Fogponics, Foggerponics, FFT (fog fed technologies)
What ever you want to call it this is quickly becoming the subject of great debate.
What is Fogponics?
Fogponics is a form of aeroponics that mists the roots with a nutrient and oxygen rich "fog". Inside the root chamber of the fogponic system is an ultrasonic fogger that sits at a depth in a float. Ultrasonic foggers operate by oscillating at a frequency of 2MHZ or two million vibrations per second. The nutrient rich water water converts into a "fog" with water particle sizes of 3-5 microns.With the intake openings on roots ranging from 5-100 microns in size. This "fog" is suppose to be the ultimate delivery system to the roots for optimum nutrient uptake.
Ultrasonic fogger units come with any were from 1 to 10 disk heads. The more disks in the fogger unit the more "fog" created. The fogger units sold by grow shops are very expensive, but growers have been using pond foggers. They are basically the same thing but much cheaper.The disks in the fogger units have a tendency to get crusted from nutrient with build up and need to be cleaned on a regular basis. There are different types of disks you can buy.The teflon coated are easier to clean and are not that expensive to replace.
Users of the fogponic systems report faster growth, higher yields, with less nutrient and water use then aeropnics and other types of hydroponic systems. With no misting heads to clog up aeroponic growers went to fogponics thinking it hassle free. Several go back to aeroponics after several problems. The disks in the fogger units crust up from nutrients and need to be cleaned and monitored regularly.If you are running a system with only a one head fogger that went out hours before you were back to check it you probably lost your plants. Under the HID lights plants dry out fast.The is also a large PH drift daily 5.8 to as high as 7 in a day. Also higher water temperatures caused by the fogger units.
DIY fogponic system builders have come up with several different types or growing units. They range from the basic single root chamber to 6" tubes. It seems that the growers using a separate water reservoir and blowing the "fog" through this system are having more complications then the single root chamber system. They were having trouble with full root coverage. Some parts of the roots seemed dry to the touch and plants were having trouble with nutrient intake causing several nutrient deficiencies in plants. Also causing nutrient deficiencies were the heavier nutrient particles don't travel all the way through the system. To combat these problems alot of growers went to redundant growing systems.
Redundant hydroponic systems employ different types of hydroponic and aeroponic systems. Dominaero uses a fogger and ebb and flow. Fogbox uses aeroponic misters, fogger units and Deep Water Culture (DWC) with a drip emitter system option. Using a redundant system gives you the safeguard in case one fails. In all hydroponic systems failure of one component can quickly destroy plants. With the aeroponic and fogponic systems that can happen much quiker. I like the Fogbox system. It can be built for not much additional cost and you can sleep knowing your garden wont be dead when you wake up. I'm in the process of building one to try.
I know I just kinda skimmed the basics of it but for the most part the rest of the fogponics system use the same requirements (light/humidity etc.) as any other form of hydroponics. There are lots of forum posts all over the net. Try fogponics,foggerponics for your keyword search. You tube is another way to see some of these systems in action. I hope this helped a little to get the basics and I'm always interested in hearing feed back and new ideas.
My redundant system plan let me no what you think:
1. 3 head pond fogger unit.
2.aeroponic misters using the king mister heads.
3.DWC-Deep Water Culture basically an airstone
4.Would like to folage feed with the fogger unit.
Not sure if I'm going to buy a 1 head pond fogger and set it up in a seperate nutrient resivor or try to incorprate my 3 head into it.Suggestions welcome.
Thanks
http://www.fogponics.com
http://www.pondparts.com/subcat300.html?gclid=CLe2gIb1k5oCFRwpawodh1keMw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_adkq2SDdQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oAQh8kH94E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU34zHAoS6U&feature=related : fogger units used for foliage feeding and pest control.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6RhpT8gV2M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-7miu8a0uM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brvJ2fGXusU&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur3pxhmRP8A&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNaNLTLGFq4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6o5LTl6GJw&feature=related
http://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/76734-fogponic-propagation-pictorial.html
Alot of great information in this forum. I'm not an advocate but the info is good.
