How to buy parts for and put together a $6,000 High-pressure Aeroponics System that doesn't clog

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After about a year of trial and error (And spending a small fortune), it looks like its finally going to work.
A High-pressure Areoponic system that won't clog in the Australian Outback climate. However, the Water pump and Solenoid valve still need their own sound-proof boxes. Something which hasn't been included in the guide yet. The Drums may also need Insulation blankets to keep them from heating up. While its not up and running yet, given the equipment, an Organic-based Reservoir for High-pressure Aeroponics should be plausible, even in the West Australian (Semi-desert) climate. Please tell me your own experiences with building a High-pressure (5 - 6 bar) Aeroponics system. Has anyone else tried to grow Dwarf Trees in 200L Drums?

This guide doesn't account for lighting and Grow-tents. Perhaps you may like to include these things in your own version of the shopping list.

 

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The climate in WA is especially harsh on fruit and vegetable crops. Even a small Aeroponic or Hydroponic system will require a water chiller to keep its Reservoir temperature down.

Aeroponics (Aero-Hydroponics): Growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of Aggregate (Mass of fragments loosely compacted together) mediums (A Fluid or solid in which organic structures are placed in the middle). Aggregate mediums are used in 'Geoponics' (Soil).

Aeroponics are conducted without the use of a growing medium, although the plants still need to be anchored. The dangling roots and lower stem of the plant hangs below and above the water-level within a reservoir or separate root container (Semi-closed environment that empties to a Reservoir).

The crown and leaves (The 'Canopy') of the upper stem extend above the Root Container.

 

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The picture above shows a 30% increase in growth, compared to Hydroponics and Geoponics.

The nutrient-rich water solution needs to have its pH and ppm closely monitored and filtered before
it enters the misting nozzles so they don’t clog. The misting nozzles in 'High-pressure Aeroponics'
generate 30μ to 50μ droplets in a process called 'Atomization'. This is done by either forcing liquid
through a small orifice with an impeller inside it, or by smashing the fluid as it exits the orifice
(Impingement). Another method involves mixing the fluid with compressed air.
The combination of pressure and the nozzles orifice size causes the liquid to emerge as small
ligaments. These then break up further into very small droplets or liquid particles.

 

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An 'Electronic Tap Timer' (Irrigation Controller / Timer) is attached after the In-line filtration unit and is set to open for 5 seconds in 3 minute intervals. At this rate, the Solenoid Valve will be open for 40 minutes per day.

(60 sec) x (60 min x 24 h = 1440 min) = 86,400 sec
86,400 sec / 180 secs (3 min) = switching on/off 480 times per day
(480 x 5 sec = 2400 sec) / 60 sec (1 min) = 40 minutes per day

Installing a Tap Flow Meter Gauge will allow you to see how many litres the pump must transfer.
Better yet, an Electrical Cost Meter will allow you to see how many Watts the system uses each day.

An 'Accumulator Tank' (pre-Pressurized Well Tank or Bladder Tank) is used to store an amount of water with the maximum water pressure (Head-hight) of a pump, so it only needs to turn on when the pressure drops below a certain level (80% with a Torrium 2 pressure controller). The pumps 'Electronic Pressure Controller' is a device that attaches to the outlet and provides power to the pump when the pressure drops to a certain level. Note also, that the amount of air in the tank needs to be about 70% of the pumps max kPa.

About $6,000 AUD will be needed to build this system, but you can start with a single drum / tote.

 

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Root Container (Drums, Totes, Tubs, Containers w/ Lid)

• People In Plastic - R200LMOHD – 200L Open Head Drum DG
  • 500mm Dia, 825mm Height
• Clean Drum co. - Plastic Drum – 210L
• 

The lid of a 200L Drum is 500 mm in Diameter, while the inside of the drum itself is 550mm.

At least 4 Misting Heads are needed to cover the whole root zone, but having 6 will ensure that the lower plants will get sprayed. The misting heads will be attached to a circular loop of 3/8" tubing, fitted with Nozzle couplings and a Tee that leads out through the lid of the drum.

The loop is held up by fishing line fed through holes (1mm) drilled into the dum lid.

The length of tubing needed for each drum:

550mm (Outside Diameter below lid) – (Wall thickness: 3mm x 2 = 6mm) = 544 mm
544 mm x 3.14 = Inside circumference is 1708 mm (1.708 meters)

Length of tubing that is lost after being inserted into a Nozzle couplings push-to-fit hole:

…. x 12 (Number of Nozzle coupling holes) + 2 (Tee) = ….

(1708 mm + …. = ….) minus length of each Nozzle coupling + Tee fitting = ….

The …. of 3/8" tubing is cut into 6 segments …., …., …., …., …., and …. mm.

One of the tube segments is cut again so that the 90° elbow can be attached.
Each one of these is cut in half so a Tee piece connector can be added between them.

Alternatively, offset every 2nd row by halfway. If each 2" (50.8 mm) hole is spaced 25mm apart, then the distance between the centre of each hole is 75mm. With a drum height of 825mm, but the row of holes begins 16cm below that, then there will be room for 8 rows. But after every 2nd row, the PVC pipe that is inserted has its length increased by 15mm. This reduces the number of holes that row can have.

1st and 2nd row (500mm Dia – 50mm = 450mm) x (3.14 = 1413mm)
1413mm / 75mm distance between each hole = 18 holes with 0.6mm extra spacing

3rd and 4th row (500mm Dia – 80mm = 420mm) x (3.14 = 1318.8mm)
1318.8mm / 75mm distance between each hole = 17 holes with 0.4mm extra spacing

5th and 6th row (500mm Dia – 110mm = 390mm) x (3.14 = 1224.6mm)
1224.6mm / 75mm distance between each hole = 16 holes

7th and 8th row (500mm Dia – 140mm = 360mm) x (3.14 = 1130.4mm)
1130.4mm / 75mm distance between each hole = 15 holes

Total: 132 holes (+ 19 if smaller plants are put into the lid, instead of a tree)

Remember to cut the pipe at an angle, beginning 25mm from where it enters the drum.


Additionally, the drum lid should be big enough to fit a tree trunk whose whose diameter does not exceed 300mm when fully grown. Likewise, the plant stems growing through the 2" holes must not exceed that diameter when fully grown. Or another 19 holes can be drilled into the lid instead.

 

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Misting Nozzles
​

There are two basic types of misting nozzles: Impingement and Impellar.

Some Impellar nozzles are 'cleanable' in that the design allows for the barrel-shaped impellar to be removed and cleaned of debris. Very high pressure (6,000 kPa and above) have an anti drip-spring, which the nozzle can function without.

• Orifice sizes
  
  • Small: 0.08mm, 0.1mm, or 0.15mm
  • Medium: 0.2mm, 0.5mm
  • Large: 0.6mm, 1mm

• CoolMist Systems Australia
  • Normist Spray Nozzles

0.7mm | Thread: 10/24" | 100° spray

• Nickel Brass NM70BH-U1
• 303 Stainless Steel NM70SSH-U1

0.4mm | Thread: 10/24" | 90° spray

• Nickel Brass NM40BH-HF-U1
• Steel NM40SS316-U1
  

0.3mm | Thread: 10/24" | 80° spray

• Nickel Brass NM30BH-U1
• Steel NM30SSH-U1
  

Push-in Fittings

• For 3 Root containers with 6 misting nozzles in each
  
  • 18 x (Nickel plated Brass) Nozzle coupling for 3/8" tube with 10/24" female port
    Number: 0301001
    
  • 5 x Nickel plated Brass Tee for 3/8" tubing
    Number: 0301004
    
  • 1 x Nickel plated Brass Elbow 90° for 3/8" tubing
    Number: 0301005
    
  • 18 x Misting heads
    
  • 40m of 3/8" Nylon tubing (0.375" or 9.525 mm)
    
    • Rough estimate: 40m @ $7.4547 per Meter = ($298)
      
• Fishing line

 

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Neoprene Collers & Seed Propergation​

• eBay – (Pack of 65) - EZ-CLONE 2" or 50.8mm Diameter Neoprene Cloning Collar (Soft)
• eBay – (Pack of 65) - EZ-CLONE 2" or 50.8mm Diameter Neoprene Cloning Collar (Hard)
• 
  
• Seedling Pot
  
  • Toilet ponkers, Egg Carton
    

Ultrasonic Foggers (Mist Maker)​

Produces 1μ to 5μ droplets. Due to the displacement of available oxygen, these are best suited for propagation and early vegetative cycles. For flowering or fruit production, plants perform much better with a droplet sizes closer to 50μ (Microns).

• Amazing Amazon - Pond Mist Maker + 3 disk, 5 disk
• 

Pressure Tank​

• Aquastream - Uniflow Pure Water Pressure Storage Tank (37.8L or 75.7L)
• 
  
• Malcolm Thompson Pumps – Graundfos GT Series
• 

In-line Filter​

• H2OshopOnline - AMIAD Semi Auto Scanaway Filter 50mm inlet/outlet (w/ 130µ screen)
• 
  
• • AMIAD Semi-Automatic Filters .pdf
  • 
    
  • Blueprints.pdf (Dimensional drawings)
  • H2OshopOnline - AMIAD Tagline Super 3" Screen Filter 100 Micron Screen Element
  • 

Water Chiller​

• The Aquarium Shop - Teco TK150 Aquarium Chiller
  
• Aquarium Products - Teco TK150 Aquarium Chiller
• 
  
• Guppys Aquarium Products - Hailea HC-130A 1/15hp Chiller Marine Aquarium to 150L
• 

Circulation Pump​

• Guppys Aquarium Products - Hailea HX-6510 Wet/Dry​
  • 0.11 bar (1.2m head-height) @ 480 L/h – 1 Litre per 7.5 seconds​
  • ​
• Aquatuning Australia - Watercool WCP D5​
  • Aquatuning Australia - Watercool HEATKILLER® D5-TOP​
  • ​
• PLE - EK D5 PWM G2 Barebones Liquid Cooling Pump 1.35 bar (3.9m) @ 1,500 L/h​
• ​

+ PLE - EK XTOP Revo D5 Acetal Pump Top – 12V – 1.9 A​

• eBay - Watercool HEATKILLER® WCP D5-VARIO pump motor with D5-TOP housing​
  • 1.4 bar pressure (3.7m head-height) @ 1,500 L/h – 1 Litre per 2.4 seconds​
  • Watercool WCP D5-VARIO pump​

Air Pump​

• Guppys Aquarium Products - Eheim Air Pump 100
  • + Check-valve
• Aquarium Products - Fluval Q2 Air Pump
  • manual.pdf
• The Aquarium Shop - Fluval Q2 Aquarium Air Pump Single Outlet /w adjustable flow

 

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Water Pump ​

(Needs to be tap pressure @ 6 bar (600 kPa) = 50m or 70m head-height)

• Converting Pump Head to Pressure and Vice Versa
  • Note: A Torrium 2 pump controller needs be installed regardless of pump selection.
    
• Malcolm Thompson Pumps – Grundfos CM Booster Pump CMB 3-6
• 
  
• Cool Tech Pumps
  • Davey Pump Range.pdf (+ Torrium 2 Controller included)
    
  • HM160-19T – 600 kPa (6 bar) @ 1.8 kW (160 lpm) $1,570
  • 
    
  • HM60-10T – 690 kPa (6.9 bar) @ 0.94 kW (60 lpm) $1,199
  • 
    
  • HM90-13T – 680 kPa (6.8 bar) @ 1.4 kW (90 lpm) $1,399
  • 
    
  • HM90-11T – 585 kPa (5.8 bar) @ 1.05 kW (90 lpm) $1,339
  • 
    
  • HM60-08T – 575 kPa (5.7 bar) @ 0.72 kW (60 lpm) $1,040
• 
  
• Stratco Pump Range

“Torrium 2” Automatic Pressure Controller for Water Pump

• Cool Tech Pumps - Davey Torrium2 TT70/S Pressure Controller with "Plug and Play" Leads
  
• Pumps2You - Davey TT70 Torrium®2 Replacement Controller
  
• The Farm Store - Torrium 2 Controller

Electrical Connections​

• Power Cord (Extension Leads)
  • Bunnings - HPM 20m 15A Caravan Extra Heavy Duty Extension Cable
    
• Powerboard
  • Bunnings - Arlec Individually Switched Surge Protected 6 Outlet Powerboard (Black)
  • Bunnings - Arlec 1.8m White 6 Outlet Surge Protect Powerboard
    
• Protective cover
  • Bunnings - Excalibur 6 Outlet Outdoor Safety Box
  • 
    
  • Bunnings - Excalibur Red IP55 Outdoor Extension Lead Safety Box
    Bunnings - Ampfibian X1 Weatherproof Connector Protector
    
• Calculating power usage
  • Bunnings - Arlec Energy Cost Electrical Meter

Backup Power Supply​

• Automatic Transfer Switches

These can only be used with an “Automatic-Start” (2-Wire) Generator.
Those with “Remote-Start” will need to have their control panel ‘hot-wired’ to the ATS.

• EATON - ATC-900 Controller – (Manual)
  
• SmartGen – Automatic Transfer Switches
• • If using batteries, their Voltage (Total charge) can be measured by a PentaMetric by placing a shunt between the batteries Negative wire and combiner box. This device can turn on a Relay once the batteries charge drops to a set level. This actives the ATS, giving the batteries time to recharge.

This ATS will only combine two power supplies (Primary and Back-up)

• Latronics - High Speed Automatic AC Transfer Switch (ACTS40)

 

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Solenoid Valve + Timer​

• General Purpose (Normally Closed) Differential Solenoid Valve (Brass) – ½" (12.7mm) 24v
  • + 10mm Tube x 1/2" BSPT Screw Thread St. Union – SKU: YPC10-04
    
• Digital Timer (0.1sec-99 hrs On/Off) 10-28 Volts AC/DC
  • Tutorial on how to Wire a DIN plug
  • Manual.pdf
    
• Bridge Rectifier: Converts AC (Alternating Current) into DC (Direct Current).

About Solenoid Valves and their Cable and Plug types​

DIN Connector cables plug into an interface to connect devices together.

The DIN 43650 (EN 175301-803) (a.k.a MPM or Sugercube connectors) are the plugs used with Solenoid valves. They are 3-pin electrical plugs with earth-contacts.

These are available in three versions, the main difference being the pin spacing.

• Form A: Blocky U-shaped pins facing upwards towards the centre. Separated by 18mm spacing.
• Form B: These have two different sizes, ranging from 11mm which have 3 flat (Blades) pins and 10mm with 1 flat pin and 2 U-shaped pins on the bottom, their top-ends facing outwards.
• Form C: Has flat bladed pins that are either 8mm or 9.4mm apart.

M12 and M8 Cable Connectors​

Used for (I) Industrial, (C) Control, and (S) Systems or ICS for short. These 8 cable types were first introduced at the Hannover Fair in 1985. They come in 3, 4, 5, 8, and 12 pin variations, with the 4-pin being the most common (Note that the M8 only has the 3, 4, 8 pin varieties).

The A-code M12 connectors are Micro DC 'Micro Direct Current’ (MDC) or ‘Micro-change' for short, are used for sensors, transmitters, and powering instruments. An MDC receptacle is a 'Field Wireable Bulkhead' (No soldering required for connecting wires) that provides a mating point for M12 cables.

The M12 wires may be connected to the DIN 43650 connectors / sockets.

• Example: ProductsForAutomation - DIN 43650 to MDC

Reservoir (Esky)​

• Bunnings - Esky Arctic Pro Cooler – 120L

Nutrients (Organic)

GrowRoom - Canna Bio Vega 1L
GrowRoom - Canna Bio Flores 1L​

Biological Control (Insects & disease)​

• Fishpond.com.au - API Stress Zyme 240ml ($31.34)
• Should also be available at pet stores.

pH and ppm Measurement / Adjustment​

• pH Meter
  • HM Digital PH-200
    • manual.pdf
      
• TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) Digital Meter
  • HM Digital COM-100
    • manual.pdf
      
• Calibration and Storage Solutions
  • Hydroponic Solutions - HY-GEN
  • HydroponicXpress – HY-GEN pH Electrode Storage Solution (250mL)
  • ibrew - pH 7.01 Buffer sachet (20mL)
  • ibrew - Hanna pH probe Storage Solution
    
• Dosing pump to automatically adjust pH​
  • Aquarium Online Supplies - EHEIM Autoliquid Liquid Doser​

 

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Plumbing Parts + (Tools & Accessories)​

Be warned that BSP “British Standard Pipe” (a.k.a. “Whitworth 55°” thread form) can mean either a BSPT “British Standard Pipe Taper” or a BSPP “British Standard Pipe Parallel” thread type.

The difference is that a BSPT thread (The spiral-like pattern) is angled slightly inward, giving it a subtle cone shape. This gives the thread a better seal against high pressures, but it shouldn’t be joined with a BSPP or NPT fitting (Cross-threading). The reason is that, while it may appear to be tight, only a couple of threads will be engaging.

NPT “National Pipe Thread” is another thread type that’s good for high pressure seals (Mainly gas). It also has a cone-like thread, but unlike BSPT which has a crest (The width and height of each tooth) of 55°, the NPT thread has a crest of 60°. It requires less sealant than BSPT (Two turns of plumbers tape) but any more than that and there is the risk of leakage.

BSPP is the most popular type of thread in Australia and when paired with a ‘Bonded Seal Ring’ or ‘O-ring’, no thread sealant is required.

Tools & Accessories​

• 1 x Hose Cutter
• 2 x Craftright 250mm Adjustable Wrench

Draining Root Containers to Nutrient Reservoir​

• Hose / Tubing (18mm ID) for Draining Root Containers to Nutrient Reservoir
  • Nylex 18mm x 18m Heavyweight Garden Hose
    (Can be used for Manifold connections instead of Reinforced Pressure Hose)

• 3 x Tank Fittings (½") 15mm (a.k.a Skin or Bulkhead Fitting) to drain the Root Containers
  Bunnings - Holman 15mm Female Tank Fitting
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 15mm Female Tank Fitting
• 2x Tee with 19mm barb and a 15mm Male thread
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Barbed Tee with a 15mm BSP Male Thread
  • Hills Irrigation – 19mm barb x 15mm Tee
• 1x 90° Elbow (19mm barb to 15mm Male BSP thread)
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Male Barbed Threaded Elbows - 5 Pack
  • Hills Irrigation – 19mm x 15mm BSP Male Elbow
• 1 x 19mm barb Tail to 20mm BSP thread (20mm – ¾" in decimal is 0.75"
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Tail x 20mm BSP Male Director
  • Hills Irrigation – 19mm Barb x 20mm BSP Male POLY DIRECTOR
• 1x 90° Elbow M/F 20mm (¾" Male – ¾" Female)
  • Bunnings - Philmac ¾" M x ¾" F Threaded BSPT Pipe Elbow (Tapered)
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 20mm M/F ELBOW
• 
  
• 1 x Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 20mm BARREL UNION
• 1x 20mm Nipple (¾" or 0.75")
  • Bunnings - Garden Rain 0.75" Poly Irrigation Nipple
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 20mm POLY NIPPLE
• 1 x Tank Fitting 20mm
  Bunnings - Holman 20mm Female Tank Fitting
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 20mm FEMALE TANK FITTING

Connecting the Nutrient Reservoir to the Water Pump Inlet​

• 1 x Tank Fitting 25mm (1")
  Bunnings - Holman 25mm Female Tank Fitting
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 25mm FEMALE TANK FITTING
• 
  
• 1x 25mm Nipple (1")
  • Bunnings - Garden Rain 1" (25mm) Poly Irrigation Nipple
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 25mm POLY NIPPLE
• 1x Threaded Union Fitting to disconnect the Nutrient Reservoir for cleaning (1" or 25mm)
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 25mm BARREL UNION
  • Hardy Spicer
• 2x Tail (Director) 19mm Barb to 25mm (1") Male BSP Thread
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Tail x 25mm BSP Male Director
  • Hills Irrigation – 19mm x 25mm BSP Male POLY DIRECTOR
    
• 1 x Reducing Bush – 1" Female to 1 ¼" Male (25mm to 32mm – In decimal: 1" to 1.5")
• • Bunnings - Garden Rain 1 1/4 x 1" Poly Irrigation Reducer Bush
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 32mm x 25mm Reducing Bush
• 
  
• Hose / Tubing (18mm OD) to connect the Reservoir onto the Pumps inlet
• • (Alternative)
  • Bunnings - Kinetic 19mm x 5m Reinforced Pressure Hose (19.05 mm ID)

Connecting the Water Pump Outlet to the Tap-Manifold (Pressure Tank)​

• 1 x 32mm (1 – ½" or 1 – 8/16") Male thread to 1" (25mm) Female reducing bush
  • Bunnings - Philmac 1 - 1 / 2 x 1" Threaded BSP Pipe Bush
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 32mm x 25mm Reducing Bush​
• 1x Threaded Union Fitting to disconnect the tube from the Water Pump Outlet
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 25mm BARREL UNION
• 1 x Tail (Director) 19mm Barb to 25mm Male BSP Thread
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Tail x 25mm BSP Male Director
  • Hills Irrigation - 19mm x 25mm BSP Male POLY DIRECTOR
• Hose / Tubing (18mm ID) to connect Pumps outlet to Manifold

Tap Manifold​

• 1x Manifold with 4 outlets – (1) Pump (2) Pressure Tank (3) In-Line Filter (4) Drain
  • Bunnings - Holman 3 Way Brass Manifold (¾" – 20mm thread) – 3 male : 1 female
• 3 x Female To Female ¾" (20mm) Coupling
  • Bunnings - Garden Rain 20mm Female To Female Rural Poly Irrigation Coupling
• 3 x Tail (Director) 19mm Barb to 20mm Male BSP Thread
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Tail x 20mm BSP Male Director
  • Hills Irrigation – 19mm Barb x 20mm BSP Male POLY DIRECTOR
  • x 1 (In-Line Filter Inlet)
  • x 1 (Pump outlet)
  • x 1 (Drain)

• 8 x Hose Clamp
  • Bunnings - Prime 13-20mm Solid Band Hose Clamp
  • x 4 (Connecting the In-Line Filter Inlet + flushing valve to the Nutrient Reservoir)
  • x 2 (Connecting Pump Outlet to Manifold)
  • x 2 (Connecting Nutrient Reservoir to Pump Inlet)
• Nipple / Raiser 30cm long (32mm – 1 ½" BSP Male thread) to Pressure Tank
  • 2 x Bunnings - Kinetic 20 x 150mm Brass Plain All Thread
  • 
    
  • 1 x Bunnings - Kinetic 20mm Brass Threaded Hexagon Socket

Connecting the In-Line Filter to the Tap-Manifold (Pressure Tank)​

• 1x 50.8mm (2") to 25mm (1") reducing bush
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 50mm x 25mm REDUCING BUSH
• 1x Nipple (25mm – 1") for attaching the Union fitting
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 25mm Poly Nipple
  • Bunnings (Alternative)
    • 50.8mm (2") to 1–¼" Reducing Bush - Philmac 2" x 1-1/2" Threaded BSP Bush
    • 1–¼" to 1" Reducing Bush - Philmac 1 - 1 / 2 x 1" Threaded BSP Pipe Bush
    • Nipple (25mm) - Garden Rain 1" Poly Irrigation Nipple
• 1x Threaded Union Fitting to disconnect the In-line Filter from the Manifold
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 25mm BARREL UNION

• 1x 19mm barb tail to 25mm Male BSP Thread (Connecting the hose from the manifold)
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Tail x 25mm BSP Male Director
  • Hills Irrigation - 19mm x 25mm BSP Male POLY DIRECTOR

Connecting the In-Line Filter (Exhaust / Flushing valve) to the Nutrient Reservoir

• 1 x 32mm (1 – ½" or 1 – 8/16") Male thread to 1" (25mm) Female reducing bush
  • Bunnings - Philmac 1 - 1 / 2 x 1" Threaded BSP Pipe Bush
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 32mm x 25mm Reducing Bush
• 1 x Threaded Union Fitting to disconnect the Nutrient Reservoir for cleaning (1" or 25mm)
• • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 25mm BARREL UNION
  • Hardy Spicer
• 2x 19mm barb tail to 25mm Male BSP Thread
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Tail x 25mm BSP Male Director
  • Hills Irrigation - 19mm x 25mm BSP Male POLY DIRECTOR
• 1x 25mm Female Tank Fitting
  • Bunnings - Holman 25mm Female Tank Fitting
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 25mm FEMALE TANK FITTING

Connecting the Solenoid Valve to the In-Line Filter​

• 1x 50.8mm (2") to 25mm (1") reducing bush
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 50mm x 25mm REDUCING BUSH
  • Bunnings (Alternative)
    • 50.8mm (2") to 1–¼" Reducing Bush - Philmac 2" x 1-1/2" Threaded BSP Bush
    • 1–¼" to 1" Reducing Bush - Philmac 1 - 1 / 2 x 1" Threaded BSP Pipe Bush
    • Nipple (25mm) - Garden Rain 1" Poly Irrigation Nipple
      

Connecting the Nylon Tubing to Solenoid Valve​

• ½" (15mm) Male thread BSP to 3/8" tube (10mm) Push-to-fit connector
  • 10mm Tube x 1/2" BSPT Screw Thread St. Union – SKU: YPC10-04

PVC pipes for inserting into the Holes of each Drum / Tote​

• PVC pipe (2" or 50.8mm) for putting into the holes.
  • 37m = $261.96
• 
  
• Caulking Gun to use with sealant to fix the PVC pipes in place

Connecting Nutrient Reservoir to Water Chiller​

• 1 x 3m of Copper Tube – ½" (15mm) – (Annealed)
  Note that, while it says 15mm (Refers to pipe fitting), the pipe is actually 12.7mm OD​
  • Bunnings - Kembla 1/2" x 3m Annealed Copper Tube​
• 
  
• 2 x Push-to-Fit (Compression fitting) for ½" Copper with a ¾" (20mm) Male BSP thread​
  • Bunnings - SmarteX P 16mm x 3 / 4" Push Fit Brass Pex Male Connector​

Even if a filter was placed between the Reservoir and Water chiller, the nutrients and bio-mass will still erode the internals of a chiller. It’s for this reason that clean water (Reverse Osmosis) is passed through a copper tube in a closed-loop. This allows the chiller to draw heat from the reservoir while keeping its own clean water separate.

• 2 x Tank Fittings​
  • Bunnings - Holman 20mm Female Tank Fitting​
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 20mm Female Tank Fitting​

• 2 x Nipple (20mm – ¾" in decimal is 0.75")​
  • Bunnings - Garden Rain 0.75" Poly Irrigation Nipple​
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 20mm Poly Nipple​
• 2 x Barrel Union​
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 20mm BARREL UNION​
• 2 x 90° Elbow (20mm Male to 20mm Female)​
  • Bunnings - Garden Rain 0.75" Poly Irrigation M/F Elbow​
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 20mm Poly Threaded Male and Female Elbow​
• 2x 19mm barb tail to 20mm Male BSP Thread
  • Bunnings - Pope 19mm Tail x 20mm BSP Male Director
  • Hills Irrigation – 19mm Barb x 20mm BSP Male POLY DIRECTOR

Attaching the Circulation Pump in between the Reservoir and water chiller​

• Hose to Water Chiller​
  • The 19mm OD hose should fit onto the Water Chiller’s ¾" barbed outlet​
• Attaching the hose to the Circulation Pump’s Outlet (Hole on the side)​
  • Hills Irrigation - 19mm x 15mm BSPM POLY DIRECTOR​
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 15mm BARREL UNION​
  • Hills Irrigation - TEFEN ¼'' (6mm) x ½" (15mm) Bush​
  • Hills Irrigation - TEFEN ¼" (6mm) Nipple​
• Connecting the hose from the Reservoir to the Circulation Pump Inlet (The hole in the middle)​
  • 1 x Hills Irrigation - 19mm x 15mm BSPM POLY DIRECTOR​
  • 1 x Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 15mm BARREL UNION​
    • The Barrel Union is not placed directly on the Pump Inlet, but after 15cm or 20cm of hose, so the tube can be attached underwater. For this, another Director is needed. Water is poured into the hose attached to the pump Inlet while the reservoir is elevated. Once your able to have the stream of water loop around into the same container, lower the reservoir so any bubbles remaining in the copper coil rise to the top. Then fasten the two ends together.​
  • 2 x Hills Irrigation - 19mm x 15mm BSPM POLY DIRECTOR​
  • Hills Irrigation - TEFEN ¼'' (6mm) x ½" (15mm) Bush​
  • Hills Irrigation - TEFEN ¼" (6mm) Nipple​

Connecting the other hole on the reservoir straight to the Water Chiller​

• A length of 18mm wide hose will connect the other barb of the Chiller to the 2nd Tank Fitting​

Connecting Air Pump to Nutrient Reservoir​

• 1 x Tank Fitting ½" (15mm)​
  • Bunnings - Holman 15mm Female Tank Fitting
  • Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 15mm Female Tank Fitting​
  • ​
• 2 x Push-to-fit (Compression fitting) ½" (15mm) BSP to 8mm or ¼" hose​
  • Hardy Spicer​
  • (Alternatively)
    • 1 x Hills Irrigation - HANSEN 15mm Female Tank Fitting
    • 2 x Hills Irrigation - TEFEN 3/8'' (10mm) x ½'' (15mm) BUSH
    • 2 x Hills Irrigation - TEFEN 8mm x 3/8'' (10mm) Hose Tail (Director)

Insulating Pipes​

• Bunnings - K-Flex 9 x 19mm x 1m Elastomeric Pipe Insulation - Suits 3/4" Pipe​
  • Tubes from Nutrient Reservoir to Water Chiller​
  • Tubes Between Root containers to Nutrient Reservoir​
  • Tube from Nutrient Reservoir to Pump Inlet​
  • Tube from Pump Outlet to Manifold​
  • Tube from Manifold to In-line Filter​
    • Bunnings - K-Flex 13 x 13mm x 1m Elastomeric Pipe Insulation - Suits 1/2" Pipe​
  • ¼" Tube from Air Pump to Nutrient Reservoir​

Insulating Root Containers​

• Bunnings – Aluminium Tape (15mm wide – 50m long)​
• Foil Insulation​
  • Foil Insulation available from Bunnings Warehouse​

 

[Hootenanny]

Very interesting stuff you've got going on here... I would like a heap of pics during construction if possible?

 

[linux]

What is the status of this project? I like the large tall barrel, it implements a true aero system.