Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ell, VB, I am working on the idea of filling the growbed right to the top for the first little while to make sure the plants get a go on, then reducing the fill level down to about half. I don't know how I came to this plan, it just appeared to be logical to me......Any ideas ????
I am finding it difficult to adjust the float switch in the fish tank to pump out only that smaller amount of water then switch off, it would be easier with two grow beds hooked up, the volume would then be shared between two beds and the levels more easily adjusted by use of the ball valves on each bed.

Muzza.

murray try fitting a small vertical riser pipe say 6 inch in the grow bed and fit the float switch in there also put your grow beds the same height then no matter the height of your fish tank the grow beds will remain stattic

VB,
Here is a pix of my grow bed that I planted on 3 September. My pump moves 100 ltrs of water into the grow bed in just 3 minutes via the H shaped distribution grid and I am noticing that the small 4mm holes I have drilled in the grid at approx 125mm spacings tend to clog a little with fish poo etc at the extreme end of the grid, so once a day I give it full blast (open up the ball valve) to clear them, in this case the pump out only takes about 1 1/2 minutes to move the 100 ltrs approx into the grow bed.

Sometimes it is more that 100 ltrs if the sump pump is delivering to the fish tank at the same time then the grow bed fills to a little more than 3/4 full as the fish tank float switch will take longer to switch off.

I think with a low capacity pump one would have clogging problems, eventually. The pump needs to have a bit of capacity in order to evenly distribute the water all over the grow bed via the pipe grid.
My fish water was very dirty, and when I had the float switch set to fill the grow bed right to the top the water did not clear at all. I had it like that for about one week. Upon setting the float switch to only half fill the grow bed the water started to clear overnight, so the level of flooding and distribution of the water via the grid is very important.
I have added extra seedlings one week ago, as a result of a comment of VB's I realised that I needed more plants to get the system working properly and in one weeks time I will add more lettuce, so I will soon have a regular supply.
It is amazing really, when I just copy what Joel has done it works !!!! Funny thing that !!!

Muzza

Looking great Murray. Mine was planted out on 12 September - so I will have to see what mine look like in 9 days time as a point of comparison. I will be interested to see if my plants get good growth with my pumping method.

That gravel!... wow, just so big!
System looking good there Murray!

Pix of Silver Beet taken 29th Sept one week after pix above

Another view.

Fantastic Muzza. I reckon we are about even Steven - me having 9 days less growth so 9 days less size

How is that possible, you must have compter generated graphics you people !!

Those lettuces must taste better cause isn't it when they are a bit slow and a bit low on water that they start to get bitter?

Top stuff Muzza

You are spot on Stu - in my view this is a huge advantage of growing this way. Lettuce promise to be always sweet.

Muzza have you had a taste of the silverbeet - I bet it tastes great. I had a couple of leaves of mine and it is so sweet you could use it raw in salads . Haven't tried the letuce yet - but I'm sure it will be good.

That looks so good Murray - I am still in the early cycling stages but by the time the new pump gets here we should be ready to go. I want to plant silverbeet first up my MIL cant believe it is possible - she is an avid soil gardener and pretty cranky because the ants are eating her crop

Ants can also get into the aqua beds, but should not prove to be as much of a problem as in the soil. To limit ants I have put a ring of greese around each let of my grow-bed as well as around the pump and drain pipes. A few have still managed to get in (probably inside the panda sleeve that I have around the pump pipe.

You didn't doubt me did ya Muzza?

Good to see your plants moving along...

I had to change salad dressings because Ranch just clobbered my lettuce because it was so tender and delicate.

no doubt - but the amount of the growth is certainly far greater than my expectations, Murray thay are looking real good