable flow is essential so get a pump that can turn down or up the flow of water by dial

in waterfarms correct am in thinking u feed in section times per day (theres no constant flow of water ? )


and if this is the case theres no point havign a pump blast loads of water on em when ukll need very little or small sized pump

i use the smallest controllable pump as i use irrigation and i have no need to shift 400L of water per hour


food for thought


now giz a batebberg cake

I am thinking of getting air pumps etc for my set up but have no idea were to start .

I have 3 res's each holding up to 40 litres running on NFT - could i oxygenate all 3 res's using one pump / compresser (dont know which one - a tad cluless re this topic)

Sorry to hijack the thread but seemed relevant .

Cheers peds

buy massive and get growing proper dude no time 2 waste ..

Do you think that as it is a dripper system, the solution is being aerated enough without the stones?

Can someone, anyone, decipher that

he said he likes lots of air around his roots dude

In the res mate feed your airline down through the level indicator tube, it'll give air direct to the roots as they grow through the hydroton as well as adding more at the ring.

Cheers Cats if anyone could, I should have known it would have been you


I like the level indicator trick

Surely you want airstones in the hydroton as well though? Air, more air the better, innit but looking at the votes, you lot don't seem to agree

must admit G i'm shocked at the poll.Since i added porous airpipe to my roots, aswell as the res my plants are alot healthier and yield is definately up.

Owd

Me too guv!!! A whopping 62.50% go for just the res option


Now that's what I'm chatting about