Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I think Rupert is alluding to his earlier comment about selling "How To..." info before they've actually proven they know "how to..."

From what I can tell, you've got to earn respect on these forums, mostly through real experience and factual numbers They don't take kindly to snake charmers round here haha.

The water will move through the beds and, as Rupes points out, de-oxygenate as it does. A potential way of making such long gravel beds stay aerobic, is to add air at intervals. But why bother? Have multiple short beds run in parallel - not in series unless re-oxygenated. That said the other issue with such long gravel beds (or short ones in series) is that the plants at the beginning of the bed will do OK and the plants at the end of the bed will probably be be nutrient starved and stunted/poor growing even if oxgenated.

thans for all the advice everyone. i think i will add a few stand pipes. and try and disperse the water through the gb more evenly. i may also add some aeration.

the reason i wanted such a long gb was to have more room for microbes...
the long gb goes back to sump, then ft to the gb. i then have added on 8 4'x8' grow trays that i am growing microgreens in, constant flow. i had intended to do a semi aeroponics deal where i plumb 1/2 pvc suspended 6" above the bottom of the tray. I have 1/8" holes drilled on the bottom. i use high power pumps the spray refracts off the bottom of the grow tray and up to the 4"x8" coir mat.

i know, i know, its not true aeroponics, but i am trying to work with the concept. i have run it on small systems and it works really well. growth rates are crazy fast.

since i have been having so many other problems, mainly with pumps, i decided to dumb it down and grow some dern micros so i can make some money and pay for all this.

i'm gonna try and get a vid up on you tube