Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

excellent suggestion, DD
I have been thinking along the same lines

frank

Then once proven the design can be embiggened

Now Frank will definitely be thinking along the same lines....

Now now rupe, I was thinking along the same lines as fishfingers' system. Are you going to laugh at me too?

Cromulent concept DD but what is the dude standing on? I just loved the use of embiggen...

Nah Steem... just having a giggle in general.... I like DD's sketch and idea... and nothing wrong with what Fishfinger is proposing either....

It's always good to see people post up their ideas/sketchs/pictures...

And fabulous to see them implemented....

So what was wrong with the raft idea?
If you do the math right the GB's would partially submerge when full of water. Pump off water drains (you would only need to drill holes down the side of the GB, no standpipe). Head required would be bugger all, whole thing would move with the water level. Wanted to crop/plant, pump off and a couple of planks.

Nothing wrong with floating raft mehodology Steem... proven workable model ala UVI...

Hadn't really given the idea depth of thought in this regard... one concern might be ... with the raft constantly floating and lowering... would the plant roots try to take in the media below, and what affect would the rise and fall have constantly disturbing the roots...

Sorry Steem... thought you were referring to DD's drawing... in Synapto's case... just floating a raft on top...

Other than fish nibbling roots.... no problem....

Word of the day. LOVE IT !!

OK, here's what I think I'll be doing. I have 4 x 2m long grow beds to work with. My pond is 4m long. I am going to suspend 2 GB's on each edge end to end ie 2 x 2m GB on the one edge and 2 x 2m on the other. My reason for not suspending them directly over the center of the pond is that I have changed my mind on the Koi issue and will be using the pond as a Tilapia production unit and will have to be getting fish in and out all the time. By placing the GB's along the edges I have plenty of room to work inside with only 500mm used on each side leaving me a good 2m working space inside. Yes, I get in my ponds to catch fish. Snorkel, goggles and big net. Picture it

I like the idea of a cover so I am going to construct a greenhouse frame out of 40mm PVC pipes and secure them against the outside walls of the tank. To work with the plants will be easy. I am just going to construct the cover in such a way that the sides roll up and I can work on the plants from the outside. This way I only have to lean in a max of 500mm. The greenhouse cover could be plastic or shadecloth, I'm not sure yet.

I suck at Sketchup so I've just scribbled my ideas down (attached). If any kind BYAPer could volunteer to draw this in Sketchup for me I'd be most grateful.

Comments ??

"Hadn't really given the idea depth of thought in this regard... one concern might be ... with the raft constantly floating and lowering... would the plant roots try to take in the media below, and what affect would the rise and fall have constantly disturbing the roots..."

Rupe the GBs would be sealed aside from holes drilled to let water out ie sort of modified stand pipe. The GB's would only be in the water say 1/3 of the way up on flood. It would be operating as a F&D, Flotation pipes would be underneath.

Synapto that can't be a real word?

drawing works ..... , you amaze me with what you can come up with.....more power to you

Drawing looks allright to me