Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello all. I don't have a system yet-just doing my due diligence & collecting parts. I should'nt have gotten my fish first I'm wondering how much media displacement occurs with the root systems. Is it possible to use flood/drain in grow bed with 4"x12" pvc tubes w/media? The grow tubes would be grooved or drilled.It seems like this would get rid of concern with solids build-up and enable easy harvesting & replanting.

Hello again, I'm still collecting parts. I now have 3 275 gal IBC totes. I'm interested in doing CHOP2 system, but not sure what the best lay-out would be with 3 totes. I was thinking one FT, 2 GB, 2 sumps with one having crayfish? Maybe? I was thinking of not cutting cages in half for GB/sump combo. I can cut part of cage on opposite sides for access, and then use supports to raise GB, keeping it all in one cage, shading sump, using F/D in GB directly above sump. I am asking for any & all feedback.
On a side note, this is the first forum I have been part of. So I apologize ahead of time for any misgivings on my part and will learn the rules as I go if that is acceptable. Thank you

Hi FW,

Regarding the grow tubes - I don't think you could have enough media in them to really make much difference for the biofiltration and they'd be difficult to clean.

It's tough to visualize exactly what you're trying to do with the IBC's. Is this the plan? -
1. removing then cutting the bladder into grow bed and Fish tank.
2. Cutting an opening out of the cage for access to the fish tank.
3. Returning the fish portion of the bladder to the base of the cage.
3. Insert supports across the cage.
4. Laying the grow bed on top of these supports.

I haven't tried this but someone here probably has in the past. I think it will probably work but try it without cutting the cage first just to see. If you haven't looked at the free IBC's of Aquaponics that's a good read with lots of system pictures to get ideas from and other useful information (there's a link in at the very top right corner of the BYAP web page for it). There are lots of new IBC threads on the forum as well - probably a search for the keywords IBC and system would find many of them.

You'll find information on one way of posting pics here - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21754

Cheers

Thank you for responding. Yeah, the tube size is too small. it was just was handy & free. I'll probably just do a full GB. And thanks for the picture uploading link. I've spent a couple hours trying to figure it out. So here is my first attempt at photo sharing and AP set-up.

As I was posting, I noticed a post with just the image tags so I figured you might need an assist. Glad I could help

I guess what I'm concerned about is
1. The height of the grow beds. They might be too high for comfortable access.
2. When you do add the supports, will they get in the way of your access to the bottom area?

Yeah, they are about 18 inches deep. So the GB tank has a purple line and that is at 12 inches. I definitely need to cut it down. I was thinking the high side would protect the little ones from the wind, but it is too awkward to work with at that height. Right now I used the supports that came with the tote. They are under the GB's. I could add some 1x6 for additional support w/out adding too much height. Is there a benefit of having two sumps? I have a full FT, 2 GB's and then whatever's best for the bottom two tanks. Also, should I move this to Systems?

Not many benefits to having 2 sumps, there can be issues though, you have to join them together somehow and this can be an added point of failure or blockage.

Then how about a DWC, or duckweed w/crayfish or wicking bed or is there a better set-up?