Sand - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T14:55:45Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/4778851:Topic:28202?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A28617&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSorry Brian i read that artic…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-18:4778851:Comment:669512011-03-18T15:57:04.421ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<h1>Sorry Brian i read that article sometime ago and yes it does mention no pre. I like you blog page showing pics of your neat system. I love the neat DIY construction design!</h1>
<h1>Sorry Brian i read that article sometime ago and yes it does mention no pre. I like you blog page showing pics of your neat system. I love the neat DIY construction design!</h1> No, I'm sending the FT water…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-18:4778851:Comment:669502011-03-18T15:45:15.153ZBrian Naesshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BrianNaess
No, I'm sending the FT water straight in. I slow it up a little. <a target="_blank" href="http://snowcampaquaponics.blogspot.com/2011/02/sand-system-completed-and-cycling.html">Here's my blog entry on my system</a>. I'll update the blog after I take the spider valve out of the mix. Note that the article mentions explicitly to NOT pre-filter the water going into the grow beds, as that removes key nutrients and your plants will not be happy.
No, I'm sending the FT water straight in. I slow it up a little. <a target="_blank" href="http://snowcampaquaponics.blogspot.com/2011/02/sand-system-completed-and-cycling.html">Here's my blog entry on my system</a>. I'll update the blog after I take the spider valve out of the mix. Note that the article mentions explicitly to NOT pre-filter the water going into the grow beds, as that removes key nutrients and your plants will not be happy. Hi Brian,
Great idea using a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-18:4778851:Comment:669442011-03-18T15:34:56.557ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>Hi Brian,</p>
<p>Great idea using a secondary catchment vessel with screen. Are you using any pre-filtration from the FT to GB? Nice article by the good Doctor who helped AP to evolve to what it is today.</p>
<p>Hi Brian,</p>
<p>Great idea using a secondary catchment vessel with screen. Are you using any pre-filtration from the FT to GB? Nice article by the good Doctor who helped AP to evolve to what it is today.</p> Many of you may not be aware,…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-18:4778851:Comment:668102011-03-18T14:12:45.059ZBrian Naesshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BrianNaess
<p>Many of you may not be aware, but the folks at NC State who basically invented what we now called aquaponics used sand as their growing media with great success. Here's an <a href="http://www.aquaplanetonline.com/PDF/resource_papers/McMurtrySummary.pdf" target="_blank">article that summarizes some of the experiments of Dr. Mark McMurtry</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've always used gravel/hydroton, but I recently built a 100 gallon system that is using sand. I'm cycling it right now, but am…</p>
<p>Many of you may not be aware, but the folks at NC State who basically invented what we now called aquaponics used sand as their growing media with great success. Here's an <a target="_blank" href="http://www.aquaplanetonline.com/PDF/resource_papers/McMurtrySummary.pdf">article that summarizes some of the experiments of Dr. Mark McMurtry</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've always used gravel/hydroton, but I recently built a 100 gallon system that is using sand. I'm cycling it right now, but am preparing in the next week to stick some seedlings in it to see how things go. I was using one of the aquaponic spider valves, but I'm not happy with its performance, so I've ordered a small aerator for the fish tank and will reconfigure the fish tank pump and plumbing to remove the spider valve after it arrives. I'll be able to use a much smaller pump.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The benefits that I've seen so far:</p>
<p>- You really don't need as much flow</p>
<p>- You don't need to cycle the water through as often, since the sand does a better job of removing the nutrients</p>
<p>- Sand is cheap.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I use a separate water catching tank and fiberglass window screen to keep sand from getting into the fish tank, and it seems to be working pretty well so far.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Like I said, though, my own experiment is still in the early stages - without plants. I do have two large goldfish in the fish tank right now, and the water is clear and happy. I am convinced that the sand does a better job of removing nutrients.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dr. McMurtry said that there will be an algal mat build up in the early stages of growing, but he said that this mat will actually play a vital role in nutrient removal. I'm starting to see that mat develop.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'll post photos to my blog and update this thread when I've got the aerator installed.</p> Hey Rick I'll keep that in mi…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-12-14:4778851:Comment:288552010-12-14T23:37:07.000ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>Hey Rick I'll keep that in mind for when I'm gettin married!<br/> <br/> <cite>Rick Op said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/4778851:Topic:28202?page=2&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A28838&x=1#4778851Comment28838"><div><p>Harold Sukhbir said:<br/> lettuce alone<br/><br/>Off-Topic... I got an unexpected smile from this, remembering my late father-in-law.<br/>He joked that "lettuce alone" is known as "Honeymoon Salad"</p>
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</blockquote>
<p>Hey Rick I'll keep that in mind for when I'm gettin married!<br/> <br/> <cite>Rick Op said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/4778851:Topic:28202?page=2&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A28838&x=1#4778851Comment28838"><div><p>Harold Sukhbir said:<br/> lettuce alone<br/><br/>Off-Topic... I got an unexpected smile from this, remembering my late father-in-law.<br/>He joked that "lettuce alone" is known as "Honeymoon Salad"</p>
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</blockquote> Harold Sukhbir said: lettuc…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-12-14:4778851:Comment:288382010-12-14T20:42:01.000ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>Harold Sukhbir said:<br/> lettuce alone<br/><br/>Off-Topic... I got an unexpected smile from this, remembering my late father-in-law.<br/>He joked that "lettuce alone" is known as "Honeymoon Salad"</p>
<p>Harold Sukhbir said:<br/> lettuce alone<br/><br/>Off-Topic... I got an unexpected smile from this, remembering my late father-in-law.<br/>He joked that "lettuce alone" is known as "Honeymoon Salad"</p> I agree Rick, it's no wonder…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-12-14:4778851:Comment:288352010-12-14T19:08:11.000ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>I agree Rick, it's no wonder the testing was done with lettuce alone, but what got me in the conclusion was that the author recommended sand for consideration as a hydroponic media due to his results. I think there will always be a missing link between science and practical AP experience,unless you get an AP practitioner who is also a scientist.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Rick Op said:…</cite></p>
<p>I agree Rick, it's no wonder the testing was done with lettuce alone, but what got me in the conclusion was that the author recommended sand for consideration as a hydroponic media due to his results. I think there will always be a missing link between science and practical AP experience,unless you get an AP practitioner who is also a scientist.<br/> <br/> <cite>Rick Op said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/4778851:Topic:28202?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A28819&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment28819"><div><p>Water retention due to capillary effect goes up as particle size goes down.</p>
<p>Sand is really small particles of silica gravel.</p>
<p>It will therefore retain water "a whole lot more" than pea gravel - functionally it will hold water until it evaporates or it is displaced (flushed) from one direction or another. Gravity will NOT be able to break the capillary hold and drag the water/nutes/icky-bits down out of the sand into any "drainage layer" you place beneath it. Ain't gonna happen no matter how long you wait.</p>
<p>It follows logically that...</p>
<p>Even if channeling were not a factor,</p>
<p>Even if you pre-filtered solids out to prevent Fish Poo Pavement,</p>
<p>Even if you installed some sand worms (aren't these fictional anyway?) to keep it stirred and un-anaerobic,*</p>
<p>Even then your plants would have constant wet feet... so bananas and mint and watercress would be just fine with it. Others would need to be tried to see how they do. There might be other wet-tolerant plants. Would be a good thing to see if sand worked better for these than larger gravel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rick</p>
<p> </p>
<p>* Sorry it's a double negative (and likely not even a real word). I'd have tried for a triple but it's still early in the day.</p>
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</blockquote> Water retention due to capill…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-12-14:4778851:Comment:288192010-12-14T16:10:12.000ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>Water retention due to capillary effect goes up as particle size goes down.</p>
<p>Sand is really small particles of silica gravel.</p>
<p>It will therefore retain water "a whole lot more" than pea gravel - functionally it will hold water until it evaporates or it is displaced (flushed) from one direction or another. Gravity will NOT be able to break the capillary hold and drag the water/nutes/icky-bits down out of the sand into any "drainage layer" you place beneath it. Ain't gonna happen…</p>
<p>Water retention due to capillary effect goes up as particle size goes down.</p>
<p>Sand is really small particles of silica gravel.</p>
<p>It will therefore retain water "a whole lot more" than pea gravel - functionally it will hold water until it evaporates or it is displaced (flushed) from one direction or another. Gravity will NOT be able to break the capillary hold and drag the water/nutes/icky-bits down out of the sand into any "drainage layer" you place beneath it. Ain't gonna happen no matter how long you wait.</p>
<p>It follows logically that...</p>
<p>Even if channeling were not a factor,</p>
<p>Even if you pre-filtered solids out to prevent Fish Poo Pavement,</p>
<p>Even if you installed some sand worms (aren't these fictional anyway?) to keep it stirred and un-anaerobic,*</p>
<p>Even then your plants would have constant wet feet... so bananas and mint and watercress would be just fine with it. Others would need to be tried to see how they do. There might be other wet-tolerant plants. Would be a good thing to see if sand worked better for these than larger gravel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rick</p>
<p> </p>
<p>* Sorry it's a double negative (and likely not even a real word). I'd have tried for a triple but it's still early in the day.</p> Yes Robert, I think your desc…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-12-14:4778851:Comment:286192010-12-14T00:07:26.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>Yes Robert, I think your description of the sand filters does illustrate the problems with trying to use sand in a grow bed for aquaponics quite well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I did once try sand in one small grow bed for aquaponics, the flow through it just didn't remain good enough. Sand filters just require too much backflushing/cleaning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now if there is separate filtration going on for a system, I suppose some sand beds that only got irrigated once or twice a day might provide a…</p>
<p>Yes Robert, I think your description of the sand filters does illustrate the problems with trying to use sand in a grow bed for aquaponics quite well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I did once try sand in one small grow bed for aquaponics, the flow through it just didn't remain good enough. Sand filters just require too much backflushing/cleaning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now if there is separate filtration going on for a system, I suppose some sand beds that only got irrigated once or twice a day might provide a place to use some sand but it doesn't really seem all that efficient for a normal set up.</p> I too thought of sand as a me…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-12-13:4778851:Comment:286172010-12-13T23:59:47.000ZRobert Robertsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobertRobertson
<p>I too thought of sand as a media because I have it in such abundance. What I'm fixing to write has no connection with aquaponics other than the concept of what would I suspect happen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I used to take care of a 150,000 gallon public swimming pool built back in the 50's. Believe it or not they had 4 5x5 pits for filtration. The pits had about a foot of gravel on the bottom and 2 feet of sharp sand. Water came in the top of the pit and the pump sucked from the bottom (hence…</p>
<p>I too thought of sand as a media because I have it in such abundance. What I'm fixing to write has no connection with aquaponics other than the concept of what would I suspect happen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I used to take care of a 150,000 gallon public swimming pool built back in the 50's. Believe it or not they had 4 5x5 pits for filtration. The pits had about a foot of gravel on the bottom and 2 feet of sharp sand. Water came in the top of the pit and the pump sucked from the bottom (hence the need for the gravel) Water turnover rate was a little more than three times per day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Believe it or not the pits were very very efficient at their job. They had to be backflushed twice per week or you would notice a change both in flowrate and water clarity.. Here is the part that may be of interest to you. At the end of a few days each pit would have soft spots in the sand where water would just simply channel thru, bypassing the rest of the filter. Outside of these channels the sand was packed -HARD. When backflushing, You literally had to get in and walk around to get the sand mixed up. Actually that was kind of gross.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While the flowrates in an aquaponics system may not be that much, I still believe that in short orde,r channeling would occur in the sand. That seems like it would kind of defeat the purpose in as far as getting nutrients to the plants and filtering. I don't know what all the anaerobic stuff means-sounds like stinky dirt to me, but physically I have seen this happen to a sand system.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hope it gives you something to think about</p>
<p>Robert</p>