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Minnamurra growbeds
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=397
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Author:  steve [ Aug 27th, '06, 17:22 ]
Post subject:  Minnamurra growbeds

Here are some pictures

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Author:  steve [ Aug 27th, '06, 17:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Minnamurra growbeds

Hardware pics

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Author:  simmo_77 [ Aug 27th, '06, 17:56 ]
Post subject: 

:) Thanks Steve...

Author:  creative1 [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:13 ]
Post subject: 

Steve -They look like huge raceways.
A great way to get more water past the roots and thus more nutrients.
Are they continuous flow?
Good pics too and thanks.

Author:  steve [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:25 ]
Post subject: 

they have 4x 5m runs

yes continuous flow, but fairly slow flow rate

Author:  creative1 [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:26 ]
Post subject: 

just read another post where u explained it.

Author:  nick [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:26 ]
Post subject: 

so let me try to explain what I see and you can agree or correct me as required.

The growbeds are actually large DWC for lettuce and other growth using styrofoam or the like as support?

THe plumbing is held together with screws so that they are tight and firm but can also be pulled apart?

Just wanted to clear those up so I got the right point

Author:  creative1 [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:36 ]
Post subject: 

Geeze dividing the water to equal parts, does the bottom have ridges to keep the waterlevel even?
That looks so simple-KISS all over again!!
using plastic to wrap foam in the shape of a trough(?).
Cheap as shit!!

Author:  steve [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:40 ]
Post subject: 

nick, picture a styrofoam box with a sheet of plastic in it and over the edge. the lid is a sheet of polystyrene with approx 50mm hole drilled in it and net pots placed in these.

Water comes in one end from the back left corner and exits on the right centre via a stand pipe.

The plumbing looked like it was screwed together and sealed with silicone, i assume its for ease of dismantling if needed

Thats pretty much it.

Author:  creative1 [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:47 ]
Post subject: 

makes life easy eh!
Guess the frame I was envisioning is going to be much lighter,
cheaper in cost and highly more mobile.
and forget buying shares in hydroton, start making nets to suit.
Don't tell anyone!!

Author:  nick [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:52 ]
Post subject: 

sweet steve thanks. that really is a simple setup isn't it.

Author:  creative1 [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:55 ]
Post subject: 

Steve when are you getting a block of foam to cut up?
I am thinking soon for me.

Author:  steve [ Aug 27th, '06, 22:58 ]
Post subject: 

I'll be completing my gravel system first, then adding a dwc setup to that. Any other way is asking for trouble unless you want to run a seperate biofilter + settling tank + solids filter.

not me :)

Author:  creative1 [ Aug 27th, '06, 23:00 ]
Post subject: 

Is that because of time constraints steve?

Author:  steve [ Aug 27th, '06, 23:04 ]
Post subject: 

Nah, the KISS principle.

I can have a fully functioning gravel bed that i can grow veggies in, act as biofilter, solids filter and i don't have to worry about cleaning it twice a day. Then add DWC downline later on.

If the question was why dont i have my "proper" grow beds up and running then the answer is partly time constraints, partly becasue i got jade perchs which i'm waiting for some warmer weather before pumping 2000l/hr through open growbeds ;)

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