Air System Enhancements to the Hydroponic Ebb & Flow Table

Dissolved oxygen delivered directly to the roots to promote growth of hydroponic plants is the key to being successful as a hydroponic gardener. Vegetables that have rich nutrient solution and dissolved oxygen in their roots will thrive with less roots than their soil-grown counterparts.


The early system had been fed with a few aquarium-style pumps adding oxygen to the nutrient solution, but we'd been concerned that the large (90 gallon) reservoir, needed more.


Photosynthesis can shutdown when there is a lack of oxygen to the roots, and we wanted to prevent that from happening.


We had a few massive air pumps (from the water treatment system), and our staff added a new 1/2 inch PVC air supply narrowing to a 1/4 inch multi-valve connecter with 6 heads for feeder lines and air stones. I kept a couple of the small aquarium filters running, too.
I've increased the oxygen flow by 400%!

I needed to solve the problem with the 1/4 inch of standing nutrient solution that remained after each flooding. I added 1/2 inch of clay pellets and added two airstones to each side of the table (under the stones). The stones and standing solution create a more aeroponic system, delivering more oxygen directly to the roots.

Oh, by the way two of the rats are now dead. The lettuces are doing much better!




Don't forget...
Yield is proportional to root growth.