Pump Question for Homemade Aeroponic System

by Bev
(Stowe, VT)

I just completed building an aeroponic system, similar to the one you show on your site.
My question is, do I have to keep the pump running constantly? I don't love the noise, and I'm worried the plants are getting too wet.
Thanks for your advice.

Answer: Bev- for all of the benefits that go with aeroponics, your problem highlights one of the drawbacks. Most hydroponic systems use some sort of medium in which to grow your plants. This not only provides physical support for the plants, but the mass of grow media also absorbs a certain amount of water (and nutrients).

The grow media acts as a protective "buffer zone" to the roots against temperature change or drying out. This allows you to turn your pump off in between irrigation cycles. Some grow media requires less irrigation, like rockwool, and other grow media requires more irrigation, like expanded clay pellets.

In an aeroponic system, the "grow media" is air. This provides the least protection as a buffer zone, therefore requires the most frequent irrigation in order to maintain root zone temperature and moisture levels (and prevent damage). The standard irrigation strategy in an aeroponic system is to use a 1-5 timer....this is a timer that turns your pump on for one minute every five minutes. Unfortunately, the only other option would be to run the pump constantly.

To reduce the noise, you could try building a well insulated sound-proof box in which to keep your nutrient reservoir (but I have never seen this strategy work out very well). One final suggestion is to convert the hydroponic system to a DWC system, similar to the one on this page. It would be much quieter, does not require you to purchase any grow media, and the results you get from the system would be pretty much the same.

Hope this helps you out, and Happy Growing!