Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just wondering why gravel guards mostly have horizontal slits?

I've done mine with vertical slits in case I can't turn the pipe and need to clean them out - using a screw driver with vertical slits is easier than horizontal ones.

I thought most people cut them vertically,so that's how I did mine

I just assumed horizontal slits are easier to cut.

I can't find any vertical ones in google images
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=grav ... s&tbm=isch

I thought it was a more structural thing? The gravel guard can handle more weight against the circular part, while if you make length wise cuts, it takes away some of the structure.

That being said, the 150mm pipe I used is pretty thick and strong, I don't think it'd matter either way.

I drilled holes in mine

ahh thanks - that might be it

I just used a thick grinder and made 10cm long cuts vertically

I like your thinking jayendra!
You did use a cutting disk and not the grinding disk I hope?

Its just an ease of doing the cuts Jay. So much easier to cut horizontally, but in reality it doesn't matter which way you cut them.

Well I did use the thick metal grinding wheel 5mm thick.

I made them vertical because in version 1 AP I didn't make them big enough and also I can't twist teh guard for some reason to release the gunk and roots, So I have to poke a short screw driver through holes and slits.

In the latest version it has plenty of flow and easy to poke downwards with a screwdriver.

Like Colum said all things being equal horizontal slits will result in a stronger guard. Conveniently they are also easier to cut.

Slits are better than drilled holes because the slits can be bigger and still not pass the gravel.

I just drilled holes in mine.

I do both (kinda) - use my miter saw at 45 degs and do diagonal ones.

An issue that may occur with horizontal ones is that when roots get in, and you spin the media guard round to clear them, it will not cut off the roots.

Just have to spin it a bit further.

This is the design I had before just slits - the holes take ages



But now I do this
100mm guard and space the slits about 1-1.5cm apart

Hmmm I really need to get over my fear of grinders, that would be much quicker then drilling holes!

I'm also going to drill two big holes at top that will fit a big screwdriver so that I can turn when roots appear easier, I found some are very hard to move with gravel.


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