Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It might not just be a maintenance issue, you may wish to grow/evolve the system.

Hi All... we've been "away" plumbing for the last week. I'll post pics in the next couple of days of the updated system. Our question at the moment is in regards to gravel. We put a layer of hydroton on the bottom of the beds and purchased pea gravel for the rest of the media. When we looked at it at the garden center it looked pretty good but when we got home and started working with it, realized there was a lot of pretty small stuff in there. The general size runs from 1/4" to 1/3" (6-8mm). The question is whether we should screen the really small stuff out of there or just use as is. Obviously, we'll be washing but...

We did fill one bed (all but the last 2 inches) and ran a test with our autosiphon and it seemed to work fine. But, will we run into issues as we start planting?

Thanks much again for all the great assistance...
Victoria

Hi Victoria:
I wouldn't bother screening it out, just try to make sure there isn't a lot of sand/silt. Also make sure to add composting worms to keep the beds clear.

Thanks Dave... looks like yours is about the same. We just wanted to make sure that cleaning and hauling a yard of gravel wouldn't have to be undone. :p

if those pebbles were sourced from a river you may want to think about sterilizing them first. better safe then sorry.

All pebbles like that were sourced from rivers, and to my knowledge, none of us has sterilized their media. I wouldn't worry about sterilizing it at all. Just wash the silt off.

I'm sure at some point it came from a river, but I don't see myself trying to sterilize it. I'll trust the bacteria. We have been washing though it's amazing how dirty the water is after. Ah well, we live in the Pacific North"wet" so there will be more rain if we have to start over with the water.

I've read on here that the AP initiation is bell siphons and washing gravel. Well, the gravel is washed and in the grow beds...

Part of putting the gravel in also meant cleaning up my citrus trees as they had a little insect infestation. Every leaf has been cleaned and closely inspected and they are now happy in their new homes.

And, most miraculous of all, the bell siphon is working. We still have to build the rest of them... wanted to make sure the first one worked and determine the exact length before cutting the rest. So tomorrow will be bell siphon day and then we are off to the races on cycling. Woohoo!!!

Oops.. forgot to resize the attachments.

Tom looks *really* thrilled to be doing that job

He is a great support and actually willingly helps with all my crazy projects.

Smart man

Definitely a good BYAP apprentice there

...its amazing the amount of gunk that comes off supposedly clean gravel - passed the practical gravel washing examination and you both are full fledged APers

....AND...you have bell siphons toooooo

Cool. There isn't much better in life than having the El seal of approval! Thanks again forall your awsome development on the auto siphons. We will finish making them likely today. So far, they seem to work in the northern hemisphere quite well- 'cept the water swirls out of them the other way!

Cool! Gratuitous bending of the PVC pipes, tho. Looks like someone is just showing off.