Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Not saying it's perfect but I thought this looked like it had some possibilities. System uses a wick going down into a gutter (a net pot going through a hole in the bucket bottom). The water level in the gutter is controlled by a mini float switch. I could see where this would let you connect up your fish tank pump while running CF so that every time the float switch opened, water would be pumped into the channel. Might make some really easy to construct raised garden spaces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRQzhFBCot4

He has several videos, you have to look at a few to get the full idea and the backstory is interesting as well.

One other thing that occurred to me is that this would be a good way to bleed off some of the system water to make buildup of contaminants less likely. Kind of like a giant autopot system.

I could also see using totes sitting across two of these channels, for stability and redundancy.

Hmm, lots of views but no comments?! I saw this as an easy way to have self watering moveable wicking beds and pretty cheap if you scrounge. You can link gutter sections with each having it's own float valve for independent operation and all will still have the same water source. You could even use this to make flower borders around a patio, just use a second rain gutter and sandwich both between wide boards so they don't show.

Credit to scotty435 for mentioning this guy's wicking setup, I think it's pretty good.
(I merged two topics because I missed this topic before and had started another one)

From Larry Hall, Minnesotan, pretty neat organization of things to grow stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/user/larrylhall

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Self-Wate ... 6841423065

Could use a better acronym than SWRGGS

Edit: One of the videos mentions he invented this system to grow his own tobacco because Obama caused tobacco to be taxed a lot more. LOL

BTW yes I do think this is an excellent idea!

I would use a flow through design and not let the water sit still, just like what I'm doing now with DWC-type channels and net pots but with wicking buckets on top for certain plants like root crops.

Yeah, neat concept ! As DD said, I reckon I'd have my water on flow through though.

the only thing I see that you might not want to do is use any old water hose to feed the gutters....

when a hose sits out in the sun with water in it.... it leaches lead, up to 100 times the
recommend levels that are safe...

unless its a potable water hose, like they use for RV's

some good info here....

http://www.naturalnews.com/033122_garden_hoses_lead.html

jT

Thanks Dave,

Good point about the water hose JT. I would probably make the connection with schedule 40 PVC just like any other AP setup I've made but others might not.

Keeping the water flowing makes sense in some ways like preventing freeze ups and having fresh nutrients. I could see this being done either way. This could be a very cheap way to start an Aquaponics system, depending on what you have lying around.

PVC gutter - not sure of price
pair of gutter end caps - around $7 (does on channel)
PVC cement (for PVC gutters - most already have this)
Buckets - Free or $1 from food establishments
3" net pots 35 cents each (at the expensive places)
2x4x10 lumber - not sure on this but less than $10 for 2 of these I think.
Mini Float valve - $8
Potting soil might be a big expense with this system.
Hole saw?

Having pots blow over as plants get bigger might be an issue so bungee cords or a support might be needed.

I wouldn't use the gutters at all, would use pond liner like I have been using of course.

That would certainly work and no need to buy end caps.

10.39 for 1 ft x 15 ft section out here. Now if I could just trust the neighbors cat

What a great video.

This is sooo close to what I have going on in my system already component-wise, I have the troughs and some buckets and net pots and 2x4s, just a little rearranging and it would be there. I even have a bucket being used as a half-assed sand filter that sits in between two 2x4s for the pipe to drain down, just missing the net pot going into the water instead. Had bought many buckets in the past intending to do some container gardening of some kind but didn't yet. Might be able to re-do my walkway over the water to dip the buckets in there without even using a gutter too, just on the water surface without gutters.

Reviving an old thread, the RGGS community I'm following on Facebook reminds me so much of the AP community, lots of experiments going on.

This system in particular looks sooo much like an AP system:

https://www.facebook.com/larry.hall.50/ ... 683924027/

Dave how are you preventing backups and or overflows? I'm a little nervous I suppose about having a spill.

I noted that a few of you had considered the system, but has anyone yet tried it?

I am thinking of giving it a go using vinyl fence post instead of gutters. I am thinking I will run the water from the fish reservoir to a secondary tank that gravity feeds into a bucket with a float in it. From the bucket run into 2 gutters (vinyl fence posts) that feed the buckets. From the gutters (vinyl fence posts) use a pump to recirculate back to the secondary tank, maybe 2-3 time daily. Say, once a week, or so, transfer the nutritionally spent water back to the fish tank through a swirl filter and once again run the fish reservoir water back into the secondary tank.

If any of you have tried this system I would appreciate some input on this concept.

Thanks,
Koronnas