Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I can't see a way to avoid gravel washing - there's just no easy way to filter out the large quantities of fine sediment.

Consequently, tonight I started washing gravel ... can I be officially welcomed into the AP club now?

So, after a couple of hours work (my back hurts) 2 of the beds now have nice shiny clean gravel - 2 more to go.

...you have officially been initiated into the BYAP fold

I think we have all looked at ways to bi-pass the gravel washing, but it does need a rudimentary attempt to get rid of the fine sediment (as yo have found out).

I rigged up a towel tied across an old milk crate and stuck that under the GB return pipe...after being in use overnight, the towel had changed colour drastically and most of the pores were clogged up, but had done a good job in cleaning the water...others have used old socks etc...as has been mentioned

Gravel Washing tips.... by TimC

- Always take a wheel barrow load at a time and wash it. If you keep glancing over at the other 2 tonnes to have to wash it isn't good for moral. The pile never seems to get any smaller.

- Keep thinking to yourself that once all the gravel is washed, you never, ever have to live through that hell ever again...

- Bribe, force, blackmail, as many relatives and friends to help you wash the gravel. Even if they are just there for moral support, you need all you can get.

- Don't wash gravel on the front lawn when it is NOT your watering day, or during a level 6 water restriction.... And never spray someone who questions you about it...

- Step back when you are done and truly admire its beauty... now the other half will most likely not appreciated it... so you better come up with some bloody good excuses to why you spent the whole day washing gravel and not inside fixing the washers on the sink....

- Follow each gravel washing session with at least a six pack of coldies. You want to get that experience as far out of your memory and as fast as possible...

- Go to bed that night knowing that you will most likely dream about washing gravel... don't fight it... its your minds way of punishing you AGAIN for putting yourself through that. You then wake up monday morning feeling like you've been hit by a big truck, carrying a load of gravel... Don't expect any sympathy from friends or family.

I find the concept of gravel washing to be a strange one...on the one hand we want to avoid filling growbeds with fines, and merrily proceed to use much water to wash the fines out...a process which goes against the mantra of conserving precious resources like clean water. On the other hand, we don't want dirty or cloudy water, necessitating washing, but are not prepared to invest some r&d in water eficient gravel washing systems...possibly a co-operative effort that could be shared around?? Anyone had thoughts in this direction?

I washed all 200L of my gravel using a large crate, an old window/flywire screen and my pump. I poured a bucket load of gravel on the screen, the pump pumped water from the crate and I used a hose to wash the gravel. I stopped every few hours to let the water settle and reused just the clean water.

Sorry for the hijack Scottie... you may find this useful if you have to do any more...

Jeez - how long did it take to wash the 200 litres. Each of my beds holds 500 plus, so I'd need to take a week off to washt he gravel

Well I actually just poured the dirty water into another bucket and used some fresh water, then reused the old water again when it settled.

Took me most of the weekend... Worst part is I have 2000L more to do soon.... I don't think I will wash it...

if you're happy to loose your wife the washing machine spin cycle would work a treat

in that case Steve - might give it a go this weekend

Or just strip the bowl out and put it in the middle of the garden ....

Reusable and water efficient...

Remind me tonight and I'll try to post a picture of my beds. I didn't rinse out the sand - it is laying in the bottom. There are also some solids layers building up and I am thinking this has something to do with my nitrites problems. The grit may hurt aeration in the bottom layers of the bed I reckon, the sandy parts might become anaerobic.

A built in RSG filter DD. How are your nitrates?

define:RSG

even google doesn't know... and I checked the glossary posts

Really Smart Guy

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... =smart+guy

hehe heh newbies....