Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have had my system up and running for a while now and everything is going great. I have a 150 gallon FT with 3 split barrel cinder beds and 2 split barrel DWC attached. I have noticed over the last month or two that I have to top off my FT water weekly as it has dropped 10-12" from the top. I would guess I have to add 15-20 gallons of water per week to keep my FT topped off.
Is this normal to lose 10+% of you water weekly? I've gone over everything closely, no leaks or water loss anywhere. The water level is below the cinders in the GB and the DWC is covered with rafts so not much water surface available for evaporation. Its not even hot yet a comfortable 70-80 degrees outside. FT is covered with a 80% shade cloth.
Is this the plants absorbing that much water? I have water intensive plants like lots of lettuce, tomato, cucumber and green onion. Are my plants drinking 20 gallons of water a week? I don't like adding my tap water to the FT as it is very hard water and messes with my pH. I'm struggling to keep my pH below 7.4 and have to add weekly HCL to keep it around 7.

Cory

Normal Yes.

Perhaps catch some rainwater?

Yeah, sounds reasonably normal.

Most of the loss is through evaporation and also through transpiration by the plants.

I'm actually seeing a little more then that, but have notices a couple very small leaks.

With leafy vegetables the larger they get the more transpiration you will have with the associated loss of water volume. Sounds like you have a good crop going.

Another place you could be losing water is from any spraying water. How are you aerating the water?

Next job is to set up some water butts off your roof for top ups. It never ends.

Thanks for the heads up that this is normal. I do have 2 barrels with nothing but leafy greens. I guess the water loss is amplified by my small FT. Wish I could catch rainwater here, it just needs to rain. Its going to be interesting to see how ofter I have to top it up during the heat of the summer,

Cory