Why Is Aeration Important In Hydroponics?
Components of the aeration system are essential for proper oxygenation and circulation of nutrients of the hydroponic system. It facilitates faster growth and hence healthier plants. It renders a constant oxygen supply along with a constant supply in the nutrition reservoir which ensures that nutrients do not settle. The most common way to oxygenate the water for hydroponic gardeners in their hydroponic system is use of an air stone.
HOW MUCH AIR IS REQUIRED TO AERATE NUTRIENT SOLUTION IN A HYDROPONIC SYSTEM?
In a Deep Water Culture hydroponic system, it is absolutely crucial to have adequate oxygen levels because roots are submerged. For optimal growth it is recommended to have 1 Litre Per Minute of air pumped into each Gallon of nutrient solution. Therefore a 100 Gallon reservoir would require a 100 LPM air pump for maximum oxygenation.
In every other hydroponic application it is only required to oxygenate the solution enough to prevent it from becoming anaerobic. This means much less air is required. Generally if you have good movement in the solution and the majority of the surface of the solution is broken with bubbles you should be fine. Roughly ¼ – ½ the oxygenation rate of a DWC system should be more than adequate.
It is possible to have too much aeration because the bubbles coming out of the air stone or diffuser create friction. The more friction produced, the more heat produced. So in some cases adding more aeration can be counterproductive.
Water temperatures also affect the amount of oxygen that water can hold. Excessive reservoir temperatures will prevent sufficient oxygen saturation levels. For this reason it is not recommended to exceed 68 Degrees Fahrenheit in your nutrient reservoir.
Keywords
use
heat
cases
roots
reason
amount
bubbles
surface
friction
majority
less air
nutrients
air stone
Components
common way
DWC system
circulation
Hydroponics
HOW MUCH AIR
faster growth
good movement
optimal growth
aeration system
constant supply
100 LPM air pump
healthier plants
oxygenation rate
nutrient reservoir
1 Litre Per Minute
proper oxygenation
Water temperatures
maximum oxygenation
nutrition reservoir
100 Gallon reservoir
hydroponic gardeners
68 Degrees Fahrenheit
constant oxygen supply
adequate oxygen levels
AERATE NUTRIENT SOLUTION
other hydroponic application
Excessive reservoir temperatures
sufficient oxygen saturation levels
Deep Water Culture hydroponic system
