AeroVoir watering

[campingcorgis]

Feb 2, 2022 20:37:18 GMT -5 sidd said:

Yes!  I fixed it by lightly wrapping the o-ring connections with plumbers tape: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QF62KXF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for the post & welcome to AGA!  Are there o-rings in the bulb?  

[lynnee]

Feb 2, 2022 20:37:18 GMT -5 sidd said:

Yes!  I fixed it by lightly wrapping the o-ring connections with plumbers tape: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QF62KXF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's whatI wanted to know. Thanks, sidd!

[lynnee]

campingcorgis , I don't think that the new slender have o-rings, but the siphon leak has to be coming from the tubing/bulb joins. I think that the slight movement when a water bubble comes up into the reservoir is the source of the leak.  You get more leakage if you actually squeeze the bulb.

[judib]

A question about the maskedsonnet setup.  I see that the drilled hole seems to be above the water level in the bottom reservoir?  Please advise on this placement as I’m about to make a setup with one of these.  Thanks!

[maskedsonnet]

Yes, the hole for the water tube is above the water-line. Here is a diagram I drew (poorly) to help illustrate what's going on, because I have trouble explaining without a visual aid:

Put one end of the tube through the drilled hole on the reservoir and then start the siphon - suck water through it from the reservoir until it starts flowing - the end of the tube needs to be below water-level in order to keep the flow going. I keep a cup nearby to let the water flow into to make sure I've got the siphon going (again, hold the cup below the water line on the reservoir). Once you've got it going, pinch the line closed (like kinking a garden hose) and push the free end through the deck hole you're using, far enough down that you know you have it in the water inside the Aerogarden. The water levels will equalize and stay that way until you run out of water. The plants use the water in the AG, the tube refills the garden from the reservoir as water is pulled into the plants, and the bottle feeds the reservoir. Where the water-line is is dictated by where the bottle mouth meets the water in the reservoir, and when the bottle runs out the water line will fall as the plants use water and the siphon attempts to keep the water levels equal on both sides. Meaning once the water runs completely out in the bottle the siphon may reverse and start pulling water from the Aerogarden instead. I wait until the water level is down into the neck of the bottle before refilling - that's the easiest way to get the bottle up without raising the water level much in the reservoir and therefore the level in your garden. Please let me know if that helps at all or if you have any questions!

[lynnee]

Feb 3, 2022 16:35:37 GMT -5 lynnee said:

campingcorgis , I don't think that the new slender have o-rings, but the siphon leak has to be coming from the tubing/bulb joins. I think that the slight movement when a water bubble comes up into the reservoir is the source of the leak.  You get more leakage if you actually squeeze the bulb.

Quoting myself to correct a mistake. There are indeed o-rings in the new, slender Aerovoirs! sidd was 100% correct.

I set another one up today, and the bulb came loose from the tubing when I was squeezing the bulb to start the siphon. There is a black o-ring around the tubing that is inserted into the bulb. I need to get out the plumber's tape and fix this. 

[judib]

Thank you so much maskedsonnet!  That is super helpful information.

[judib]

I see that on the AG site, they list the AeroVoirs as 2020 version.  But I don't see a new 2022 one, is there a new type in the works?  I can't seem to find a 22 version on Amazon either.

Edit:  I think that the 2020 version language is to set it aside from whatever version they had before as when I read the description, they talk about the "New Slim tank"  

[campingcorgis]

Feb 14, 2022 15:43:56 GMT -5 judib said:

I see that on the AG site, they list the AeroVoirs as 2020 version.  But I don't see a new 2022 one, is there a new type in the works?  I can't seem to find a 22 version on Amazon either.

Edit:  I think that the 2020 version language is to set it aside from whatever version they had before as when I read the description, they talk about the "New Slim tank"  

Yep, I think you've got it!  

[lynnee]

judib, you're right-- the 2020 Aerovoir is the redesigned one. The original reservoir looked more like a water cooler bottle.

[maggieh]

I have the new Aerovoir. It works really well and then stops. When I try pumping again, there is water in the tube. I pump until there aren't any bubbles and it fills, but it stops filling at some point. So, I pump until there aren't any bubbles and it starts working again. Any ideas what I can do to keep it running?

I also have a second question. I'd like to fill it from the top so I don't have to take the whole thing apart. I was thinking of drilling a hole in the top. Does this have to be a closed system to work. (In other words, will drilling a hole defeat the system?

Thanks

[lynnee]

maggieh, when I have to restart the siphon on the new AeroVoir, I put a yellow Post-It on the reservoir at the waterline. That way I can tell for sure if it's working. Since you're pumping out the bubbles, it may be running okay, but temporarily "stalled" because the AG plants aren't drinking much water.

If you're sure that the water isn't running, check to see whether roots might be blocking the AeroVoir siphon. The part that goes into the AG needs to be as close to the bottom of the bowl as possible, and unobstructed.

Also, check to make sure that the siphon tube isn't leaking anywhere, and that you have the AeroVoir at the correct height vis-a-vis your AG model (see AeroVoir instructions).
🤨

I don't know the answer to your second question, but someone else here probably will.

[judib]

Feb 15, 2022 18:05:12 GMT -5 maggieh said:

I have the new Aerovoir. It works really well and then stops. When I try pumping again, there is water in the tube. I pump until there aren't any bubbles and it fills, but it stops filling at some point. So, I pump until there aren't any bubbles and it starts working again. Any ideas what I can do to keep it running?

I also have a second question. I'd like to fill it from the top so I don't have to take the whole thing apart. I was thinking of drilling a hole in the top. Does this have to be a closed system to work. (In other words, will drilling a hole defeat the system?

Thanks

Maybe there are bubbles in the line you can’t see?  I always start the siphon by mouth vacuum… then fold the tube over to stick it in and then release the bend. I pump a couple times just for good measure.  When I try to start just using the pump I can never get rid of all the bubbles.  I also want to fill from the top!  I hope someone can tell us if this would work or if drilling a hole would ruin the system.

[judib]

Feb 15, 2022 18:05:12 GMT -5 maggieh said:

I have the new Aerovoir. It works really well and then stops. When I try pumping again, there is water in the tube. I pump until there aren't any bubbles and it fills, but it stops filling at some point. So, I pump until there aren't any bubbles and it starts working again. Any ideas what I can do to keep it running?

I also have a second question. I'd like to fill it from the top so I don't have to take the whole thing apart. I was thinking of drilling a hole in the top. Does this have to be a closed system to work. (In other words, will drilling a hole defeat the system?

Thanks

Hi, I went to the AG site and asked about the possible effects of drilling a hole in the top, here is their reply 

You could do that if you would like to the item, though this would void the Warranty on it as it is "deliberate damage" on the item. It would not stop the Aervoir from functioning though and it would work just the same. You do not need any pressurization per say

I did suggest that in the next re-design, they put a fill port in the top and she said she would pass that along to the design team. So maybe we will see this on the next version.

[lynnee]

Thanks for researching the hole on top, judib!

[bigshot]

My aerovoires are right next to the aerogardens and algae would grow in them from the lights. I cut a square of mirror reflective mylar and taped it to the side of the tank and it fixed the problem. It reflects light back into the garden too. You can find reflective film cheap at Amazon.

[lynnee]

What a great tip, bigshot!

[bigshot]

Here's a pic...

[scarfguy]

Are those ping pong balls you are using for pod covers?

[bigshot]

They're glow in the dark golf balls. They fit the holes perfectly and they glow in various colors!

I always leave a third of the holes without a seed pod. It gets too crowded if I plant all the holes.