Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My favourite systems still never had sumps and they were flood and drain. Always with a large enough tank that water capacity, fluctuations, power losses etc were never an issue..

If it works for you, then it works.
Still, I think once you learn how a sump can aid in your water management then your system design will become a lot better.

-K98

I use ST's in Sy 1&2 mainly because the FT's are higher and I wanted to reduce the direct sunlight heat on them.
The FTs are about 7 m away in the shade whereas the ST's are beneath the GB's. The other benefit is that the ST's act as another settling filter.

Sy 3 has a FT/ST which collects everything and the water level changes 100 mm in a cycle but the fish don't seem to mind. I think maybe there'd be more grit pumped around which will reduce the pump life.

EB - I love the way you drop those photos of that system.
One day perhaps a thread with all the photos in one place.
They are a great reference for a low cost ground level 'commercial sized' DWC.

Sumps are definitely *just an option* IMO, no way they fall in the must have category.


quote of the week...
"Still, I think once you learn how a sump can aid in your water management then your system design will become a lot better."
You obviously missed something important over all those years running BYAP Joel.....
I guess K98 missed Sleepes post.

50% better??

I've never had a sump, even when i had smaller tanks flood and drain or constant pumping water level wasn't a drama, now I run a big tank i don't think a sump would be suitable at all