Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

K here's my second system. Tell me if it sounds OK. I will try to have pics up soon.

40 gal fish barrel pumping water at 50 gal/hr into a 22 gal grow bed. The grow bed has gravel with an auto siphon adjusting the water level about 7 inches.

I will cycle for 3 to 4 weeks before planting. I will initally put in 4 tilapia about 4 inches long along with some water plants like elodea.

How does this sound?

HNB

Sounds good to me. Are the water plants for the tilapia to eat?

The tilapia wil make short work of the elodia. Tilapia like hard water, so I use a litttle limestone or shell grit - they are a very resilient fish, so pH is not really a big deal for them. More of a deal for the plants, some prefering slightly acid and some slightly basic water. Pics or sketches would be great!

Sounds like a good start, but you might want more growbed space.

Don't forget the water tests as you cycle up.

Plant at the start, gives the spindly things a chance to establish wee roots to catch on as soon as nitrates are realised, instead of playing catch up, and imo, assists in the cycling process as plants invite bacteria of their own.

Interesting, I had a "discussion this morning about this very topic with my dearly beloved wife. She holds that planting straight away will help it along. I will not show her your post AA as then she will think she won the "discussion" LOL

Sorry Stu, didn't realise that you wanted to keep it from Hethbo - hope she doesn't check her PM's

Eventually I will add another GB. One question though, do I need a auto siphon? Or can I just do a continous flow with a regualr drain?

The concern with continuous flow (as opposed to any ebb-and-flow arrangement) is that the gravel can develop dry spots unless the water is dstributed over the surface very thoroughly.

Adding to what Janet said the water can allso develop 'dead spots'.
And stagnant water is a no no in Ap

I second that, dead spots are difficult to remove in flat beds with a slightly raised drain (only 5 mm) after my slow flow in fast out bed got clogged from roots I changed to continuous flow.

Now I can smell the sulphur dioxide, which, though normal to have some, seems a lot stronger in the continuous flow. (noticeable). This is turn has shown various leaf problems which may/may not be associated.

The plot thickens however, and the nature of my media is still under investigation and observation having degassing and various metal uptake properties, which, over time, may have caused this condition.

I won't go further till I'm (hopefully) not talking through a hole once again - seem to be doing it a lot lately.

how the hell u know what sulphur dioxide smell like? and whats this mystery media?

Here's my set up design. I am thinking of taking off the auto siphon and make it a continous flow with a regular drain because of my diffuculty with the auto siphon. Am I stupid?

CG - Err, it smells like sulphur.

The medium is Scoria.

NH you CAN do ebb and flow with a regular drain....restrict/slow ouflow drain and unrestrict/increase inflow, many-many ways to do this. You are on the right track and asking the right q's. Glad to see another Tilapia grower on the forum.

AA likes continuous flow as do I, it is simpler if your grow bed is over the fish tank and you dont need the auto-siphon. Ebb and flow takes more time to adjust balance between inflow and outflow. I have done both and think the best system combines both methods...imho