Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Anyone know the inside dimensions of a zipgrow tower? Im wondering if its more cost effective buying the replacement media and using an alternate shell material. Thoughts?

Pershing, I am using 4 x 4 PVC fence posts, they seem to be working well. I'm very new, and don't quite have a baseline to compare, but at under $25.00 WITH filter media, I can make 4 for what 1 would cost.

Thats what I was thinking, the problem is the media. What are you using?

couple of different things so far. A 1" pretty fine polyester type, a 1.5" courser, blue material, and actually broke down and got 1 of the "zip tower" medias. So far, the white and blue are performing better then the zip media...but way too early to tell. I bought the filter in rolls from a local AC wholesaler. I can make a tower for under $5.00 on either one. Still figuring out what space to cut out of the middle of PVC. Could also use 4" PVC tube, but much harder to handle and plant...always rolling around. But much less $$, and could be held "upright" in a jig of some type without to much difficulty. Everything right now is an experiment, different GB media, different filter in verticals, comparing to traditional soil growth, etc. Keeps me out of the bars.lol

So basically those blue heavy construction filters cut to size?

A 2-2.5" thickness would be perfect. the thickest I could find locally was 1.5. had to fold them up and make sure there was a "seam" in the middle to plants in. I used spacers to hold the towers "open" and install plants. Still determining the ideal width of the openings. The posts "close" after you cut the middle out, so it's a bit difficult to determine how much to remove. May end up using spacers of various widths to find what the best size is. Too narrow, it squashes the stems, too wide, they may slide down the tower. If I used them just for 1 crop, you could just leave the tube whole, and cut/drill holes based on that crop. I want the ability to plant multiple varieties, so the "gap" type makes more sense at the moment.

I've wondered how scrunched up fine plastic mesh would work instead of filter material. I'd worry that anything too fine would clog over time.

Also, could you use the spacers to support the stems?

Jake, excellent questions- don't know the answers. Would assume that a netting type material would work. I have no idea about stem support. I using little pieces of pvc right now...just to try and find an optimum width. then I will try and cut my next tower to that width.

could you post a pic of the media you are referring to ? cheers

will try to get pics up

thanks look forward to them

I was thinking of using 4 inch round pvc. I was hoping to stuff enough media to fill all the space in order to not allow the water to have any easy paths. Has anyone tried this?
Also having a problem finding any suitable media. I'm in Israel. Any suggestions?

Have a look here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16765&hilit=vertical

I'm going to make some out of 90mm stormwater pipe using matala media.

I've been wondering if you could use the 1.5" material in a vinyl 3" x 4" rain gutter downspout . . .

You could. I have noticed on a few of my kale...which are huge, the plants at the top seem to get more nutrients/water then the ones at the bottom. Of course the top plants also have a tendency to "shade out" the bottom ones...which also effect growth. Haven't really noticed a big difference in growth rates. Cheaper white media seems to produce the same as more expensive blue media. Haven't replanted a whole tower yet...so can/'t comment on what condition media is in. Finer material seems to hold more nutrients in. Not sure if it will be easy to clean-or even necessary.