Product FAQ.

Please email or text if you have a question that is not on this FAQ page. Also remember to read our articles in the learn section and view our product manuals. Further technical information is available via the Multiponics YouTube Channel Thanks and happy gardening!

1) How loud is the system? Will it disturb sleep or conversation?

The pumps and nozzles are not very loud at all, and do not typically disturb anyone's sleep. Much quieter than a fan, for example. Conversations can be held at a normal volume.

2) How many nozzles hook up to each pump?

Our special select upgraded Aquatec 8800 pump model can support 10-12 nozzles and maintain adequate pressure. When too many or too few nozzles are used, pressure can be too high and water droplets are created that are outside the "sweet spot" demonstrated by Richard Stoner and the NASA studies. It should be noted that the pumps can support far more nozzles (up to about 24) if the "sweet spot" is not a concern in your particular system.

3) What pressure does each pump run at?

Our special select upgraded Aquatec 8800 pump model is rated to 160PSI operating pressure. Adding nozzles will decrease pressure and increase droplet size. By running the correct number of nozzles (1-12), the pressure from your pump should be 80-160PSI.

4) I'm interested in growing with one of your systems, but it seems intimidating. Do you have an example or diagram of using your DIY kits?

Our systems are really pretty simple. We some examples below, which should illustrate the general concept that our systems use, and you should be able to apply this concept however you want. The external pump will pull water from a reservoir, through a filter. The water is then pushed over a closed loop of nozzles at a high pressure to create a misting system.

5) How many microns is the spray from your nozzles?

When using Multiponics equipment and our special model (from the Aquatec 8800 series) pumps (selected by our engineering team specifically for use in precision high pressure aeroponics applications), and with adequate number of nozzles, the resulting water droplets end up in between 30-80 microns in diameter. This is the "sweet spot" size described by Richard Stoner and NASA that gives high pressure aeroponics it's significant advantages over other methods of growing. Learn more in our website's "Learn" section.

(pictured: Multiponics high pressure misting nozzles spraying over a recirculating hydro system)

6) How many plants/how much area does the DIY kit cover? How many nozzles do I need per plant?

There is no hard and fast rule for plant count or area with our systems however. The amount of time your pump and nozzles are on as well as the amount of ventilation in the root chamber will determine how much area or how many plants your particular setup can support. Size of the plants and root masses is also a factor. If the root mass is so large that one nozzle cannot adequately cover it, then another nozzle OR a greater amount of spray time will be required to adequately water or irrigate the roots.

7) How do I clean the equipment?

We recommend cleaning the mesh screen on your filter with hot water once to twice per week. Your nozzles should be cleaned regularly as well by soaking in a hydrogen peroxide solution or isopropyl alcohol. The tubing and pump can be cleaned by flushing warm hydrogen peroxide solution through them. This is done by filling up the reservoir with a hydrogen peroxide solution. Prevention is far easier to address than the cure in the case with our equipment.  Never allow nutrient solution to dry inside of the equipment.  This will cause scum build-up and accumulation of particulates.

8) What do I do if my pump isn't at a high pressure?

It is most likely the case that your pump or another piece of equipment is not fully connected (be sure all quick connect fittings are fully engaged), clogged or otherwise not clean. If your equipment is stagnant or not cleaned properly for an extended period of time, then scum and biological buildup can accumulate throughout the system.  The pump can also show low pressure when there are air bubbles in the tubing.  To remove these air bubbles from the pump, begin to run the pump.  While running, physically rotate the pump so that the air bubbles can find their way out.  This should resolve any issues.

9) How do I keep my pump running the longest?

Our pumps are rated to 30,000 hours but this lifespan can be shortened by a few factors. To keep your pump running the longest that it can, we recommend cleaning the filter twice a week. This will reduce the amount of opposing force on the pump. In addition, cleaning the reservoir for your system will reduce any negative biological buildup in any of your system. Keeping parts clean helps your pump operate smoothly and easily. We also recommend fully cleaning out nozzles, tubing, any connecting pieces, reservoirs, root/plant chambers, and the pump in between each run or crop. We recommend doing this with a hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol solution. Also, consider using Multiponics solenoids and timers to further extend pump life. 

10) Can I use your pump with PVC? How important is using your tubing? 

We highly recommend against toxic chemicals such as PVC and advise using our tubing. Our tubing is food grade plastic rated for high pressures (up to 150 psi), and is meant for a high pressure low flow pump. PVC tubing has been found to be toxic to plants in some cases, and is also not rated to a high enough pressure for us to recommend it. PVC and similar tubing is meant for low pressure, high flow situations and generally does not work well with our equipment's quick-connect interface.

11) I am using your pump with nozzles in bucket systems. How many nozzles do I need per bucket, or how many buckets can I run on each pump?

This generally depends on a few factors. The longer the spray or on time for the pump, the fewer nozzles required. The same is true for a bucket that is not ventilated. The more venting that a root chamber receives, the more moisture that needs to be put into the root chamber. Usually, one nozzle per bucket is adequate. If the grower wants to achieve an Ideally-sized micron spray from the high pressure nozzles, then our special select model of the Aquatec 8800 series pump can support about 12 of these. If the size of the mist or water droplets is not a concern and you are using our nozzles, then the 8800 can support about 24 of these.

12) Where should I configure my pump relative to my reservoir?

This is fairly irrelevant to how the pump will operate. Since the pumps we sell are high pressure and low flow, they will be able to work perfectly whether they are above or below your reservoir or root chamber. The pump will operate correctly in any position.

13) My nozzles dribble and drip when the pump turns off. How do I stop this?

When the pump switches from on to off, the pressure in the lines begins to reduce and equalize. This causes the water exiting the nozzles to change from a fine mist to larger water droplets, or even a stream of water. This is not favorable and is generally avoided, especially in high pressure aeroponic systems. The way to prevent this from occurring is to configure the nozzles above the main line of tubing it's attached to. In this case, when the pump is switched off, the water or nutrient solution will fall back into the tubing and lines rather than dribbling out of the nozzles. This will avoid getting roots wet with larger drops of water that are not absorbed as efficiently.

14) Is there an instruction manual or video showing a setup example?

Yes, please view our Product Manuals page.