Low Pressure Aquaponics (LPA) is characterized by its use of relatively low pressure pumps and nozzles that produce droplets rather than a fine mist. These systems are simpler and less expensive to set up than their high pressure counterparts, and are a pretty good option for a DIY project. Pumps sold for backyard ponds are inexpensive, widely available, and work well in this application.
Since LPA systems produce droplets rather than a fine mist, they typically need to water for longer periods, and possibly more frequently, than their high pressure counterparts. The reason is that droplets are not as quickly or easily absorbed, and so a certain percentage of the nutrient solution will drip into the reservoir rather than being absorbed. Aeroponics operators allow for this by passing more solution water over the roots. In some cases, this means that operators leave the spray pumps all the time, giving those systems the nickname of soakponics. This isn't an ideal setup, since the whole point of an aeroponics system is to increase oxygen exposure.
