How long till it clogs - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T08:02:11Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs?feed=yes&xn_auth=noThrow a largemouth bass in t…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-12:4778851:Comment:5826172014-10-12T02:50:19.122ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p><br></br> Throw a largemouth bass in the tank and he'll help you reduce the tilapia. You can eat him later.</p>
<p><br></br> <cite>Jeff S said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A581925&page=2#4778851Comment582444"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p> I started with 5 Tilapia and it didn't take long to grow that # to over 800. That's been my problem. I haven't been able to grow the fish because of…</p>
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<p><br/> Throw a largemouth bass in the tank and he'll help you reduce the tilapia. You can eat him later.</p>
<p><br/> <cite>Jeff S said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A581925&page=2#4778851Comment582444"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p> I started with 5 Tilapia and it didn't take long to grow that # to over 800. That's been my problem. I haven't been able to grow the fish because of ammonia build up. Had to cut back on feed. Just couldn't bring myself to flush any fish. </p>
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</blockquote> It's a two inch layer because…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-12:4778851:Comment:5825482014-10-12T02:46:12.822ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p>It's a two inch layer because of the design - there's a drain hole in the standpipe approximately two inches from the bottom of the bed, just about an elbow of two-inch pipe. It gets flushed somewhat but still holds water and solids after the drain cycle. Anaerobic? Possibly but I don't know. There are certainly some solids captured at the bottom of the beds and throughout the media but they don't seem to cause problems.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Jeremiah Robinson said:…</cite></p>
<p>It's a two inch layer because of the design - there's a drain hole in the standpipe approximately two inches from the bottom of the bed, just about an elbow of two-inch pipe. It gets flushed somewhat but still holds water and solids after the drain cycle. Anaerobic? Possibly but I don't know. There are certainly some solids captured at the bottom of the beds and throughout the media but they don't seem to cause problems.<br/> <br/> <cite>Jeremiah Robinson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs#4778851Comment582279"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>That's interesting. I would guess that that 2" layer is anaerobic, unless worm castings have some kind of special consistency that anaerobic bacteria can't live off them. Or perhaps the worms eat that bacteria. </p>
<p>Do you have any idea if that layer has grown over time? If it's 2" after 3 years, it would presumably be 4" after 6 years. In 24" beds that may not be a problem. In 12" beds it seems like it might be.</p>
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</blockquote> I was trying to emphasize the…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-11:4778851:Comment:5824522014-10-11T19:00:06.335ZJeremiah Robinsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeremiahRobinson
<blockquote><p><span>I was trying to emphasize the fact that the media beds can handle a crap load of fish waist, so long as they are built deep enough with the right size media and worms.</span></p>
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<p>Can you define a crap load :) </p>
<p>I also really like the spelling of "fish waist" :)</p>
<blockquote><p><span>I was trying to emphasize the fact that the media beds can handle a crap load of fish waist, so long as they are built deep enough with the right size media and worms.</span></p>
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<p>Can you define a crap load :) </p>
<p>I also really like the spelling of "fish waist" :)</p> You may also want to consider…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-11:4778851:Comment:5822982014-10-11T17:29:47.320ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
You may also want to consider adding to your list of factors 'plant cultivar'. If all other things were equal...there's a quite a difference in a grow bed that is consistently and exclusively planted with lettuce and spinach, as opposed to one stocked with tomatoes and cucumbers (because of the vast differences in root mass).
You may also want to consider adding to your list of factors 'plant cultivar'. If all other things were equal...there's a quite a difference in a grow bed that is consistently and exclusively planted with lettuce and spinach, as opposed to one stocked with tomatoes and cucumbers (because of the vast differences in root mass). Oh the tapered GB was just a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-11:4778851:Comment:5824442014-10-11T16:11:50.007ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>Oh the tapered GB was just a thought. I already have an IBC setup that I'm expanding right now. I started with 5 Tilapia and it didn't take long to grow that # to over 800. That's been my problem. I haven't been able to grow the fish because of ammonia build up. Had to cut back on feed. Just couldn't bring myself to flush any fish. So I take it from what you're saying is I can densely stock when I add a larger RFF and a couple more beds. Do you use additional filtration?</p>
<p>Oh the tapered GB was just a thought. I already have an IBC setup that I'm expanding right now. I started with 5 Tilapia and it didn't take long to grow that # to over 800. That's been my problem. I haven't been able to grow the fish because of ammonia build up. Had to cut back on feed. Just couldn't bring myself to flush any fish. So I take it from what you're saying is I can densely stock when I add a larger RFF and a couple more beds. Do you use additional filtration?</p> I wonder if you had a tapered…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-11:4778851:Comment:5825322014-10-11T13:46:06.379ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>I wonder if you had a tapered bottom on a GB with the siphon at the bottom, would the solids be more prone to drain from the tank? <br></br> <br></br> <cite>Jeremiah Robinson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment582279"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>That's interesting. I would guess that that 2" layer is anaerobic, unless worm castings have some kind of special consistency that…</p>
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<p>I wonder if you had a tapered bottom on a GB with the siphon at the bottom, would the solids be more prone to drain from the tank? <br/> <br/> <cite>Jeremiah Robinson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment582279"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>That's interesting. I would guess that that 2" layer is anaerobic, unless worm castings have some kind of special consistency that anaerobic bacteria can't live off them. Or perhaps the worms eat that bacteria. </p>
<p>Do you have any idea if that layer has grown over time? If it's 2" after 3 years, it would presumably be 4" after 6 years. In 24" beds that may not be a problem. In 12" beds it seems like it might be.</p>
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</blockquote> If I'm reading this correctl…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-11:4778851:Comment:5822862014-10-11T13:38:27.704ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p><br></br> If I'm reading this correctly your stocking density is 1lb fish per gallon of water? Are you using other filtration besides the GBs?<br></br> <cite>Rob Nash said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment582120"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>havent cleaned media in 6-7 years.. before adding red wrigglers, we cleaned every 3-6 mos.</p>
<p>this is with 12" deep media, with 1" granite on…</p>
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<p><br/> If I'm reading this correctly your stocking density is 1lb fish per gallon of water? Are you using other filtration besides the GBs?<br/> <cite>Rob Nash said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment582120"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>havent cleaned media in 6-7 years.. before adding red wrigglers, we cleaned every 3-6 mos.</p>
<p>this is with 12" deep media, with 1" granite on the bottom 6" and 1/2" granite on the top 6" (i try not to mix the two layers)</p>
<p>stocked heavy on fish... 3/4 - 1lb of fish / gallon </p>
<p>here is the formula I use for media bed to water ratio... </p>
<p>Gallons times .266 = sft of grow beds at 12" deep (cubic ft)</p>
<p>ie- 100 gallons needs 26.6 sft , (or roughly one 4ft x 8ft box per 150 gallons)</p>
<p>1000 gallons needs 266 (I have four 5ft x 12ft on 1000 gallons (olnly 240sft))</p>
<p>you have some wiggle room here... but its roughly 4:1 gallons to media</p>
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</blockquote> That's interesting. I would…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-11:4778851:Comment:5822792014-10-11T03:32:58.306ZJeremiah Robinsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeremiahRobinson
<p>That's interesting. I would guess that that 2" layer is anaerobic, unless worm castings have some kind of special consistency that anaerobic bacteria can't live off them. Or perhaps the worms eat that bacteria. </p>
<p>Do you have any idea if that layer has grown over time? If it's 2" after 3 years, it would presumably be 4" after 6 years. In 24" beds that may not be a problem. In 12" beds it seems like it might be.</p>
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<p>That's interesting. I would guess that that 2" layer is anaerobic, unless worm castings have some kind of special consistency that anaerobic bacteria can't live off them. Or perhaps the worms eat that bacteria. </p>
<p>Do you have any idea if that layer has grown over time? If it's 2" after 3 years, it would presumably be 4" after 6 years. In 24" beds that may not be a problem. In 12" beds it seems like it might be.</p>
<p></p> Another thing to consider abo…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-11:4778851:Comment:5822742014-10-11T03:16:52.441ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p>Another thing to consider about solids in a media bed is that they settle to the bottom of the bed - in my beds, there is a 2 inch layer which doesn't drain.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider about solids in a media bed is that they settle to the bottom of the bed - in my beds, there is a 2 inch layer which doesn't drain.</p> I've always assumed they dis…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-10-10:4778851:Comment:5823342014-10-10T01:44:41.508ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p><br/> I've always assumed they dissolve.</p>
<p><br/> <cite>Jeremiah Robinson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs#4778851Comment582211"><div class="xg_user_generated"><blockquote><p>Do you have any idea how this works? Have you taken apart any of your beds to see how much space is taken up by worm castings?</p>
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<p><br/> I've always assumed they dissolve.</p>
<p><br/> <cite>Jeremiah Robinson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-long-till-it-clogs#4778851Comment582211"><div class="xg_user_generated"><blockquote><p>Do you have any idea how this works? Have you taken apart any of your beds to see how much space is taken up by worm castings?</p>
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