[GpsFrontier]

I would also agree that using totes for peppers, tomato's or any large plant where the reservoir is in the bottom of the tote wont work well. Besides the weight issue there is nutrient changes, pH checks, pump filter cleanings to consider that will become very difficult as the plants get bigger. I try to make maintenance issues as easy as I can for myself.

My other questions are in regards to more complicated setups I've seen. For instance, this web site shows an 11 plant system using 2 litter pop bottles....however, it didn't explain whether this system is constantly running, or if it's on a timer. If it is in fact on a timer, how many times per day, and for how long does the water solution need to be given to the plants?

The 11 plant system is a flood and drain type of system. You use a timer to turn on and off the pump. How often and for how long greatly depends on the type of plants, time of year (hot or cold weather), type of growing medium you are using and even the available settings on your timer. Basically you just want to keep the root system moist, if it is watered too much the roots can suffocate from lack of air/oxygen.

I have also seen two other neat systems I am considering.....one is of a plastic tote, in which you take a submersible pond pump, and run a pvc pipe along the length of the tote....and then fit it with micro sprayers. My question once again with this system is, are these constantly running, or are these on a timer as well? And if on a timer, what kind of intervals are we looking at.

This is either an aeroponic system, or combination aeroponic/water couture system (also called DWC) depending on how you design it. Either way you would also use a timer, but when the root system is hanging in mid air they will dry out much faster, so the watering frequency would need to be increased. They would likely need to be watered about 5 minutes every 20 minutes or so, you can water them longer but shouldn't go more than 30 without water. Again the timer settings are a factor, though you may be able to do with a 30 min on, 30 min off cycles. In the case where the reservoir is in the same container with the misters and roots, once the roots reach the water level they will be able to wick up the solution directly from the reservoir, and probably wont need to be sprayed as often. I would probably still go with a 30 min on, 30 min off cycles, and see how things go, then when the roots reach the water level I might go with a 30 on 60 off cycle and see how it goes.

The last system I've seen that intriques me is the use of foggers. Could a fogger be set up in a tote like system as well?

Yes, you could use a tote, bucket, tube, anything that will contain the fog and allow good distribution to all the roots. Though I nave never used floggers yet, I have seen mixed results in durability regarding them from other people. I would use it in combination with a flood and drain, NFT, aeroponic or any system where the roots are exposed to the air until I was sure the fogger I was using was durable enough. That way I don't loos my plants before I could fix the problem.

I also see many people using large PVC pipe or vinyl posts to cut holes into and use these long systems.....even saw a guy on the net who had one hooked up with both micro sprayers and a fogger! Are there advantages to using long systems like this, as opposed to totes, or is it just all a matter of preference in how the system looks?

The advantages and disadvantages are really all about the type of plants you are growing, your available space, cost of materials, ease of one reservoir for mutipal tubes, what type of system you plan to run it as (NFT, flood & drain etc.), using one pump for mutipal tubes, easy to expand on. Even probably easier maintenance depending on how you set it up and what you grow.

When deciding on a system to build, I usually start by designing it around the type of plant. How big the plant gets when full grown, and if it's a bush, or vine type plant. Then I take into consideration the size of the root system, what type of growing medium that I will be using. Then with that in mind I decide what type of system to run it as (NFT, flood & drain, drip etc.). That gives me basically what I need to know to decide how to build the system and what materials to use, as well as the size of reservoir I should use. If you only have one space to put it you will be limited to that space, I have a big backyard so I usually decide where to put it last.