If your pump can handle it i would go with sprayers at each plant site and do the aero. The plants would love it. But it is VERY unforgiving when it comes to mistakes or power outages. You can easily lose a crop in a day or 2 in aero. It is generally not for beginners.
As for how to design it, thats up to you and your situation. Build it to fit your needs. No one can tell ya how to do it, you know your budget the best.

Ebb and flow is more forgiving from everything i've seen, PH swings are more tolerated, and if it came down to it you could hand water your girls in a power outage.

I have been very happy with DWC, it is quite forgiving and a great intro into growing.

This link is a debate on aero
http://forums.cannabisculture.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1732558&page=1

You said something that makes me wonder if aero is gonna work for you.. "I'm on a budget". I'm not tryin to dissuade you but aero which is essentially what your doing is somewhat pricey at start up...

Do you have a good meter? i.e. ph, ppm rez temp.

Are you planning to use a chiller to chill the nutrients?? If not how do you plan to keep the nutes below 70 degrees???

Are you gonna be able to afford nutrients and additives for the entire grow??

Aerator for the res?? Plants love o2..

There are just a couple of things to keep in mind..

Thanks guys for the replies.

You brought up some good points, and that's why I'm asking here from those who are in the know!

I do actually have a TDS meter and a PH test kit, and was wondering myself about what kind of nutrients I was going to use.

I'm actually posting here on the cannabis forum because i know that growers know more than anyone about hydroponics, but funny enough, I'm not growing pot...lol.

I'm just wanting to grow regular old veggies indoors before spring comes, and know that next year i can grow things like lettuce indoors in the winter time.

So, as for the nutrients, I'm guessing they are different for just regular old garden veggies??

i was told it was ok to use local store bought powdered fertilizer mix as long as it has micro-nutrients in it, but the more i read, the more I'm wondering about all of that part of it.


As far as keeping the nutrient below 70 degrees, nothing I've read yet or seen in videos on youtube indicated that needed to happen, so again, I'm wondering if that's a cannabis thing, or should be applied for ALL things grown hydroponically, including my veggies.

What about that self sustaining system where the nutrient tank is full of fish and the fish provide nutrients for the plants? Do they work??

I'm not so worried about power outages because I'm going to be running everything off 12V, I have a solar power system I'm just putting together with good deep cycle batteries, so this will be a self sustaining off the grid hydroponic system.

So, what do you think??

buy your veggies.. ain't gonna be cost effective... but have at it...

Dude, the way things are going, they might not be there to buy one day.

Self reliance is the name of the game!

So, no veggies, where you gonna get the power to run your aeroponics? lol

Like I just said, I've got a solar power setup that will run the hydroponic setup.

hahaha.. me too, its called "The SUN" and it grows veggies the best. If you dont' have enough SUN to grow veggies out doors, then you don't have enough to run solar panels. FYI.

Dude....so negative.....LOL

I don't know where you live, but I live in Canada, and it's currently minus 6!!

I really WISH the sun could heat and power my whole home, but alas, i cannot afford 50K to rewire my house with solar panels.

The whole point of my hydroponic system is to grow veggies in a winter climate and/or if there for some reason is an interruption of our food supply.

You might think it's crazy, but it could happen.

I've got a decent garden in the summer, but the growing season is short here, so I'm going to get a head start with my seeds this year and have an early yield.

When fall comes, I'm starting more seeds for winter time crops, and in the spring, I'll have a head start on the growing season.

What's wrong with that??

You are just a bit paranoid. No one said you were doing anything wrong or stupid, or just plain retarded.


Just a bit misguided I'd say. I grew up in Michigan, you use Cold boxes in the fall and spring, and grow great veggie crops. But if you have the same 70% overcast on average. No point doing solar, its not worth the investment.