Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Can anyone tell me what effects a heavy down pour will have on an aquaponics system? I live only a few hundred yards from the beach so I dont have to worry about heavily polluted air/rain water or anything like that. I was just wondering if the pH or nitrate/nitrite levels would be affected. Would it be wise to incorporate some sort of overflow valve/system for the FT and Sump, in a heavy rainfall area? If so, any recommendations?

Sweet! Free clean water!

Rainwater is likely to be more acid than your AP water, so there could be a big pH change if too much gets into your system.
My tank water collected from the roof here is around pH6, and I live hundreds of kilometres from any large cities, so pollution is minimal. Whatever Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, etc there is in the FT will be diluted by the rainwater.

Acidity shouldn't be a problem considering the restaurant I'm the Sous Chef of sells oysters. Plan on grabbing the shells and crushing them up to help buffer pH level. Thank you!

the closer you are to the coast the more salt will be in your rain water

Wow, free clean water and salt for your system. Rain water is your friend. A lot of people set up rainwater collectors because it is such a good friend.

Free natural osmosis! keep an eye on ph.
A word of advice with oyster (boil them first,at least 100c for 15 min) that is to kill parassite or bacteria you don't want in your system.

All my systems have always been outside.. totally exposed to the elements....

Apart from problems with gale force winds... and torrential rain flattening the plants... the normal rain has never caused a problem...

Im with you on that one Rupert, im in the UK and mine is fully open to the elements,
I do plan on building a frame over the GBs, i'll staple some fleece over them in winter, bird netting in summer

Has your system been through winter already?
What fish are you raising?

Mine is exclusively rain water and stays around pH 6. Interesting how some plants are thriving (lettuce, herbs) and some do better when I take them out and put them in the dirt.