Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Gravel washing :gnashing:

I was told washing gravel builds character, but since I already am a character, I decided to pass...

Ba Da Booom!

Guess who will be trying to change the saying to "your not an APer till your gravel is washed"
: )

My gravel will be washed, just not by me! Mustn't damage my delicate little hands... (just so you know that is sarcasm - I am 6'2" tall and an ex-rock climber)

wimp

Status - two thirds of the grow beds are filled, should finish today - then I want to recirculate for a day or so to flush out any remaining stuff. Afterwards, we submit the "volunteer" fishies... Otherwise known as chicken fodder if they don't make it.

A curious thing happened this morning. I was looking at the gravel - admiring other people's work as it were, and notice a whole bunch of white curly things. Now, I had spent time cleaning out alll the debris from making the tanks before - and you know when you drill into PVC, you get white curly things but I couldn't for the life of me figure out why there would be more and especially why theyt would be on top of the gravel, sort of evenly spaced.

I took on put it into my mouth and sure enough, it was organic. In fact, it tasted a little like oranges - for a good reason. The tree to the side is an orange and is blooming - note to self - need to put up some kind of protection from things that fall from orange trees...

good thing it was from the orange tree and not left there by a bird. lol

I will admit to sniffing before tasting... the thought did cross my mind.

If I had super cheap labor I would not wash my gravel myself either.

I must confess I only washed about 10% of my gravel. The other 9 tons was washed by my trusty Malawian gardener Joshua (who has subsequently been deported *temporarily*)

Here's a picture of him hard at work.

Humph, my guys get to use a powerwasher! It really does work well - we just lay it on screen and blast away - mud and sand just wash away.

Okay - all systems go! Fish are added today and so are the plants! Everything is running well, water has been changed, etc, etc.

I will do my water tests today to determine what needs to be done for the future (no fear for today, this is spring water and there are lots of fish ponds that use it in the area)

So, let the aquaponics begin!

oooh, have fun now