AeroAquaponics

[timo]

Is anyone here experimenting with this?

I am currently constructing a aeroponic/aquaponic hybrid system indoors. My plan incorporates 80 planting sites utilizing both horizontal and vertical channels. My first stage is almost complete. It includes a 100 gallon reservoir, a vortex filter, a 4200gph external pump, a manifold to divert water to each of the three growing areas, the main line which feeds the giant independent wet/dry filter (which take the brunt of most of the water flow), and the first 28 planting sites.

I am utilizing a large pump to maintain water quality, increase aeration, increase my Nitrosomonas and Nirtobacter cultures, and to later expand my system. The large pump has relatively low power consumption given its flow rate and I do not expect that I will need any other equipment to maintain excellent dissolved oxygen levels. The nutrient delivery to the plant sites is controlled by the spray jets inside the channels. Mind you, I am aware that this is not a high pressure aeroponic system, but I liked the idea of testing a misting environment that used no growing medium.

Any insight would be appreciated. I have much more experience with fish than I do with plants. I am doing my best to learn, experiment, and improve.

[Pseudoreality]

Sounds interesting. I would like to see a sketch of the proposed system and photos of what you have so far to better comment. If I'm reading it correctly you are talking about splitting the pump outlet to the growing areas and the wet/dry filter. Not sure what a wet/dry filter is, but I'm more concerned about unfiltered water going to your grow areas as solids may plug your misting nozzles.

Even with good solids removal my concerns, and I have thought of this before, with aeroaquaponics would be nozzles clogging up with biofilm growth. I have been tossing around the idea of doing a small experimental system by modifying a aerogarden with a continuous water flow through from an aquarium. I thought it could be a neat little living room display/conversation piece.

[keith_r]

i'd still add an air pump, with a battery backup if possible..

[Pugo]

A wet dry filter is a bio-filter, sort of like a trickle bio-filter, generally used in aquariums. But I agree with you aero-aquaponics most likely will be a very difficult to be successful at as most hydroponics applications simply don't work in an Aquaponics system the bio-film would just clog it up.