Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Rup
Those 11 site hydro systems usually fill from the bottom up.. flood and drain style. As the drain goes through the same pipework i`d be a bit concerned what happens when the roots get into it.

Hummm ... slightly different to the ones I meant..... think I know the ones you're thinking of .... but yep see your point there ....

Should be easy enough to supply from the top of the pots though and let them drain through.....

I agree, the muck is something I've been concerned about since I started thinking about this. However, let me explain a little bit more what I'm doing, to see if I can get away with what I had planned...I just got back with a bunch of plastic for it!!!



The top part of the pond (the area full of water hyacynths, to the right of the ugly pink bird) is where I'll be taking water from. Not only do I have the hyacynths, but I have that area full of gravel to collect the sludge (I just cleaned it, BTW... Fun fun!) I was going to add some pads to further filter the water that was going to the NFT, & just before the NFT I was going to put another bucket with water hyacynths. From this last bucket the water would drip into the NFT, to then go to the 11 PG.

The 11PG has a powerhead that pushes water up through a 1/2" (19MM?) hose, & back down through a 1" pipe.

I'll post more photos in the AM before I start cutting stuff up!!!!

But before I go, I have another question. Aren't NFT's supposed to run non stop? If I put the 11 PG before the NFT, wouldn't that force me to run the 11PG full time to supply the NFT with fresh water?

Thanks for all of your input!!!!

Cheers!
Felix

I suppose I could supply the NFT with fresh water every time I cycle the 11PG . That should be enough, no?

I was thinking about that as I built it, Hex. I don't think I'll be using the 11PG for long. I just wanted to get my feet wet! I'm going to try the barrelponic thing next!

Another question- Do we want the solid waste in the grow beds or should the water be filtered before it gets to it?

We want the solids in the growbeds Felix..... the bacterial breakdown of the solids provides the essentail trace elemments and minerals for the plants, particularly when flowering and fruiting

Hmm. I think I may scratch the 11PG & go get some other plastic containers...

Ok here's the new plan:

1. I've removed the gravel from the top part of the pond. Pump will run water & solids (on a timer) up the 1/2" gray pipe to (2) 2' x 2'x 1' (approx) grow beds on the table. (table needs reinforcing!).





2. Water will drain from the 2 beds into a larger container under the table. This container will keep at least 12" of water in it at all times.




3. A pump inside container will circulate water to the NFT & back.



4. Water drains from the container back into the pond via a 1" pipe.

Your thoughts?

Thanks!!!!

Sounds good mwd... Increasing your total volume of water in the system.. Interesting to see systems where the fish are a fair distance away from the plants..

I always end up designing "on the fly" even when i have a plan

Your plan looks straightforward and very do-able.
You could also use the sump container under the table as a recirculating dwc bed.. might as well make use of the extra growing space.

another option is to drain the growbed into the NFT pipe and then back to the fish. makes it more simple and cuts out a pump.

But Steve, shouldn't the NFT system run continuously?

You can choke( V ) the NFT to get more flood, I would presume lettuce or some such light feeder would be grown in there( nft)..
With the bulk of the solids filtered by the GB's flowing to the NFT and then back to the fish!

The way my "NFT's" ended up they always has enough water left in the pipe to touch the bottom of the net pot.

Dad's is currently running on a 15min/15min cycle. S&A's was running on a 15min/45min cycle

Even if you had a traditional nft the media in the pots would stay wet long enough for an off cycle