Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone. I've been digging through the site for awhile and figured it was time to say hello.

Last year I put up a small greenhouse that has a tank in it to help keep a little heat at night...I then threw in a couple of fish and soon discovered I needed a good way to keep it clean...along came aquaponics!

http://web4deb.blogspot.com/2008/08/additions.html

I've been experimenting with bell siphons, since my current pumps are on timers and it's a drag keeping track of a bunch of them. I also discovered synaptoman's strawberry tower and will "borrow" this idea and try it out.....however a bit concerend about using PVC.... several interesting threads about the pro's and con's.

I'm hoping this spring to get things up-and-running, so I'll be sure to post my progress.

Take care!

-Rob T.

I have come across newer research that says PVC can break down and leach chemicals (can't remember where), but until the local hardware store provides a replacement, better items just aren't readily available, so I use PVC. And I'm fairly certain that it does take a long time for PVC to break down.

Looking good. Ya know, if you want a simple way to get some gravel bed filtration going for your "heat storage pond" you could build another one of your little planters and line it with a chunk of your pond liner. Hook it up with a loop siphon and a little fountain pump. You would probably need to set the planter up on a bench just a touch higher than you pond water level and then you have a nice little flood and drain gravel bed to grow some plants in without worrying much about PVC.

It would at least help keep your water clean while you work on the strawberry tower idea.

Welcome Web4Deb
Have fun
C1

And that's a "Hello" from me as well Web4Deb... enjoy the ride...

I think most of us use pvc plumbing. The situation where it becomes more of an issue is they have begun making a foam core type pvc pipe that if used within the system with lots of holes drilled in it as the mesh to hold gravel back from stand pipes or in other situations where the foam core is exposed to system water, it might no be so good. Look for solid PVC pipes and you are much better off.

Typically, it's the stormwater and some sewerage PVC pipes that are most liekly to be the new "foam" sandwich construction.

+1
unfortunately storm water currently runs to waste
and finds itself contaminated with all the other nasties...
road grime ( oil, rubber, coolant etc)