Ask Erik: July/August, 2008
Hi Erik,
Where can I purchase the reservoir and top lid for the aeroganic system with a vortex pump that you built in your article "Where the old world meets the new?” (2006 best of Max Yield pg. 46-49) What size holes should I drill for the 12 six inch net pots and the one five inch pot access port.
Also, I need to know where to get the perforated tube that protects the vortex cone from root entanglement. I want to build one of those units as I have a couple of Vortex pumps that I'm not using.
How did your prototype system work out? What nutes did you use?
Thanks Erik,
Brent
Brent,
The lid you mention was a special fit to a 12” deep 4’ X 4’ growing vessel manufactured by an innovative company out of Langley, British Columbia (Canada). Unfortunately, the company no longer exists but you may be able to track down the mold for commercial quantity runs of the system.
Otherwise, you can construct your own lid and fit it onto a suitable growing vessel. Net pots may vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer in the way they sit in a system. So, this is best accounted for on your end. Typically a 4-1/2” hole saw works for the 5” net pot and a 5-1/2” diameter saw will create a suitable site for the 6” net pot. A hole-saw and heavy duty drill or press can be used to create any configuration of openings.
Be very careful when using hole-saws and powerful drills. It is not advised for the novice builder. Some hydroponics shops will have the tools and know-how on hand, and can custom configure lids or may be able to have them shipped to your specification from their suppliers.
You can purchase rigid perforated pipe to protect the sprayer cone from getting entangled in the roots from hydroponics manufacturers or may find something similar used as drainage pipe at your local building center.
The prototype worked great on some peppers for about two weeks, but ran into some problems. The organic nutrient being used contained a fair quantity of molasses which came to be a problem as temperatures in the growing chamber climbed to higher than optimal. If a less syrupy organic base nutrient was used and better temperatures had been maintained, it would have continued to produce healthy and accelerated organic growth.
At a separate location a similar system was set-up. Reportedly it produced excellent results. The crop became so heavy that the lid required additional support from underneath. Supporting the crop with a screen supported off of the tray would have also accomplished this.
Highest Regards,
Erik Biksa
