Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It took me over 3 weeks of part-time work to make my 6-pipe strawberry tower and I stood in the greenhouase last night and though, 'isn't there an easier way to make this?'

Maybe there is? How about this idea? Have you ever seen one of those hanging shoe holders? You know the material one that hangs up and the shoes fit into pouches sewn into the backing material. Surely one could design a "strawberry curtain" using a similar principle?

As far as the material is concerned, the very strong plastic pond liner that I use on my mesh pond would work well as it is exteremely strong. I've contacted Hydrotek, the manufacturers of the mesh ponds and asked them to plastic-weld up a prototype for me.

It would operate exactly the same as the pipe-based strawberry tower but instead of the water running down the pipes, it would run down the plastic sleeves with pouches plastic-welded at intervals. A stiffer insert could be used to keep the flaps open but I assume that the gravel would do that anyway.

I'm still learning Google Sketchup so I just wipped it up (badly) in Paint. (attached).

Comments? Idea? Improvements?

as long as the plants got enough sun, and the inflow went into the right areas....looks good

The pond liner material also comes in clear. Plants could get the sun from both sides. Because the pouches are only on the one side, one could hang them back-to-back.

you could have them directly above the fishtank and when you need to harvest, pull the curtains across on a pulley

Mmmm. flexible hose for water inflow (so that you can pulley them in), pulley system harvesting, drain directly into ponds. If we used clear plastic they could be packed closer together because the sun would shine through.

Beauty of this system is that they could be made in any width as the weight ditribution is evenly spaced. I think we are limited to height as the weight may be too much, but I think 1.5m height would be fine. Some reinforcing of the plastic at the top of each "column" of pouches and then suspended on ropes or chains from the pulley system. My strawberry towers are currently flooding for 1/2 hr and draining for 1 hr and, same could work with the curtains.

You could incorporate it then as some type of water heater and or shade for the tank too, as the black rubber curtain would pick up some nice warmth from the sun. Nice idea Sman

Actually, you might need to keep them white... don't think strawberries roots like to get to hot...

What about the panda plastic they use in hydro apps.... black inside, white outside...





With the right bits and pieces ... you can even get them to look like this...

Great idea!

SM, that is the addition I was planning to do after I get some beds going. I mocked up something primitive about a month ago:

viewtopic.php?p=118936#p118936

Google planted walls or vegetal walls and that can spark some ideas.

I have worked out how I would do it; I'll post it here when I have a chance. Off to work!

Rupe - that's the pic I was thinking of as I read S'man's post. Not as complex or possible as ingenious an idea, but an easy one to make at home.

Good idea though S'man - I'll look forward to seeing a prototype. I've had no luck with S'berries so far for some reason. I know others have done well with them (eg F&F).

PS - I don't think the panda would hold up to the gravel weight (or sharpness), but clay balls would be okay.

That is a neat idea, and I dont see any reason it would not work. Perhaps you could even double the plastic over and stick it together to increase the over all strength. Test will tell.
Hanging this on a pulley and cable system would make drawing the plants over for harvest easy and let you use space like over a sump, for example, usable. I even like the idea of having a curtain of plants across the south side of the house to break the sun during the summer.

I look forward to seeing your idea completed. Cheaper than 15.24cm pipe! Great idea!

The pond liner material that I am making it out of is extremely tough. I have tried cutting through it with a piece of the gravel I use and it doesn't pierce, it's completely water-proof and the piece in the picture holds my weight easily (hanging from a beam). As mentioned, we'll probably re-inforce the top with a double seam and eyelets for extra strength.

The thought of having the plants on both sides lends itself to a balanced draping curtain. Planting on one side only would cause the curtain to hang 'off vertical'
Perhaps if you had the plant openings alternately on one side then the other side, so that the plantings and plant mass are balanced around the vertical centre line of the curtain.

eg 'V' is this side plant opening, 'v' is far side plant opening | is vertical seam weld.
|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|
|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|
|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|
|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|
|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|
|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|V|v|

does this make sense?

I hope so,
Tony

Synaptoman

I think that the hanging shoebag wall of strawberrys idea is amazing...

PM me if you have time.