Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

See - Jamie's rows of strawberry fields -just like I remember :sunny:

Guys, I lke the experimentation. As I would like to start with a similar system for strawberries. I ask for some feedback regarding the success of pipe diameters. I read that earlier attempts using stormwater (90mm) pipes clogged up, then followups of 110mm and Jaimie's 150mm with 200mm slot separation with larger media proved successful.
I'm puzzled since I thought the rootball was smaller with AP systems so higher plant density is achieveable. Any thoughts about this?
Would the temperature of the outer skin of the media play a part? I mean if too hot then the bacteria number and nutes would be reduced, reducing useable volume for each plant, hence the long roots and clogging. franc

wire mesh rolled into a cylinder and lined with 6 mil black poly would work. The hydroton pushes the poly tight against the mesh. Cut short lengths of tube and stick them in at 45 deg angles for plant sites.
600mm wide mesh makes 180mm diameter and 900mm wide a 270mm diameter "tube".
An equivilent rigid plastic pipe 11" diameter would cost a fortune

Hex, What a great idea, thanks.
Still would like to know if I can get away with 90mm pipe and slots 150mm vertical separation, offset 90deg. Do you think this is too compact? franc

The good bit about using towers with GBs is that the towers can be periodically removed, cleansed and repacked, nutrients would be supplied by the water and bacteria would not take long to re-colonise....this way there would be less chance of clogging/blockaging.

This might be a different matter if the towers were your only source for the good bacteria

From what I've been reading I thought clogging in GBs wasn't an issue. Joels DVD showed grow beds with out any serious build of sludge or stuff that need to be cleaned out except for the occaisional rabid tomatoe root. Steeve has said a lot that the "stuff" (old roots, fish poo, etc) was good to have in the gb where it would supply P and K.

Wondering?

Think we are referring to vertical towers (well I was ) - hah, that means I was on topic

Has any one out there with an older system needed to give the GBs a clean or if they have removed stuff was it because they thought they should rather than it showed signs of not functioning properly?

SC, I have just pulled apart my 1st system to move it into the GH (running for ~9 months)

the gravel was covered in fish poo (didn't have any worms in residence)
bottom of the 100l clear plastic GBs had root growth (when any got into the drain pipe I just broke them off)

This is the system I used to develop the bell auto siphons and the siphons were still working efficiently right up to when I pulled it apart (veggies were growing prolifically)

EB did say he did some digging in his 2 YO GB and found nothing causing any probs.

Main areas of concern would be biofilm/fish poo build up in small sized piping thus reducing water flow

Ell, right on topic. Looks like it's a try it and see how it pans regarding the clogging of tower system (strawbs). No real issues holding me back just inaction. Tomorrow, i'll go to B and start cutting, heating etc. The strawberries are already to go so cannot delay longer. Media will be crushed terracotta since it's porous compared to scoria. Wishful that bacteria and DO levels will be marginally better. All in anticipation of feeder fish arriving soon. Thanks franc

if you have a plumbing trade supply nearby they will be heaps cheaper than "b" for large diameter pipe (lots cheaper)

Don’t worry too much about the strawberries Funku. I had mine sitting in ice cream containers of just water for 8 to 10 weeks waiting for my GB to be ready for them.
The only thing I need to do to them was to wash the slim of the roots & change the water every week. They survived nicely & are still growing well.

Re strawberry towers this plant has 54 fruit on it at the moment and still flowering

we've got FOUR strawberries on one of plants! Slowly growing and getting bigger

wow, impressive, im definately gonna get lots of strawberry plants in my system, was someone making a rotating tower? i (think i) remember a pic of one somewhere in the forum.......