Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am thinking about expanding my AP experience using stormwater tubes .. to trying out along a dry fence area...

I am thinking of mounting a long stormwater pipe on a fence .. max sunlight. Long run!

I am thinking of using the pergola design I have recently set up and developing it a little differently to fit my idea but I guess that means changing it radically!

I am thinking of using pearlite filled pots rather than gravel filled pots.

I am aslo thinking of using an NFT system so that the water is constantly just kissing the bottom of the pearlite loaded pots fitted in the pipe, rather than the flood and drain I currently use on the pergola flood and drain system shown here ...

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... pic_id=278


http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... pic_id=277

Would capilliary action under pearlite be adequate for a 6 metre or so long run of pipe?

I am thinking of using a 6 meter or longer length pipe, slightly inclined, (continuous flow), holes made for sqaure shaped pearlite filled pots, nutrient loaded water feeding in at one end, draining back to the pond at the other end... all tied against a fence.

I am thinking of setting this up along a sunny fence line as an alternative to the stacked vetical 2 meter flood and drains I am using on the pergola hanging garden.

Currently the Pergola option is several vertically stacked 2 meter pipes ... flood and drain ... 15 mins on .. 1 hour off gravel filled pots , serviced by a small goldfish pond ... working well!

option for next system .. 6 meter pipe along a fence... NFT continuous stream .. pumped to and from a small goldie pond, water just touching bottom of pearlite filled pots... caplliary action ...

Any comments? Most welcome...

Johnnie

I think you might be happier with a timer than with continuous flow -- though I've never tried NFT

I LOVE my timers.. IMHO .. brilliant way to go! I don't think anything can beat flood and drain ...

I loved messing with autosiphons ... learned a lot!

I am thinking of trying to explore NFT and continuous flow using pearlite filled pots to see what happens in this particular situation ...

I want to see if it stacks up!


Thanks for the post ... appareciated!

Thanks

Johnnie

I am using cont. flow with my l system.. no real problems as of yet. I think you should be alright. i have a GB about 18" wide and fill it in the center.. i have water about 0.5" below gravel at the outside of my GB.
Would love to see more pics as they come

i am building a nft system from pipe right now. i think nft has to be constant flow?

Sounds similar to Steve and Anges system http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... php?t=1288

I think continuous flow will probably be easiest and best, the plants don't have much of a water reserve in those little net pots. One other thing, round net pots will probably be easier to do, then you just need a holesaw to cot the holes, very quick...

And yes, the capillary action will be enough for a while, then the roots will grow and the plants will have plenty of water..

JOhnnie, one of the reasons "our" systems ended up more like DWC than straight NFT is the fact that the 80mm pots do NOT reach the bottom of the 100mm DWV. You cant go bigger in pot size becasue then the diameter will be too great for the DWV 100mm

Heres my so called nft good lettuce last summer now planted with strawberrys

Your plants are so dense F&F - I am envious.

thats definately the way to go, i will do the same as well.
The only difference would be instead of a fence to hold the pipes up I want the pipes self suporting (think like a square spring) and i will be mediumless with a large biofilter.

Only thing is if their will be enough DO for the plants on the end of the run

Good point... I have had this problem in the past with long runs.

Just a thought, would aeration tubing with small bubbles in the bottom of the waste pipe help? Then a small air pump blowing bubbles at the roots?
I'm currently testing out soaker hose as an aeration tubing, it's made by the same people who make the professional stuff here...

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fus ... 3/cid/4439

But I can get the soaker hose from a big box hardware store for about $10 for 50 feet. So far I have it in an isolated test tank with a redclaw and after two weeks, no signs of problems. As well I have it in the back of our daughters guppie tank making an air wall. just a thought as to how to help with the DO over long runs.

very clever Rassd71. I have been promised a large air pump and I was wonder what hose to use to run it

I use Leaky Hose (or may be Leakky Hose) in my soil gardens. Works well for aeration (is essentially the same stuff as in the link - but an australian product). Will give you a metre to trial if I see you here in August Jaymie.

hmmmm...heat up the air 1st before blowing through the hose...wonder how much heat transfer you would get