Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks coachchris. I don't have any practical experience but coarse sounds better. If you have the package could you save me the time and possible mistake of ordering the wrong one and sending it to Israel? Love to know the product name.
TIA!

Israel, This is a wholesale company, none of their packages say anything. It just comes in a 90' roll and is in a large bag. I'm sure it has a product number, but I don't know what it is. Tell them the blue roll for the course, white is finer.

Got some filter material. Not what you suggested but I am very happy with it. Set up my first tower yesterday. Tomatoes on the top half are looking very happy after one day, bottom ones a bit wimpy. Still a work in progress.

Nice work. I like how you suspended the vertical tower above the sump(?).

How did you attach it? It would be great to see a photo of that.

Thanks.

Regards, Martin.

What did you use to keep space in vertical? One problem I encountered was if I didn't cut a gap in the tower, it would easily smash the seedlings. I used tile spacers to hold open until plants grew out, then they held it open. You can add more by using a gutter or larger drain pipe and running that in to the sump. Basil, lettuce, chives, have all done well for me. Did you plant Toms in yours?

I had a problem getting the water to flow well. My pump returns the water from the sump to the FT. I had the line pretty close to the GB's. I tied the line to the highest point I could get yet it was treating the line that runs to the vertical planter as an intake for a venturi.

Now I am getting some flow but I had to drop the vertical planter pretty low.

I spaced with the plastic pipe that is delivering the water at the top and a few pieces of wood.

I also cut a piece of stiffer 4" pipe but it was not long enough. I did use a band of it at the bottom, inserted to keep the space.

Bright Agrotech just posted a new video on their ZipGrow tower.



http://youtu.be/WWFU2gIjeaA

In it you can see that the gap in their tower is completely closed, just like the problem everyone is talking about. Once the media is inserted, it opens the gap.

Anyway, just thought I'd share . . .

Thanks Jeff. Really enjoyed watching that.

Regards, Martin.

Interesting to note that he didn't wash off the roots. I had some issues with the ones hanging over my sump when I tired that. The soil washed off and ended up in the sump. Ended up washing my root balls, like a DWC install and solved that issue. It probably does slow them down a bit though.

I have found a considerable difference in washing and not washing,washing the root ball really does seem to knock them back,i experimented with some cucumbers in my media beds,washed and just lightly shock to get the worst off,the washed are only half the size,maybe with the potting soil left around the roots they have nutrient to help them as they recover from transplant shock,or the shock isn’t as bad and until they get there feet down into the bed.My biggest problem has been with Toms if i wash the soil off they really get set back,another experiment direct seeding everything in the media beds.

Yep...DB, that's what I found with my Toms too. Especially when it's 90 degrees plus. Much less transplant shock going straight into towers or beds, but still can't go into DWC without getting the vast majority off. That's why I'm adding more worms to my beds. Hoping this keeps me from having to clean out beds every few years.

I am planing on splitting 90 mm storm-water pipe in half and then bolting the 2x half's together with a spacing with filter media wedged inside then plant Front / back side of the tower + add worms

sounds interesting. would love to hear how they go.

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How thick and what material did you get? Fiberglass or Polyester, Synthetic Fibers

I went to their shop and picked out a roll of white 1", a roll of blue, 1.5 " and a roll of black that was the coarsest(horsehair?)
They were all 3' wide if I remember right. I've pretty much given up after the trails. The media bed is easier to plant & maintain, and the DWC is most effective for greens. Strawberries are the only thing that seem to actually do better in towers. IMO and limited experience. The heat here effects the water temps and planting them is a real P.I.A.