Fish Poo Pavement and Media systems - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T13:54:05Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/fish-poo-pavement-and-media?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A20048&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYea, I've only really had the…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-11-04:4778851:Comment:200482010-11-04T19:12:40.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
Yea, I've only really had the slime/poo pavement on constant inflow into a single location, I didn't really do the whole timed flow into grow beds until I was using the indexing valves.
Yea, I've only really had the slime/poo pavement on constant inflow into a single location, I didn't really do the whole timed flow into grow beds until I was using the indexing valves. I've never had a problem like…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-11-04:4778851:Comment:200082010-11-04T15:53:50.000ZRupertofOZhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RupertofOZ
I've never had a problem like you describe with bio-slime in my grow beds... some nearly 5 years old...but I mainly use timer based systems, with a distribution grid...<br></br>
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And I've never had to clean them... and most people haven't/don't... those that do, just pull them apart and hit them with a blast from the hose....<br></br>
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As to the valves, TCL is correct... almost all problems are usually the result of "foreign" objects that have got sucked into the valve...<br></br>
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But…
I've never had a problem like you describe with bio-slime in my grow beds... some nearly 5 years old...but I mainly use timer based systems, with a distribution grid...<br/>
<br/>
And I've never had to clean them... and most people haven't/don't... those that do, just pull them apart and hit them with a blast from the hose....<br/>
<br/>
As to the valves, TCL is correct... almost all problems are usually the result of "foreign" objects that have got sucked into the valve...<br/>
<br/>
But again, I have seen bio-film in the valves when I have taken them apart... but nothing that prevents them from working...<br/>
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I've used the valve on both my Silver Perch and Trout systems... with a very heavy feed load... non-stop for over two years...<br/>
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And only had to dissassemble and clean them about 2-3 times in each system...<br/>
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Perhaps it's a function of the pumps I use (8000L/H)..... and the timer based pump sequence... as opposed to the constant flow of continuously pumped siphon systems... Yea you are right about the p…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-11-01:4778851:Comment:195912010-11-01T14:24:13.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
Yea you are right about the plant roots, Banana has been able to totally clog water flow on me.
Yea you are right about the plant roots, Banana has been able to totally clog water flow on me. Hum, I wonder if I can go fin…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-10-31:4778851:Comment:194392010-10-31T20:51:30.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
Hum, I wonder if I can go find some pictures from the past where I had lots of trouble with build up from the constant inflow.<br />
Oh wait, I do have a bed with that problem (I tend to forget about the last big lumber/liner bed) it is the one getting the overflow constantly inflowing to it. It gets drained by a pump on a float switch and I've tried to spread the in flow around and it is a flexible pipe I can move. I should go take a picture of that one.
Hum, I wonder if I can go find some pictures from the past where I had lots of trouble with build up from the constant inflow.<br />
Oh wait, I do have a bed with that problem (I tend to forget about the last big lumber/liner bed) it is the one getting the overflow constantly inflowing to it. It gets drained by a pump on a float switch and I've tried to spread the in flow around and it is a flexible pipe I can move. I should go take a picture of that one. Here is an album of pictures…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-10-31:4778851:Comment:194382010-10-31T20:48:42.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
Here is an album of pictures I just took today<br />
<a href="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/photo/albums/fish-poo-pavement-or-lack">Fish Poo Pavement or Lack thereof</a><br />
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Most of the pictures show beds that are getting intermittent flow and there is little or no build up of anything but a little bit of green on the rocks.<br />
There are three beds getting constant inflow and those do have issues with build up or in one case, banana roots.
Here is an album of pictures I just took today<br />
<a href="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/photo/albums/fish-poo-pavement-or-lack">Fish Poo Pavement or Lack thereof</a><br />
<br />
Most of the pictures show beds that are getting intermittent flow and there is little or no build up of anything but a little bit of green on the rocks.<br />
There are three beds getting constant inflow and those do have issues with build up or in one case, banana roots. I've never had a valve clog o…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-10-31:4778851:Comment:193892010-10-31T20:08:13.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
I've never had a valve clog on bio slime or fish poo/uneaten feed.<br />
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I have had to open them occasionally when they seem to get stuck on one port and I've usually found something solid in them like a stick, or seeds and leaves (from the one under the crepe myrtles where I didn't have any sort of cover over the sump and it was getting full of debris.) And in one situation I had a problem with my pump actually sucking up chips of chicken grit that had gotten into the fish tank and they got into…
I've never had a valve clog on bio slime or fish poo/uneaten feed.<br />
<br />
I have had to open them occasionally when they seem to get stuck on one port and I've usually found something solid in them like a stick, or seeds and leaves (from the one under the crepe myrtles where I didn't have any sort of cover over the sump and it was getting full of debris.) And in one situation I had a problem with my pump actually sucking up chips of chicken grit that had gotten into the fish tank and they got into the valve cup and weighted it down enough that the spring didn't pop it back up to index forward.<br />
<br />
So, Debris are a problem for the indexing valves, provided you can protect the water that goes to the valve from debris, the valve are fairly low maintenance. I would estimate that I've probably had to open the valves up about once every 4 months that they have been in operation when stray debris manages to get to them. My tanks are not all that well protected from debris but I do try to keep them mostly covered.<br />
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Now I do like the indexing valves cause you can flood and drain lots more grow beds without much fluctuation to the fish tanks but you do need to have enough pump power feeding them to make them reliable. I have managed to feed one of mine (gravity modified) with a little 50 watt pump but in most situations a more powerful pump (110 watt-145 watt) is probably more appropriate to feed the normal Aquaponic Indexing valves.<br />
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<cite>Chris Smith said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/fish-poo-pavement-and-media?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A19384&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment19384"><div>Do your indexing valves have any problems with bio-slime? Is there any maintenance involved with the valves?</div>
</blockquote> Do your indexing valves have…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-10-31:4778851:Comment:193842010-10-31T19:09:56.000ZChris Smithhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ChrisSmith
Do your indexing valves have any problems with bio-slime? Is there any maintenance involved with the valves?
Do your indexing valves have any problems with bio-slime? Is there any maintenance involved with the valves? Yea, that sounds like a great…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-10-31:4778851:Comment:193822010-10-31T18:58:48.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
Yea, that sounds like a great idea to try Chris.<br />
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I must admit I haven't tried it. I usually used up all my larger lava rock around the drains and in the bottoms of my gravel beds but I think some larger stuff in an area under the inlet might be worth a try.<br />
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Tip, keep the banana plant away from the inlet cause the roots can totally clog a bed. I've seen banana roots grow up through some filter material and head up into the inlet pipe!!!!!!! Who told me roots can't grow up?<br />
<br />
Once we harvest the…
Yea, that sounds like a great idea to try Chris.<br />
<br />
I must admit I haven't tried it. I usually used up all my larger lava rock around the drains and in the bottoms of my gravel beds but I think some larger stuff in an area under the inlet might be worth a try.<br />
<br />
Tip, keep the banana plant away from the inlet cause the roots can totally clog a bed. I've seen banana roots grow up through some filter material and head up into the inlet pipe!!!!!!! Who told me roots can't grow up?<br />
<br />
Once we harvest the bananas off that plant, I think I'll have to rip the plant out and re-work that bed a bit. LOL I never considered that bio-s…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-10-31:4778851:Comment:193772010-10-31T18:52:20.000ZChris Smithhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ChrisSmith
I never considered that bio-slime would clog up the gravel. My gravel bed is very new and I am still learning a lot about it. I was considering using a larger gravel in the area that the water enters the bed so that the solids would not build up as fast in one area and let them disburse into a wider area so the worms can keep up. Any thoughts?
I never considered that bio-slime would clog up the gravel. My gravel bed is very new and I am still learning a lot about it. I was considering using a larger gravel in the area that the water enters the bed so that the solids would not build up as fast in one area and let them disburse into a wider area so the worms can keep up. Any thoughts?