Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Interesting rotary growing system



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCTOR6m3 ... dded#t=153

Has anyone had experience with them?

Not personally Novaris... there are many variations on the theme, especially horizontal circular examples.... cost vs returns would seem to be the obvious shortcoming, as the grow units need to be sealed to retain water/nutrient as the thing turns...

Actually Rupe, I don't think they are sealed, the plants are only dipped into the nutrient tray as they are at the bottom of the rotation and then while they are moving around they get dry time. I would expect to see lots of dripping though which isn't evident in the picture.

Pretty big investment to grow salad and herbs at home but I suppose if you have to do it indoors, it might make more sense if you have the space and can get one through the door.

I doubt you can grow much other than salad crops, herbs and perhaps some small flowers since large plants would get all tangled up and then hit the light. The very large scale ones they showed on the video, I'm not sure how they go about harvesting, and re-planting. The rails with the plants must slide out or something.

Could well be the case TCL.... but they're limited to media such as rockwool and possibly coir (so it wont fall out when rotating).... and as to what can be grown as you say...

Add the additional cost of manufacture... and power to drive the thing.... well I don't know if they would really be that cost efficient...

Makes sense and I suspect being so complex they might suffer from mechanical failures or problems.

It needs to go the other way up (vertical) and be planted on the outside then you dont need 1200w of artificial lighting and can grow stuff bigger than a foot high

Like these... similar to the "Volksgarden"...

Thats the ones Rupe, you missed out the coliseum which would be perfect if it was turned inside out. The stadium is the odd man one out as its horizontal but still makes good use of the space

Wow what a wonderful set up here particularly in a rotating motion so the all the plants can get the nutrients in a proper manner and all can grow more.

And wow... what an expensive way to grow some veges...

i know it would cost HEAPS and would not be worth getting it all.
.....
but its still freaking awesome

.... till it breaks down .

i knew id seen that before sgu2 hydroponics

I've seen one like the second pic Rupe posted and while it was neat, the heat from the lamps in the center caused a plasticy smell. Not real appealing.. maybe with LED technology or even fluorescents it wouldn't be that way but this used an HID light.

I like the vertical rotating model with the plants facing out but would the plants get enough light?

I wanted to build an outside one for the pool. A water pump puts water into the next row of plants and the weight slowly turns the wheel. All the plants hang so they are always facing up. Would of been great for lettuce. Limiting the swing movement of the plants would bend them enough to get the benefit for stronger stems etc. Be good for growing water cress. The fish would keep the foliage trimmed.