Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

How much taller does the fish tank need to be compared to the grow beds for a chop system to properly function? I will be using ibcs for my system and a 330 gallon ibc for my fish tank. Currently, I am planning on having the grow beds raised 24" off the ground and the fish tank raised 6" off the ground as it is 4.5' tall on its own. Is this enough height difference for the system to run properly? Can the grow beds be even higher? If I put the grow beds in a straight line do they need to be level?

Gunnar,

Are you talking about overflowing the fish tank into the growbed(s) and then drain to a sump tank from where you pump back into the fish tank? Kind of like shown in this CHOP animation flash video?

HOW AN AQUAPONICS SYSTEM WORKS: ANIMATION



I don't think you'd need much more water height in the fish tank than the top of your growbeds. Water will flow from high to low with very little difference. You don't need pressure for this, just a drain from the fish tank into the growbeds.

Can you post a drawing of your plans? Perhaps it will be more clear from that and you'll be more likely to get a bunch of good feedback from those that have been there, done that...

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Sam

It is good chop system.i like the layout