Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

HI everyone... I just made a barrel system using gravity flow and the pump in the collection tank... but having some problems with the siphons and grow media,,

Siphon - 3/4 pips, grow bed I'm using 1/4in gravel, but the gravels are lime stone gravel...

So my ph is going up at times.. and siphoning has been a bit of a problem....

Any advice....???? Please...

PS.... I am in Cambodia.....

My first reaction would be to say do away with the siphons and just go constant flood.
That solves your siphon problem.
As for the GB media you will always have issues with high pH, which may limit your choice of plants.
IMO you'd be better off replacing it with some pH inert gravel.
Phnom Penh is near a huge river, I would have thought you could get graded river pebbles very cheap there, but I've never been there, so just throwing some ideas out.

Do you have any pictures?
We love pictures

Hey DuiNui... thanks for comment... yes I will try with out the siphon and give it ago... as for the river pebbles... its not easy to get river pebbles.. and im in constant look out for them. Coz i would also prefer the pebbles to the current lime stones...

Pictures??????????? i havent taken any.. but i will asap and post some..

Thanks again...

Also this is just a trial run and to see if its possible to have a cheap system set up here...so far.. its going well.. i have about 25 Tilapia and some local river fishes that are raised in ponds as well... want to go big.. but i need more advice from you guys... cheers...

Hi, and welcome

Nice name by the way!!!

Cheers
Lyndon

I lived in Surin for a while, close to the north Cambodia border.
All of the quarries in that area mined/quarried the blue grey gravel, it's the stuff they mix with cement when building houses
I don't know what stone it actually is, but if river pebbles are not available, that stuff surely must be.
Gotta be better than limestone.

Thanks Lyndon346!!!

And like wise!!!!!!


OH and DuiNui!!! its the same blue grey gravel and its from lime stones... But im still on the hunt for the river pebbles.. have made few contacts... and hope I get them...

Oh.. and yesterday.. my siphons some how started to work well... the flow constant... and my beans are growing well... will be putting some Pepper and tomatoes soon!!!

I thought limestone was white/yellow, but I am no expert.
An easy way to check is to put some in a glass of vinegar and see if bubbles come off the stones.
I put some of the blue stuff in some rain water and the pH stayed low at around 5.5 iirc.
So I assumed it was pH inert.

Hi Duinui!!! Thanks for the help,, can you tell me how i can get put pictures uploaded.. i've been trying and its telling me to enter the path name??? i am not sure what about that....

Thanks...

Hi Duinui!!! Thanks for the help,, can you tell me how i can get put pictures uploaded.. i've been trying and its telling me to enter the path name??? i am not sure what about that....

Thanks...

The easy way to upload pictures:
1) make sure they are 800x600 or smaller
2) Click "Post Reply" then scroll down and click the "Choose File" button.
3) Select your file
4) Optionally add a comment
5) Click "Add the file"
6) Go back to the text of your reply, put the cursor where you want the picture to appear in the message and then click "Place Inline"

HTH

This is system is a test system..

the pond is big.. 25x50.... hoping to start some where next month...

hi Duinui!

You said that your in Thailand! I am i right??? I would like to know if you know of any suppliers who deal with big aquaculture bags... ( the blue bags or tanks) i am looking for some thing to hold like 1000lts or 2000lts capacity tanks or bags.

Thanks...