Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

reference tank for p v c system

Reference : Almost finished the pvc pipe system .Have at last got the computer working, able to send pics .

Looks like your system is doing great What's the temperature in the greenhouse?

Do you get much light in that greenhouse? Your lettuce looks a little leggy

Temperature 15 to 18 C ,we are shaded by a large lime tree, although we get good filtration, will be getting grow lights ,just need to connect the p v c pipe system ,the lettuce will probably be better in the autumn whereas temperature is more controllable .Cheers

Hi. The parts arrived for the N.F. T system, just completed -had to make alterations to system, I used 4inch pipe to make system -used a reducer on each end of pipe giving me a2inch inlet, outlet enabling water to rise two inches- sufficient to feed plants .We have had very little rain for the last seven days ,but the weekend they forecast rain . made plant pots out of three inch pipe - I used a net pot to make the base ..This system is water running from the fish tank through the pipes regulated by a tap . There is not much information on building a N.F.T system .The original idea was to use a syphon giving an ebb and flow effect -I didn't see on YouTube so I abandoned the idea., so what I have is a flow system.

Looks great you don't do things by halves do you

Hi nice to hear from you ,the reason for introducing the pipe system is simply that I haven't enough room in the greenhouse for a third grow bed ,there is a small space by the work shop that I can build an extension enabling me to build a third grow bed .The picture shows a water filter on top of the fish waste filter- I found the evaporation of water out of the sump tank too much so I have gone back to filtering water in to its own tub- at least I can pour five gallons into the system knowingly -plan to build a filter using sand .The original system I will incorporate into the extension .Later on I plan to introduce grow lights as we are surrounded by trees .Have you built anything on your own system? please send pics .

Picture shows the trees surrounding the greenhouse ,plan to get grow lights .The N.F.T system I modified showing pipe reducers which act as a baffler to raise water in pipe .I noticed other people use small tubes -not sure whether they are for oxygen or water ?haven't found much in the way of instruction s building N F T systems ..next project is to build small extension on workshop to house the AP system I bought last year and incorporate in to the new system

reference system making noise from water pipe- extended pipe from filter to sub tank -seems ok quieter by half . Picture of water filter consists of two Berkey Doulton filters gives me about five gallons of water .

Hi slowly getting there- sorry for long time replying ,Well have finished the water filter ,just consists of two Doulton supercarb filters .Thinking of buying R.O. filter that attaches to the tap pipe that gives me forty litres say in 24 hours. I completed the N .F.T system after trial and error . I hope I have got this right-

I've never built an NFT system so I can't say whether it's correct or not, definitely looks the part, the only thing I could see that might be an issue (but probably isn't) is where the elbow is exiting the end caps at the center rather than closer to the bottom (maybe a point where water/solids can get trapped?) Maybe one of the experienced NFT builders will chime in. Keep the great photos coming

Not to nit-pick, but if you're using round tubes it's not NFT. NFT = Nutrient Film Technique. To have a nutrient film, you have to have a flat bottom.

I've seen the pipe setups called DFT = Deep Flow Technique.

Thank you for information .I have just planted the DFT system with seeds hopefully It will work ,getting lights soon ,being that I am shaded by trees.

Hi- well I changed from a round elbow pipe to a reducer 2" pipe to give me the water height in the DFT system . To answer your question ,I fitted the 2" inch restrictor-I haven't found any build up of unwanted materials ,but I am able to dismantle the pipes when cleaning -unfortunately one or two goldfish have white spot - I have been treating them with Blagdon pond fish treatment- in fact I removed the diseased fish as advised .Getting lights soon- the trees interfere with the light in the greenhouse .Going to build a small extension on side of workshop have an existing system I shall accommodate there also for setting out seeds that will leave the original greenhouse free for overwintering garden plants.