Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello. Been reading all the info I can find on how long a bed should take to drain on a fill and drain system but the times are way out on each end of the scale.

Also how many times to flood the beds a day/hour. I found a video that said once a day that seemed like the roots would get too dry and not enough filtering for the fish. Another said 3 or 4 times an hour. That sounds busy unless it was a super heavy system for plants and fish.

I realize some factors like how loaded the fish tank and beds are has some effect on it.

I am looking at 2 small window box size beds with pea gravel, a timer and stand pipe. The tank is a fish tank 29 gal and I plan to use 4 small gold fish.

I am not looking for a super producer for plants or fish. Just a test system so a few bean plants and 2 Tomato plants would be about it.

Thanks for the help.

Prolly once an hour to turn your FT water over, would be bucket loads

Using a pump is more efficient use of your time than buckets imho.

...shit...thats a joke...I reckonised that....a lil over engineered but......better luck next time

Drain time, for me, depends on fish and feed load. I need the ability to change water pretty fast. Of course, some crops prefer more dry time, but generally anything will work so long as you can move enough water per day to remove the ammonia.