Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I know the guide is to turn over the ft volume once per hour but is more better? and at what point is there too much water turn over?

At the moment I am probably turning over my fish tanks 2-4 times an hour. just trying to determine if I would be better off slowing this down to closer to once an hour.

My system has 2 full ibc fish tanks. 1 500l gb 2x 300l gb and 2x 500l joined sump tanks all powered by a 10,000l per hour pump running at around 7-8k l/hr.

There would be a point where you are exceeding retention times required for bio. Is there a reason your pumping so much through the beds signore? Can you direct some flow back to FT?

The main issue is the waste of energy, you are using way more than you need to, which, unless it is 100% solar powered, will be costing you money unecessarily.
I'm pumping at a rate of just over 10000 l/hr in my large system (@5m head), but only run the pump for 10 mins per hour on a timer

The extra circulation in the fish tank might not be the best thing for the fish either. They may expend too much energy or be too small to cope with the current. Not all fish are created equal in this respect.

If it is a pond pump your using, you could also just throttle back via a ball valve. Less flow, less power draw.

@Charlie no reason just thought more flow the better but after some fish deaths I'm trying to eliminate any cause. I can easily change the plumbing to return most of the flow back to the sump tank reducing the flow through the fish tanks. I wasn't aware there is a retension time required for bio.

@gunnagulla yes I'm waiting energy but I bought the pump with expansion in mind when I move and have space for a much larger system.

@scotty435 thanks will definitely be slowing it down.

so the question now is how much flow should I be aiming for? should I try and get as close as I can to the once an hour? or is there benefits having it slightly higher e.g 1.5 - 2x an hour?

I had a seriously overpowered pump, over 10x what was required and 3 fish were killed by the pump. They got too close and couldnt overcome the current.

my pump is in the sump. and the fish are able to swim away from the slo.

just setup my flow meter(finally) the pump is push between 7100-7500lph. so I am turning my tanks over close to 4x an hour. I'm going to install a return to the sump in the pump line this after noon and bring it right back down to around 3000l h