Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi guys this is my system however I cant seem to find what is wrong(noob heheh) but seriously speaking i cannot pinpoint what the plants are wilting after some time. my systems is a continouse flood and drain should I use a timer? if ever what intervals? next I need to find a timer of course. Also the fishes are not moving 2 tilapias I plan to bring up my 75 gal aquarium if ever how many barrels can I use for a 75 gal aquarium with 9 tilapias rangin from 4inches to 8 inches here are some pics:







IMG]http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z52/jamesto_photos/DSCF2368.jpg[/IMG]

the location is in our terrace however currently am only using a 20 gal aquarium. an am currently looking for water testers

James,
Reduce your pic size to 600 wide so all can see them without scrolling. makes it easier to see what is going on

Thinking root rot.

Definitly root rot jamesto.

I can see the green inlet that feeds your blue grid supply to the growbeds but can't see any drain outlet....

Could you post a photo of the outlet or describe how you drain the system.

I would suggest that if you are using continous flow then you need to set up an autosiphon see the Auto Siphon Thread

A simple looped hose should do jamesto. Think your problems will all disappear once you've got one going

If your systems just draining out the bottom through some holes...(hard to tell from the photo, but it may be) then yes I think you'll need to put a timer in so that the growbed has a period of time where no further water is pumped to it and the water can drain for a period of time allowing oxygenation of the roots.

ahh there are 2 holes underneath that drains continuously man this is quite frustrating anyway i'll check on auti siphon. thanks guys.

If that's the setup you've got Jamesto, then adding a timer in is the way to go.

To incorporate an autosiphon would require plugging some/all the existing holes in the bottom... but read the thread anyway, you might be able to use the holes for the autosiphon.

guys just a question on auto siphon once the tub is filled with water does the water going into the growbeds stop? and once its empty it fills itself again?

Jamesto I've PM'd you...

When the water reaches the top of the siphon loop it siphon drains the bed... the water is still filling it if you are running a continous pump, so you have to either/or adjust your pump flow rate to fill slower than your drain rate or have a big enough diameter siphon to drain faster than your fill.

The siphons suck the water out pretty quick Jamesto.

When the water level gets below the level of the siphon outlet, air enters the tubing breaking the siphon and the water fills your growbed again until the water gets to the top of the siphon tubing...

Build one and see Jamesto..... you'll be amazed at the simplicity and effectiveness once you've got it fine tuned and working

Just a thought. If he is running continuous flow with drain holes in the bottom, could the plants be dying because the water has found a track down without actually filling the GB enough to moisten the root zone ?

my 2c worth

pictures show "browning off of the roots just above growbed level...

I'm almost 100% on root rot

I notice the sprays entering your gb are very high and saw water dripping off leaves in one photo,maybe lower the pipes til theyre on top of your gravel?