I know a few people have done duckponics, though I've not found a good description of the systems. Due to the amount of sand/soil that gets into duck water, I think a conventional AP GB would clog pretty quick. So this is what I'm thinking.
Attachment:
File comment: First draft of DPTP
Duck Water Treatment.jpg [ 25.01 KiB | Viewed 2111 times ]
Duck Water Treatment.jpg [ 25.01 KiB | Viewed 2111 times ]
Ducks would be in a normal domestic bath tub (if they want to be of course!) - with the water level set about half way up to try to reduce the amount they splash out when cleaning/generally frolicking. Water would then go out the plug hole into a radial flow filter then onto a grow bed for biological filtering and to a sump where pump would pump backup to bath. Hopefully this setup will stop the gb clogging too much and also stop the pump getting too much grit in it and killing it.
I'm tossing up which way to 'run' the bathtub, options are:
1. timed F&D with normal standpipe - problem will be if I have a small hole in the standpipe (in the bath) it will get clogged
2. constant flow with siphon in bath tub - may help to suck out some of the solids, the flow rate may overload the RFF though and I'd need to figure out a way of stopping the ducks knocking it over
3. plug hole plumbed directly into RFF (as shown in diagram) and the RFF outlet setting height of the water.
I'm leaning towards 3 at this stage. Since there are no fish in this system the fish tank (duck bath) can be completely drained with no serious side effects.
Everything other than the bath would be outside of the duck pen. Was considering trying to grow bannana in the GB (possibly another bathtub!).
Any feedback/ideas would be welcome.
Cheers
Matt
