Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I bring the water into my growbeds at one point. I figured I'd try that since I can always make a grid later but I didn't what to spend the money on all the extra parts if I don't really need it. Grids can also get blocked up with solids so there is extra maintenance involved. So far with the single entry point, I have noticed some extra solids build up in some of the beds but poking a bit with a stick or hand trowel every once in a while has keep thinks going ok. Perhaps there is more problem with roots crowding around in that location causing water flow to back up a bit and flow over the gravel some but it hasn't been a big problem yet.

I have a steel rod that I poke the bed with, to clear up the entry point - mostly roots really.

I have a loop of 25mm (1") pvc around the edge of the GBs.
Sorry about the crappy photo but the fuzzy white line around the edge
of the GBs is the PVC they have a series of 6mm holes drilled to distribute flow.

I noticed roots growing out of the return-to-sump pipe
(must be several metres long) a twist of the standpipe cover and it is fixed

OB do you need someone on the other end to help LOL
(Thinking a steel drill rod)

nah, can lift 3 meters by myself, gets a bit difficult with the 9 meter lenths though

My growbed poking rod is 1/4" steel round bar.....

I've always had mine come in at one point and have no issues with solids build up. The worms do accumulate at that point in large numbers :-)

The flood and drain action also helps to distribute solids.

I think I'll leave it at one entry point I guess I can move the entry to a different spot every now and again if need be.

I am working on a system to fill each GB in turn I'll set it up to suit 4 GB's and just add GB's as the fish grow.

I was planning to have 3 GB's at 1.5:1 ratio if that proves inadaquate I can cull fish or add 4th GB so I can expand to about 3200L of GB or a 2:1 ratio.

The pump can fill a GB in about 12 minutes and auto siphon drains in 8 min. So I should be able to cycle 4 beds once every 80 minutes. Hopefully that will be enough (if not get a bigger pump ).

But I still wonder what the average stocking level really is, maybe 1-2Kg/100L

I will be ramping up my fish load over summer to try and see what can be pushed