Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm using a 60 micron filter as well as a media bucket type filter for me raft bed (3' x 8'), but haven't used any swirl or solid type removal for the GB's or towers. My growth seems to be OK...some deficiencies noted in strawberries, treated with some seaweed extract. Is the majority or the nutrient value in the fish urine or poo? It would seem like the solids would contain the most dense value "fertilizer" for the bacteria and plants. I can easily add a filter, but if I'm hurting my plant growth, then that seems counter productive. system is 1 250 gal sump, 1 - 200 gal, FT, 45 cu ft GB's, 1 - 24 sq ft DWC bed(appx 70 gallons), 7- 5-6' vertical towers, 10- 3-4" tilapia in sump, 30 2-5" tilapia in FT. started in July. PH 7.4- 7.6, all other reading close to 0. been using Fe about every 2-3 weeks, and occasional seaweed spray. Just planting out GB's this week. Probably too many plants, and maybe too many flowering plants. But looking at Chatterson's , Ryan seems to be doing just fine on all his fruiting plants...not sure what, if any supplements he's using.

Without getting into another solids debate, have a read of this thread, Chris.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17593&hilit=solids

get them solids out of the beds and onto the dirt gardens

If you want to, sure, but why would you want to?

Oh my, here we go again.
Coachchris, read the thread that Charlie posted

Sorry to re-ope that can of red wigglers guys. I read the thread, and am about as confused as before.lol I really wanted to hear what Ryan said about how he's growing his "super crops". I think he's all DWC, and if so, that would explain his filtering preference. In my current small system, I don't have room for anymore DWC rafts, so am using towers for any expansion. According to Dr. Story (Agrotech) they (towers) have a very large bio capacity also. Just wanted to see if there was a "right' answer. I guess that's a resounding "maybe" at this time.lol

Ive seen Ryan post numerous times that he does, and you need to remove solids before DWC but he also mentions that not to waste those solids. I assume that he re-introduces them after a digester or something. Ive seen defficiencies in my DWC after my 2 stage filter, whether thats because Im removing too much or I havnt done something quite right, Im not too sure.

I'm currently washing mine out into soil plants. Any plans for a digester?

Not on this system, I shut my DWC down on the weekend and its now off line because Im moving soon. My next system will definately have a big digester, possibly 2, similar to the one Joel had in his DWC trials.

Good luck with the move- let me know if you have any plans for that digester...sounds interesting.

One simple way to have a digester is just to add the wastes from the bottom of a radial or swirl filter into some water and run an airstone in it for a few days. You need enough air to get convection happening but that's not a lot in a drum. Give it a stir when you think of it.

After a few days, turn off the air and let it all settle. The water can go straight back into you AP system - it will have numerous nutrients in it that are needed and by doing so it will extend out the time before you might get nutrient deficiencies. The solids are denatured enough that they make excellent fertiliser or can be added to a worm farm.

Another way to help things along would be to add the wastes into a drum filled with gammarus or perhaps glass shrimp - they will break it down further and release some of the nutrients locked up in the larger particles. You could probably run the air-mineraliser in the same drum but you'd need a filter to stop the shrimp exiting with the wastes.

And when the gammarus or shrimp get too populous, there are not many fish that wouldn't be lining up for a feed.

Thanks Jman...when I think I have a bit of a handle on things...I realize I'm still very much a rookie.

Jman makes good points on re-introduction of valuable wastes and these options can be beneficial for many back yarders. My opinion is it can be a maintenance task that not everyone has time for, maybe its the type of work Im in or even the stage of my life but I like to make systems that are simplistic with minimal maintenance.

A bio-digestor can be made just as simple as a RFF or swirl filter yet with almost none of the maintenance tasks that go with them and a dam load more benefits in regards to micro/macro nutrient re-introduction. Dare I say it but my opinion is that not all RAS/waste water treatment methodologies work well in a backyard aquaponics situation.

Hey Charlie,
You got any links or info on a DIY bio-digester? I would like to learn a little more Oh Wise-One.

Martin.