Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Note the size of the gravel.... It is working well, so far anyway...

Yes you can... I did this to give myself more planting room... but be careful as the PVC will tear/rip if you are not carefull... I was surprised at this (I found out the difficult way ) - PVC is not as 'elastic' as other plastic when heated up.

I was going to ask about that... did you do this deliberately? I am using 12 to 15 mm stone (all I had left) and all seems well but I did/do worry about it being too big!

I may give the towers a miss and go for the more traditional frame of horizontal pipes - you know the setup where they move inwardsas they get higher up the frame. Other than building the frame, I see no disadvantage in doing this to doing towers, but see a lot of advantages. The cage setup from which this all started was based on growing inside (possibly in a cabinet) under lights cause they were growing dope. These restrictions are not present in many of our systems.

could you include a drawing (or link to another site) which deals with this idea... woul like to know more!

Something like this. Normally they do A frames as you can see - but you can do it with just 1 side if theat is best having regard to your sun etc.

I grew brocolli peppers and lettuce in 110 mm horizontal pipe too shallow for Aquaponics I overgrew things the roots clogged the pipe and if I harvested one plant I tore the roots of another, couldn't get the mess out of the pipe without removing all the plants and wound up with root rot problems. The flow was too slow, not enough air to support the root mass. Lettuce only or other leafy veg might have been ok but who wants only lettuce.

I'm hoping with gravity assisting the towers flow, and planting plants that are semi permanent, this will remove previous problems with root tearing and shallow rooting plants sending roots 3 feet either side!

I'd never use small horizontal pipes again. That's my experience.

thanks for that VB... and AA...
I had thought of something similar, but went with experimenting with rafts instead... Perhaps if I inclined the tube slightly- kinda halfway between this and a tower?

As I was reading AA's post I was thinking, maybe just incline the pipes on a greater angle to solve some of AA's issues. Then I read AM's post - same comment. I reckon it would be work a go. THere is an attraction to being able to cut a hole in the pipe with a hole saw and use a hyrdo baske tto house the plant. And as you have stated AA, we are talking of a more permanent plant here (strawbs), which you would not be ripping out all the time.

just how extensive is a strawbs roots in a system like this - I only ever grew them in soil...

Thanks VB, picture tells the story

Do you have a handy source for hydro baskets? Online would be even better.

Thats not a grape vine hanging from the trusses is it?

Looks like grapes Steve. I bought some baskets the other day (just a few to experiment with. Can't remember how much I paid, but it seemed reasonable. As well as getting the normal single basket ones, I got some real small ones that come joined 4 together (you break them apart of course). Apparently these small ones can be used for lettuce. They are really cheap.

Where from VB?

I suppose most hydro stores would have them?

Just a local joint. Don't think they are online. Will take a picture for you.

Here is a picture Stev. Put the plastic teaspoon in picture as a size comparison.