Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Has anyone ever tried to harness the water power that is being created in the system? At the very least, when the water drops into any tank, a turbine could be put into the mix to harness that flow. I'm specifically thinking about when water is pumped from the sump back into the FT (CHIFT-PIST design). Wouldn't that help with putting o2 into the water as well?

You may be able to collect a little excess power but size and design of your system would be a better way to conserve energy. A few solar panels could run the whole system. Besides isn't Mn a windy state. DIY wind turbines or a small hybrid system could easily power the system. Lots of info on the net for small cheap green systems.

It does get windy here, but every so often it's calm. I had thought about a little wind turbine to produce some electricity to run a pump or something....

My thought was that you have this moving water that you could use to power your pump which would push the water which would power the pump......

You'd probably be better off to use it to increase the DO of the water. Have a pipe with more holes so the return water rains into the tank. You wouldn't get enough power to run the pump that moves the water. But you may get enough power to run a few air stones.

you need about 12 feet of head to run a water turbine..........

Yea there are always losses (no free energy.)

Yeah, much better off making the system more efficient... And getting some solar or wind power generation put in..

Making power from the water flow in the system is a little like putting a wind generator on your car to make power while you're driving along.

An excellent source for a complete efficient wind turbine or low/wind alternator is http://www.windbluepower.com/

The low RPM alternator is priced RIGHT with a multitude of possible applications.

CB