Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi

We have heaps of strawberries in pots(soil) i am wanting to see which one will do better. I am thinking of adding strawberries to my 3rd system. The idea i am floating with is that they are overhead of the gb. The pump pumps up to them first then into the gb. Will there be enough nutrients for the gb. looking at approximately 30 plants. My system is a continuous flow.

I cant post a picture i want from google to show what i am planning to do.

Could you post pics of your strawberries in your system.

Karen

We are going to need more information on how you're planning to setup the strawberry area and whether you already have some sort of filtration other than the grow beds.

The first two threads in the announcements section of the forum might help you with posting some pics - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4

If you can't post pics then cut and paste a link using the URL button in the posting window.

Hi

Here is my planning of the strawberries.
I am using IBC as my system with the addition of overhead strawberries. The strawberries will be place in mesh pots which will be place in those trays(white plastic ones that is use for hydroponics).
Looking at pumping water up to the strawberries first. They will be dripped fed and the excess water will travel into the growbed where it will feed my other vegetables and back into the FT. It is approximately a 1m (3foot) above the height of the grow bed. Any taller i wont be able to pick my strawberries. The system is placed in full sun not like the other 2 systems. Where they are under polycarb.
I hope i have explain enough to give you an idea.

There is no other filtration apart from the gb. My other systems are continuous flow. What should i be looking at to help with the filtration?

Karen
BTW thank you regarding pics
This is what i am planning to use.

You may have issues with solids building up around the strawberry plants roots if they're getting the water first

My silly question wouldnt it all run off to the gb? There would be a slight fall to the strawberry bed so the water will gather at the end of the system before heading into the GB.

Or i just keep an eye on the build up and give it a flush if there is too much.

Karen

I think you'll get solids coating some of the roots that grow down into the channel. If this gets bad enough the roots will rot. You'll also have to watch for blockage if the tubing is too small.

Are you going to have a sump in your system after the grow bed? You could send the fish tank water through the grow beds by gravity to the sump and then pump from the sump up to the strawberries. You could either split the flow between the strawberries and the fish tank or you could just drain from the strawberries to the fish tank (partly depending on how powerful your pump is).

The problem is usually suspended solids that coat the plant roots and smother them over time. Media beds do some filtering of these solids but there's a chance you may need some additional filtration (seems unlikely to me though)