Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey Rup I know I probably know the answer to this but I got to ask anyway. Can you use use the DWC trough as a sump. I want to do two 4x8 troughs one flowing into the other can I put the pump into the last trough and pump back into my fish tank? I mean its a constant flow system ( in my mind) so it would be like a cascade pond in effect.can there or are there draw backs to using a go as a sump too?

Many/most of the DWC trough systems... use them effectively as a "sump".... and pump from the end back to the fish tank...

Fantastic! Rup I really can't even being to tell you how much help you have been.

And never put a pump in the DWC! in an unlikely event you can pump the DWC dry, or at least place it off the bottom!

BYAP's commercial trial system had the pump in the DWC.

If the pump in the DWC is pumping back to the fish tank... which is supplying the DWC by overflow....

Then short of an actual breakage in the plumbing lines.. it would be almost impossible to pump the DWC "dry"...

A low level float valve pump cut off would solve the problem...

What Rup said.......

Mine will be at the end of the DWC trough and short of a pipe or connection blowout, all will be fine

What would you do then when you have mutiple set of DWC's?

A pump in each trough?..sound too many
DWC Interconnected with pipes?... adding more component that can leak/break
adding minimum level float valve.......KISS isn't it?

How do you feel about putting your hands in water with electric equipment into it?

I overflow the DWC in a collection sump and have more scrubbers to remove dead roots and debris that will naturally flow out any DWC, and I personally utilise and maximise anything available, hence I made an areoponic system on top of the collection sump, and I will be running NFT from the water in the sump.....it's the cleanest in the system and good for gully's.

Really.. there are limitless configuration, when it comes to AP, in my opininon DWC or NFT will entirely depend from various factor and consideration, here listed as from what I believe to be the most important first.

- local weather (unless like me you run NFT on seasonal basis)
-availability and price of components
-managment and maintainance
-practicality
-personal preference

PS; In my experience NFT will always have some sort of small dripping, cosideration for those who plan to have it indoors!
DWC definitely the way to go if you live in a freezing environment!
I was running NFT in UK during winter(-8c at night) and never had freezing problem.
A cold frame (polytunnel) and pipe insulation are the minimum frost prevention measure, if NFT are run continuosly should not be an issue anyway. (some use NFT on timers)

Yep... multiple raft beds => collection sump... and then to NFT...

Not sure why anyone would run NFT on timers... kind of defeats the intention/purpose.... but no doubt someone has tried it for whatever reason...

When you say NFT will "always have some sort of dripping"... what do you mean Bioaqua???

Re : hands in water with electrical equipment in it... a very valid point... and every system shoould have a millisecond RCD breaker....

Small dripping= quatities of H2O loss trough small gaps in the fittings.

Unless you are extremely skilled or make abundant use of silicon/solvent welding glue I'm sure anyone will still experience some sort of minimal water loss. (not to panic stage!)
HDPE plastic trough, LDPE delivery pipes, rubber grommets,pipe joint etc..will overtime naturally degrade and start cracking, most polymers(plastics) exposed to uv light and temperature differential tend to expanded and contracted, eventually lead to small driping.
In a system like mine (50000lt) a small dripping is not so much a problem, but on a small scale system a small dripping might require attention, specially indoor.

No offense. But limited house hold/out door plumbing experience is enough to ensure no leaks if you use correct fittings.

If it is in doors and you don't want to use much silicon or glue. I would spring for the extra, and go with treaded fittings. In a non perfect world you will probably be forced to have a slip fitting somewhere in the system, but limits usage of them.

I would not use things like grommets or uniseals indoors. If I was to use hose+clamp fittings, I would make sure the clamps where metal screw up automotive style, not plastic clip irrigation style.

No offence.. have you ever built and operated an NFT system before?
Almost everybody has experience a fair degree of leaking in AP, GB too could be leaking.

Have you not?

In my experience DWC has much less failing points when it comes to construction. (skill depending!)

And I'm actually using both NFT & DWC for the farm, for different practical and economical reason.