Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

I am new to the concept of aquaponics, grew up on a corn and bean dirt farm in the mid-west (USA). Most of the systems I have seen written about suggest using gravel or expanded clay balls to hold plants in place. Why not sand, I would think it would be easier on the hands.

Thanks,

Mark

welcome mark

I think the main problem would be drainage, and not getting sand in your fishtanks all the time.

Welcome Mark!

Which part of the midwest?

(I grew up in SE Ohio)

What Monya said. Unless you had big sand worms to mix it up!

Hi Mark,
I'm running three grow beds with sand in them. I've covered the outlet pipes with bundled shadecloth held down by a stone. There was a bit of sand coming out the first few times the siphons ran, but it has stopped now
I'm trying beetroots in one, carrots in another and I'm striking mulberry cuttings in the third one.
Welcome

i'd like to use sand for some root crops.

As the only media though i thin k that it may block too easily from fish solids, but maybe not.

Take one for your new team, mark

sand would be good for satelite pots IMHO. could use broccoli boxes filled with washed river sand or something like that and just water by hand

my week and a half old beetroot and carrots are about 5cm tall. They don't seem to mind the sand.