Dutch buckets

toffee

Got it and thanks oldprospector. A separate thought: Why upside down "U"? If we are not trying to introduce some sort of siphon, wouldn't a horizontal pipe be simpler? If the water level is only say 4-5" and close to 10" of media on top, is it necessary to have siphon? I can see why stagnant water should be minimized, but do they really do any harm other than smelling bad? Of course wicking bed folks never worry about stagnant water.

Old Prospector

toffee wrote:

Got it and thanks oldprospector. A separate thought: Why upside down "U"? If we are not trying to introduce some sort of siphon,

My design doesn't use any upsidedown "U" or any type of siphon.

wouldn't a horizontal pipe be simpler?

I, don't follow what you mean using a "horizontal pipe"

If the water level is only say 4-5" and close to 10" of media on top, is it necessary to have siphon?

No, that's one of the points that Hydroponic stores use for discounting using "Wick Hydroponics". But what they are really saying why "Wicking" systems aren't any good for growing, is that their is no profit for them in it for them.

I can see why stagnant water should be minimized, but do they really do any harm other than smelling bad?

True, 1.5 or 2.0 gals of water in a reservoir, doesn't last long enough to get stagnant, especially with 5-7 plants sucking water/nutrient solution out of a central wick.

Of course wicking bed folks never worry about stagnant water.

False, when they harvest everything and don't replant, then the remainder of the water in the reservoirs goes anerobic, or stagnant..

toffee

In my case, water entered into the dutch buckets will return to the pond one of the objectives is to cleanse the pond water with plants.

Old Prospector

toffee wrote:

In my case, water entered into the dutch buckets will return to the pond one of the objectives is to cleanse the pond water with plants.

Have you ever tried Barley Straw, works great.

Also Calcium Bentonite clay, but make sure its not Sodium Bentonite.

toffee

I have used barley straw, the result was just so so. Never heard of calcium bentonite clay, a quick google later, it sounded very intriguing. Just ordered a 4 lbs bottle from Amazon.

Old Prospector

toffee wrote:

I have used barley straw, the result was just so so. Never heard of calcium bentonite clay, a quick google later, it sounded very intriguing. Just ordered a 4 lbs bottle from Amazon.

You must have a endless supply of money. Found the 4 lb's on Amazon $63.99.https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Calcium-Bentonite-Clay-Powder/dp/B00BCWIOY4?th=1

Top of the page advertises http://www.bulkapothecary.com/raw-ingredients/clays/bentonite-clay/?gclid=CNOnyZ7i79ECFZCcfgodzjECLg 50 lbs for $32.30, 1/2 the price of the 4 lbs bottle from Amazon.

And both have Free S/H.

Food&Fish

Of course wicking bed folks never worry about stagnant water.

True if the beds are built the right way

False, when they harvest everything and don't replant, then the remainder of the water in the reservoirs goes anaerobic, or stagnant..
Here again build them properly
I have only had one problem in 10 years with anaerobic water when the outlet got blocked with a snail and the bed filled up with water in heavy rain
Some of my beds may lay empty for weeks in winter

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Dutch buckets

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics