Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

i've been building a comercial system since august. right now i have a 20x40 gh with 2 ibc ft, and a 3'x40'x12'deep gravel grow bed. its been up and running since october. i'm having issues with the gravel bed. i plan to build a 1800gal ft with 2 250g sumps, use my long grow bed for bio filter, and then tag on different systems to my sumps tanks.

sounds like a good plan to me. however, my ph is rising and rising. i can't seem to keep it down, and have been of course having problems with the auto syphon in a large gb. my guess is that i'm not getting a enough water cycling thru the bed, due to its length, and creating anaerobic spots??

i'm looking for some thoughts. why dont people run long gravel beds? what about continuous flood systems? should i break the long bed up into shorter beds??

Your guess would be right... you are having trouble running enough water through them... and getting them to flood & drain properly with a single siphon... creating "anaerobic" spots...


Yes... See the above.....

I thought at first you might have copied the "flawedmedia" concept...

But if you had... then you'd have a balanced natural EcoSystem... and an advanced nutrient distribution system... giving you a complete nutrient profile....

Then all you'd need to avoid any problems... would be the right kind of UV light... to colour your lettuce...

To be fair... you'll see most "flawedmedia" type beds... and/or "commercial" operations.. with big beds.... either have multiple siphons... or sectioned grow beds... or both... some will have large external siphons...

Have you tried doing a vinegar test on the gravel to see if it has limestone in it? How high is high pH? I wouldn't try doing a siphon on a large bed like that, too difficult.

RupertofOZ "flawmedia"? i should also add that i have been adding seaweed, and a beet based mild nutrient solution. any thoughts on running a constant flood? maybe add a solids pre filter before the bed? i'm obviously not to keen on tearing it apart and rebuilding into smaller beds.

dave i have pure granit.. its good stuff. origianlly after the system cycled things were perfect hanging in the 6.9-7.1 range,
but recently it has been slowly climbing. its a constant battle i come in every day check it, add a little down. so i am keeping it under control, but i know the battle should be the other way by now.

You could run constant flood... but is your standpipe large enough to allow you to do so... and exchange the water through the bed.. without it channeling... creating anaerobic spots... (it doesn't sound like it is)

If you don't think it can... then you may need to scrape back the media.. in one or two spots... and install addional standpipes/siphons....

Rupert, whats this flawed media concept?

... it's a play on words.... for an unproven commercially profitable... "branded" hybrid media bed design...

I can;t see any way that the water would be able to travel well through a 40 foot long bed... As suggested, I'd look at putting in 2-3 more drains...

One of the recent US commercial hydrid media systems.... has 96 foot media beds....

Can ya post a link, I'm very interested!!

Search for Ouroboros Farms.... Pescadero California... on Facepuke... or the link below..



You can see the full sized photo here... http://mullinsfarms.com/wp-content/uplo ... G_5658.jpg

They announced their first 5 day commercial aquaponics training course... a week after they actually got the fish...

wow that's gorgeous! I want a farm like that!

No you don't... really you don't....

why not?! what's wrong with it?