Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hello

i am'm a newbie at the beginning of aquaponics my background is in aquariums

Question

in all the threads that i have read why Doe's no one use gravel in their fish holding area.
i don't understand
sorry if this is a stupid question i haven't found out why and would like to know

Hi shella and welcome to the forum

there is no stupid questions here so feel free to ask anything you like



In an aquaponic fish tank we are trying to 'remove' any solids produced by the fish so that there is no accumulation of waste that can become old/rotting and produce unwanted nasties as it becomes stagnate. If you have a gravel bottom it becomes a habitat for all the fish waste and becomes a breeding ground for toxins because unlike a dam or river situation we dont have the earth and plant matter to assist in the nitrification process.

hope this helps

thanks for the quick reply

but what about under gravel filters isn't that supposed to do the same thing
the reason i ask is because i have under gravel filters i don't quite understand why it cannot be used. i have lots of questions i have been reading so much but this question i couldn't get my answer

Undergravel filters maybe ok for aquariums with light stocking densities, but the nature of higher stocked AP systems is a different beast.

You could use gravel, but it will require more maintenance in cleaning the gravel.

Lyndon

i think i understand its the amount of fish waste that would be the problem it would take alot to keep the water levels at optimum levels is that right

Your growbed becomes/replaces your undergravel filter. Same principle

Todd

Second what Todd is saying. You don't want the s**t to stay in the FT. It needs to find its way out as easily as possible.... to the growbeds.

Having said this.. I have gravel in the bottom of my FT

Why?? you ask. I have large goldfish. They need to be doing something to keep amused so, I have placed about two Kg of pea gravel in the bottom of the IBC FT. During the day (and night) I can hear them picking up the gravel, and spiting it out again - this is constant!! It gives them something to do. I am no fish psychiatrist but.. If I was a goldfish, stuck in an AP tank, I'd like something to do. It sure keeps them busy.

When they are moving around the bottom, playing with the gravel, any waste that is there gets shifted constantly, and makes its way out to the growbeds. If there was no gravel, they would not be down there shifting all the stuff around. A bit of gravel benefits everybody. Although I think they are going to wear out the bottom of my IBC

I tried a hamster wheel but, they are not hamsters

There are no stupid questions. However, there are people who do not ask questions, and remain stupid

thank you Todd it makes sense now the gravel bed replaces the gravel that would be at the bottom of a fish tank
thats the piece of information i was missing

thanks to all who replayed I'm loving this site i feel i can ask anything i am still researching
the way i want to build mine it's with stuff you have lying around the house.
will keep you all updated on my success and failures