Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have a quick question about the water in a DWC grow bed. I have been doing media based beds for a while now and am going to try out the raft style to compare the differences.

I have six 4' x 8' grow beds that are about one foot in depth. I bought them from a guy that needed to release some equipment, so they were already built. There is currently a hole in the middle of the bottom of each grow bed.

I am wondering if I was to pump water from the fish tank to a swirl filter, then biofilter, then grow beds and let it gravity drain back to the FT..... Do I need the water to flow through the whole set of grow beds, entering one side of the grow bed and exiting the other side? Or can I use the pre-existing drain holes in the middle bottom of the grow beds for drainage?

Ex: Pump water from the FT to the North side of the GB and let it flow through to the South side of the GB to gravity drain back to the FT?

OR

Is it okay to pump water from the FT to the any side of the GB and let it exit from the pre-existing holes in the bottom middle of the GB before gravity draining back to the FT?



I am asking because, basically, I am unclear on whether or not the water needs to physically flow past each plant in order for the DWC style to be effective, or if the water just entering the GB and mixing around naturally will be sufficient. I hope that I have explained my question clearly enough.

There is so much to learn......