DWC & foggers updated rig

Here are pics of my updated 3 year old rig. (this was in 2011!)

I pulled all the copper out of the system (which almost killed everything)  and now aerate the "soup" in another tank.

I found that running airstones in the tanks was displacing the fog (that air has to go somewhere).

Not shown are the pump, chiller and Co2 tank.

1st is the tanks with all the copper removed (what a disaster that was!).

2nd is the aerating tank (see all the bubbles?).

3rd is roots after 1 week.

4th is Cooltube, Co2 nipples, vent (stink and heat are separate) and webcam.
 
(System now uses a CALW Solarstorm 800 LED array)

 

I run the light (400w) 24/7 till bloom phase.

Here are pics of typical results:

1st is clones going in
2nd is one week later
3rd is two weeks later transitioning to bloom phase.
4th is 10 weeks (harvest)

I put 10 clones in then bloom the best 6.

The other 4 are made into clones.

Rig is just starting its' fourth year in operation and on grow #13.

 

Thanks.

I am very proud of it.

The funny looking thing is a filter bag over a cooler bottle drilled full of holes.

That is the custom made pickup/filter that goes to the pump.

The pump then goes to the chiller and the chiller output goes to the aerating tank.

The aerating tank was added because the airstones displace the fog.

The aerating tank then gravity feeds into tank #1.

1st picture is of chiller, Co2 tank, aerating tank and reservoir.

2nd picture is fogger (one per tank) and custom filter (the large area makes sure I don't get clogs).

 

Here are some more pics:

1st shows the dual vents that lead into the attic.

2nd is hanging the air pump to reduce the noise/vibration transfer.

3rd is my secret to keeping the closet cool. (put the ballast over the air intake for the lamp).

 

Yeah I have to vacuum up there.

Dust shows ya how much air flows though.

 

Depending on what kind of pump your running, some will be noisy with no "loading" or restriction in the line.

Like these: COMMERCIAL AIR PUMP 12 OUTLET HYDROPONIC-AQUARIUM-POND - eBay (item 170587441139 end time Feb-05-11 11:00:21 PST)

I hung mine because there was no place I could set it where the vibration wasn't transferred to the floor or structure.

Yes, it did knock out some noise.

Try valving your airpumps and see if the noise diminishes.

 

Here are some updated pics of the end of week 3 and week 4.

Looks like the aerating tank works just fine.

 

Thanks.

No Rubbermaid stuff here.

If you have ever had your plant fall through the lid, you know what I mean.

Tanks are 1/4" polypropylene.

Basket holder is made of 3/32" aluminum plate.

You can literally stand on the tank.

 

Here are some more pics of "support" equip.

R/O unit, tank (20 gal), soup swap (weekly)

 

The roots are fed by the soup.

This is a RDWC with foggers used instead of drip or misters.

Fogging is great, but having airstones in the tank displaces the fog (not good).

The aerating tank solves this requirement (oxygen rich soup) and keeps the tank full of fog.

Foggers do not aerate, nor do misters.

 

You are.

Good luck with your grow.

 

I explained it.

If you don't understand why or how it works, I don't know what more to say.

The soup is recirculated through a chiller then aerated then fed into the tanks.

Soup in the tank is fogged to keep the roots moist and fed.

That is, the roots that aren't in the soup.