Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I would suggest no less than 19mm inlet pipes with an inline valve to adjust flow and to flush the gully when needed with a pressure jet.

Obviously.. by the growth... they weren't clogging.... (here's some basil in the same first system...)








They're actually 6mm tubes.... and both NFT systems... are stock standard traditional NFT hydroponic configurations...

Left over from my previous 10 year hydroponic farm...

But indeed they would clog... if the NFT wasn't pre-filtered.... (even good hydro practice filters before provision to the trays....)

And that's the point I was making...


All DWC, or NFT configurations in AP... or half/half configurations such as your implementation....need to be pre-filtered...

Even finer filtering is needed to prevent aeroponic... or irrigation drip/mist feeders... from clogging.. whether that be in AP.. or hydroponics...

That's one of the reasons that hydroponics abandoned interest in aeroponics.... besides the costs involved in setting up... which just weren't off-set by any real gains...

Here's my previous hydro set up.... exact same equipment... and exact same "tubing"...

Looks pretty dam clogged there Rupe... how did you manage??

I just unclogged them Charlie.... then clogged them up again... etc, etc...

Almost as amazing as being able to reach across those 11 lanes....

In my case the gain is in using efficiently greenhouse space, filtration when controlled with 5 stages of sponge filters reducing in size as you go should replace conical swirl filer (not as practical to clean but way cheaper), and to benefit even more you can use this to control the level of nitrate in your system to trigger different stages of plant growht,(*) like UVI where they clean the netting once or twice a week

(*) Aquaponics Q & A (page 16)

Great book!

Indeed.... but don't forget... that because they removed all/most of the solids in the UVI system.... they remineralised, along with alternating pH buffers... and other trace element additives... before feeding the troughs... to maintain a complete nutrient profile...

It's not just about nitrates... well most lettuce, asian greens and herbs... can probably be grown just on the nitrates and phosphorus resulting from fish wastes...

But fruiting/flowering/seeding plants need trace element boost...

In my system the solids aren't completely removed, only use them to control thoose levels . I'm adding on a regular basis small quantities of trace element from various organic bywaste resources produced on the farm and locally ie;(our bathtubs wormery for brewing worm-teas, potash from our wood firing stove, limestone pebbles from our coastline cliffs, local fisheries bywaste shell grit from scallops and oysters) and of course a few drops of seaweed extract with a spoofull of chelate iron,,or the micronutriment just a splash of genuine tap water.

Primary Macroelements:

Nitrogen=abundant in AP
Phosporus= fish feed
Potassium= white hashes from burnt wood

Secondary Macroelements:

Calcium:Lime stone
Sulphur: burner for mildew control
Magnesium: from limeston too

MICRONUTRIMENTS;
Very little quantities needed , already prensent in tap water or seaweed/algae juice, and a good worm compost tea assuming you are using grass clippings and tree leaves and some clay soil, pesonally I would not have so much of the last two anyway!)

Boron
iron
chloride
manganese
molibdenum
copper!!!
zinc!!!

Rupert, could you tell what is the flow rate and wattage of the pump that you have used to run the NFT hydro system in picture(100_2204)
Just curious as I'll run a system that big and I want to understand what others used to work with.

thanks

Gee Bioaquafarm... the hydro operation was over 20 years ago.... from memory the pump supply to the trays was a three phase 1HP.... no idea what wattage...

Flow rates... well for traditional NFT gullys.... with a fall of between 1:30 - 1:50.... length not exceeding 12 mtrs....

As a general guide, flow rates for each gully should be 1 litre per minute... and the upper limit about 2L/min maximum

Hydroponic systems with inadequate flow rates, results in reduced oxygen levels at root surfaces... this stresses roots and can increase the incidence of disease.

Slow flow rates in NFT cause channeling of the solution and reduced flow to areas with dense roots... the root surfaces in these areas become anaerobic, which diminishes root respiration, reduces nutrient uptake, increases N losses via denitrification, and makes roots susceptible to infection.

Channels shouldn't exceed 12mtrs... rapidly growing crops, even with adequate oxygen levels can exhibit depressed growth when channels exceed 12 metres in length.... due to nitrogen depletion over the length of the gully...

Maintianing oxygen supply in hot weather also becomes a problem.. as the longer the channels.. the more heat is transferred into the nutrient solution.... (resulting in lower oxygen solubility)... and the hotter the root zone...

Generally in warm/hot weather... (which you probably wont experience... )... it's advisable to oxygenate your nutrient supply tank.... and/or collect and cool the end drain of the solution before recycling...

Early seedling stage might have a higher flow rate... and/or depth of actual "film"... or the actual channel depth might be lower in profile.... (you can see the lower profile "starter channels in the pics with the basil - both outer sides)....

If you're using round pipe... consider the ability to raise the flow depth... as the depth of the net pot... and root development might not reach the nutrient solution otherwise... or become too hot...

Great to see what you're doing Bioaquafarm, looking forward to more pictures in the future to see your progress.

I do feel for you with the weather, the worst it's been for ages. We used to live close to the Somerset levels before moving to Dorset and know how wet it gets.

the system is been running smoothly so far, still waiting to get my Aquaculture Production business licence, burocracy it's slow anywhere in the world! The aeroponic sump has been completed and it's working very well, some of the seedling have beeen int here for two weeks and they look helthy.
After the floods we had last week I've learned a lot about flood managment and now precaution have been taken and we have a Flood Procedure in place, plus there is some major flood defence work schedule this summer to make the field safer.
Soon the work on the Processing facilities will start, we are going to convert a barn shop we already have on the land in to a Food Production Area, that means Hyginic PVC wall cladding,commercial catering steel equipment plus all the electric tested and approved.
For start up phase planting sequence is 100 seeds x week.
The system in been monitered trough winter, insulation of pipes and critical points are under progress and I should be ready when the big freeze will be here.

You seem to be investing in aquaponics with a commercial intent bioaqua.... what's your ultimate scale of operation??

2 tonnes of fish year round production,
3200 DWC holes ( I guess in UK weather we can turn those holes twice at least year round)
1400 Aeroponic holes
48 GBs (4x8ft)
1400 NFT holes (second year phase of farm expansion)
We are specialised in gourmet fish product, the list of produce will be published as soon as available, our main area of operation for the first year will be at local farmer market some local restaurant and event catering eg. corporate lunch, weddings or private cooking service)
Phase year three will be a classroom for courses and hatching facilities.
In February when weather condition are going to improve we will start work again and the next green house will be build as well as the fish rearing area and the processing facilities.
The operation is going to be hard work and I'm used to that so no pain, it won't make become a milionaire but will indeed support our family needs and pay bills, we have worked out our businnes plan and after feasibility study we agreed that it would have been a great experience that will pay back itself and generate profit by the second year, we also believe in a near future knowledge and practice for this kind of farming technique will eventually help as should became more widely accepted as alternative, on the big scale of course I can only see the big boys with real money and the expertise to eventually take aquaponic to industrial commercial level, eventually our poor natural resources will dictate on our farming methods and then the whole farming industries will need to review theyr methods.