Amarillo TX startup

keith

chloramines take a bit longer to break down.. the disassocation may cause an ammonia spike..i''d treat "chloramine" water but let aeration take care of chlorine

Terry79104

Thanks tcshad, and Keith like I say I found out Amarillo does not use chloramine so that won't be a problem.

Gene.243

Terry79104 wrote:

I'm staying with the 1000 - I reduced the number of holes in the standpipe and took out part of the pvc where it was getting all of the water and now the water level in the beds is ok and the distribution of the water is just a trickle in most of the beds but I guess as long as that water level is ok it doesn't matter. The water has been running for two days now so the chlorine should be dissapated. I'll start testing and see about trying to bring it up. I keep hearing about a bunch of people here doing ap but not having any luck making contact with them.

I'm thinking a constant flood system standpipe should not have any holes in the side. Just adjust the length to set water height. :think:

Terry79104

Just going by the instructions - if you have a constant height does that only drain off the surface water instead of the good stuff?

Gene.243

Do you have a gravel guard around your standpipe?

Terry79104

Yes, the standpipe is 2" surrounded by a 4 inch guard - I'm using clay pebbles instead of gravel

Gene.243

Holes go in the side of the gravel guard so water flows into the chamber between pipes then down the standpipe. Are you using holes in the side of the standpipe to control the water level?

Terry79104

Yes, larger holes in the gravel guard - smaller in the standpipe and I reduced the number there a little to raise the water level. I'm happy with the water level it is maintaining now.

Terry79104

It's easy to check the water level since you can see it between the two pipes. For some reason one bed is maintaining about an inch higher water level than the other and they are fed by the same pump, but the lower level is still satisfactory.

Ronmaggi

Actually, constant flood's advantage is that the grow bed also acts like a settling filter. With enough worms the buildup should be manageable.

Terry79104

Haven't introduced any worms

Terry79104

But nothing has been planted yet either. We are about to however, a few small plants and seed a few things as well.

Terry79104

Fish Pro guy said I can introduce a couple of doz feeder goldfish in a couple of days

Ronmaggi

I find that I have the best luck with seeds that I start in a soil starter tray. When they are large enough, I rinse all the soil away and transplant them into the grow beds. I would say that I only get 1/20 germination rate with direct seeding. I do have some small dill plants growing from seeds that fell off my last planting of dill though...

Gene.243

There are millions of ways to do aquaponics that will work. That design seems problematic to me. As the algae grow on the holes in the standpipe the flow will reduce causing a raise in water level. I may well be over thinking this. as my signature line says...

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Amarillo TX startup

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