Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My mum's just finished adding the clay pebbles (Canna brand) to her system, and I noticed that they are floating - is this normal?

Your flooding too high.

They will sink eventually - but your water is still too high.

+1

Interesting. I was watching it fill, and even before the water reached the point of exposure, I could put my hand on the pebbles and push them down, as they were already floating. I agree they have got the overflow set to high, but I was concerned about the pebbles floating to high above the water level, thus seedling roots not being able to reach the water.

I'll make some adjustments and see how it goes. Main thing is, the pebbles are normally meant to float (at least for a while).

Yes - as they absorb the water, the floating will reduce. It is a very strange feeling sticking your hand int he water while they are suspeded hey

BTW - I headed over to the Hyrdo Warehouse today and got some balls. Did you notice the dud there has my BYAP card on his noteboard. Says he often gives peopl my details. Only problem is that the mobile phone that belongs to the number on the card hasn't been on for months. I should also check to see that th email still works. He asked me whether it is okay for him to continue refering people to me - I said no worries, but nobody has ever contact me. Some probably come to the site via the refferal

Certainly is!


Nah - missed that. Mind you, I wasn't that sharp yesterday, considering I left my paid for iron chelate there, and didn't realise until I got all the way back to Scarbie Best be turning that phone on! BTW, what goods/services do you offer?

I told him about the forum, and that I would be mentioning the cheap clay on it, and expect some people to probably come in.

Ryan - the iron was on the counter when I was there this morning

I don't offer any services as such - I just push aquaponics like a drug , offer advice and point people int he right direction. Wish I'd had the mobile on - maybe I'd have been able to sell somebody this extra tank I have (must put it in the Trading Post before the missus cuts my nuts off).

Tell me about your tank...

Really

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3172

Brian and I had a very scarey trip to (or more particularly, back) Gympie and purchased purpose built (Aquasonic) aquaculture tanks from a guy who was growing Jade Perch commercialy, until the other fishmongers at the markets priced him out of business.

The one I am selling is 3000 litres. Brian (Aussieponic) runs a 3000 litre job and a 1000 litre job in his great system. I run a 1000 litre one and will also run a 3000 litre tank and maybe another 1000 litre tank in my big system. Although I'd love to keep all the tanks, they are taking up too much space and the Mrs is about to divorce me .

I had so much trouble finding suitable tanks in Queensland that when this sale came up, I couldn't help myself buying whater would fit on the big car carrier that we took up to Gympie. There may be some validity to the arguement that I bought more than I needed

I have always intended to offload one or two, but had great difficulty in deciding what I will want in the future and what I will not. The last thing I want to find myslef doing is having to source out a tank after having sold one - hence my half arsed attempt at selling to date. I'd much prefer the tank going to someone in the AP community anyway.

Can you keep the hydroton so it will float a little? Just enough to stir the grow bed. Can anyone else see where this may be beneficial to allowing for solids to be broken down better in a GB? Would it damage roots?

Solids break down fine without having moving hydroton upsetting the roots of plants.

Flooding so high that the hydroton floats dramatically increases evaporation also.

not good for the stability of your plants!
No I don't think it is a good idea to flood to floating level!