Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

what sort of FT would you need to run 20 of those ?

They don't require much flow. Maybe .5 gallons a minute

Does anyone know where to get these type of fence posts, or something similar (100mm x 100mm extrude) in Australia, As well as the right size filter mat for making these... Has anyone successfully built something like these in Aus.

I would love to experiment, but at roughly $4 a punnet of Strawberries, I'd have to grow around 75 punnet worth to justify the cost of buying 4 towers commercially.... let alone scaling up beyond that.

From the Bright Agrotech website:

"For aquaponics systems, a higher flow rate is necessary to keep a substantial amount of volume through your towers in order to promote good nitrification and well as good bio-filtration and mechanical filtration. We recommend 7-10 gallons per hour per ZipGrow towers."

"In hydroponics, your flow rate can be much lower than in aquaponics- as little as two gallons per hour- because the concentration of nutrients in your hydroponic solution is typically much higher. You don't need to worry about nitrification or worry about solids filtration (i.e. getting rid of the fish solids in your system). We suggest you start with 2 gallons/hour for hydroponics."

This is all predicated on the actual Zip Grow Towers; square design, filled with their type of media and one slotted surface for plants.

I'm planning to do some 90mm stormwater pipe versions with matala media.

How have your experiences been with the drip line clogging? I'm feeding my towers with post filtration water but some solids still get through and I have issues with clogging every few days and have to flush the line. I can't fathom how they get away with using drip tips even under high pressure with how prone 1/4 irrigation tubing is to clogging with minimal solids.

Hey Goltoof ... I have seen videos of Bright Agro, where Nate walks along every morning an beats the pipes with a stick, and gives all the drip lines a flick to clear them ... filtration is clearly a big part of it if you want to keep it really clean.

I have a pump sort of sitting in a matala mat cage, and an in-line irrigation filter ... and while it doesn't clog up anywhere near as regularly as it did before all that ... it still happens.

Instead of every day or hour, now it may have an issue every 3 to 4 weeks ... the things that clog it up are not big solids getting through, but smaller stuff building up over time, into bigger bits.

sounds like it's that or nothing in our wide brown land ...

I have even contacted several plastic extruding companies, to see if the 100 x 100 square is something they do ... but it looks like it's not, within the small sample I have hit up . I will keep searching, and in the meantime, 90mm stormwater or 100 x 65mm rectangular down pipe is going to have to suffice, in the name of testing

You mention Matala matting, is there somewhere in Aus that this can be purchased at reasonable mans prices ... or even something that is a good approximation (to the matala mat) ?

Assuming larger sizes will work for you, you might want to check for other sizes that are larger. 5" X 5" is a fairly common size here in the US - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Veranda-White-Vinyl-Fence-Post-Common-5-in-x-5-in-x-8-ft-Actual-5-0-in-x-5-0-in-x-96-0-in-73010700/202084745

I don't know if they are anywhere near you but I think these guys might have them http://www.countryestatefence.com.au/

or possibly these guys?

http://www.thinkfencing.com.au/
http://www.polvinfencing.com.au/product/post-rail-fencing/

Hopefully one of these companies can help you

fantastic, thanks, will check them out.

ok, that worked a treat ... I found that 2 of them that are willing to negotiate price for bigger numbers of them, and another one of them I found offered to do the routing/cutting down the side.... one will even sell by the meter, rather than set lengths

Freight sucks for small amounts, but if you can organise it yourself (either pick up, or added to a "backload") you can even get that down to a reasonable rate.

Thanks Scotty435, I was previously searching for plastic extruders, rather than fence builders (doh!) now I am cured of that, there is a plethora of options.

Glad it worked out

Matala is way expensive here, in Aus ... has anyone found an alternative that is not cost prohibitive ?

I have heard some say they have bulk ordered from the US, but surely there are even local made products that would be a good substitute ?

Take a look around there and see if you can find floor scrubber/buffing pads (janitorial supply places might be what you need). I expect the coarse ones will be cheaper and might be adapted to what you're trying to do. You'd have to cut them up.

Also look at rain gutter foam

Another option might be scrubbies usually used for dishwashing.

Any of those might work for you but you'll need to verify the safety for this use.

I am curious how this works over time. In one of my early experiments (many years ago) using 4" PVC pipe... between the plant roots and a bacterial mat forming in the media (I used 1/2" pea stone) the tube would get clogged up in a matter of days... Short lived experiment.