New first time gardener - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T17:48:31Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/new-first-time-gardener?feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi Mike, your drawings are he…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-22:4778851:Comment:6037422015-04-22T14:45:07.660ZPhilippe Pauverthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PhilippePauvert
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">Hi Mike, your drawings are helping a lot and the last one is good in concept.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">About the solids: First of all they aren´t ready nutrients, for exception of the minerals contained in the fish food. To get the nitrogen for your plants they must go through the nitrogen cycle, that's the corner stone of aquaponics.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">Lots of people put Red Californian worms for further…</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">Hi Mike, your drawings are helping a lot and the last one is good in concept.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">About the solids: First of all they aren´t ready nutrients, for exception of the minerals contained in the fish food. To get the nitrogen for your plants they must go through the nitrogen cycle, that's the corner stone of aquaponics.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">Lots of people put Red Californian worms for further mineralization, I do it always.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">Anyway you should dig in for iron and other inherent deficiencies.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">Solids are organic matter and you garden will gladly welcome them.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">To finalize with the solids matter: You may remove it with a finger when they are not mashed up by a mechanical device and after that you have the headache to remove as much as possible of the fine ones. In your last drawing put something where the water comes out of the FT to the GBs there are lots of options. Have some activated carbon at hand that's useful if they get out of control (the fine ones) and to revert an algae bloom.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">That answers your second question. You don't need to protect the pump in the sump as far as there are no fishes in it, the SLO in the FT will prevent the fishes to go gardening in the GBs.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">Water volumes: "</font>assuming the ST will need at least the amount of the FT to continuously flow into the beds” <font face="Calibri" size="3">this is not true. As a theorical minimum you would need 40% of the total GBs volume say about 8 gals. The remaining 60% being the accepted volume for 3/4" gravel. Calculate your flood and drain and consider a timer.</font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="3">But your interest is to have as much water as possible in your system. You will see that aquaponics does consumes water, more in greenhouses, it's evapotranspiration. Furthermore lot of water shall increase system stability.</font></p>
<p></p> Alright Philippe, I think I g…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-22:4778851:Comment:6038252015-04-22T11:50:55.897ZMikehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Mike883
<p>Alright Philippe, I think I got you now, although I'm not sure what the significance of the solids being crushed has and still a little confused by this.. Are nutrients broken down and less available when the solids are mashed up? </p>
<p>I am thinking of just building a stand for my fish tank, next to the shelving unit that I am using giving me the ability to let my FT be higher than the GBs and gravity flowing into them.. </p>
<p>In this scenario, will extra filtration be necessary? …</p>
<p>Alright Philippe, I think I got you now, although I'm not sure what the significance of the solids being crushed has and still a little confused by this.. Are nutrients broken down and less available when the solids are mashed up? </p>
<p>I am thinking of just building a stand for my fish tank, next to the shelving unit that I am using giving me the ability to let my FT be higher than the GBs and gravity flowing into them.. </p>
<p>In this scenario, will extra filtration be necessary? Should I be adding some type of filter material where the water from the FT is spilling into the GBs? Filter material around the pump in the sump? Anywhere else? </p>
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<p>Another question I have is the amount of water when I initially fill the system.. If I had a 28 gallon FT, 2 - 10 gallon GBs and a 30 gallon ST, obviously I know the FT needs its 25 or so gallons that I would fit in the tub, assuming the ST will need at least the amount of the FT to continuously flow into the beds without disturbing the height of the FT? So would I be basically starting with around 50 gallons (25 in FT, 25+ in ST) to be sure the pump doesn't run dry?</p>
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<p>Thanks again for all your help, as much reading and research as I have done, this actually clears up many questions I had..</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267753?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267753?profile=original" width="621" class="align-full"/></a></p> i dont use any filtration at…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-21:4778851:Comment:6036532015-04-21T21:50:29.785Zerinhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/erin
<p>i dont use any filtration at the moment but with only 75 to 125 gallons i just change 10-20% as needed normally only 2 times a month using a vacuum to collect as many solids as possible the pump does tend to grind everything up. </p>
<p>i am planning on making some changes soon that will include some filtration. </p>
<p>with the suspended plant the roots go dry almost . not like a normal raft that is consistently in water and to start i use a float raft on the main tank so its consistently…</p>
<p>i dont use any filtration at the moment but with only 75 to 125 gallons i just change 10-20% as needed normally only 2 times a month using a vacuum to collect as many solids as possible the pump does tend to grind everything up. </p>
<p>i am planning on making some changes soon that will include some filtration. </p>
<p>with the suspended plant the roots go dry almost . not like a normal raft that is consistently in water and to start i use a float raft on the main tank so its consistently in the water i only have a tank and grow bed but the roots stay beautiful because they get a little dry cycle the pump only runs 10-20 minutes every hour it fills from the bottom until it hits an over flow and when off drains all but 1/4". i know it sounds off the wall but i have had super results with this micro setup for almost 2 years super cheap i think i have around 200$ invested</p>
<p>thanks every one for the great info</p> Glad to be of some help. Your…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-21:4778851:Comment:6037342015-04-21T20:04:48.148ZPhilippe Pauverthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PhilippePauvert
<p>Glad to be of some help. Your questions first. you are right about the "equalizer". Gravity pipes must be much larger than pressure ones. I think 2" would be on the safe side as it is equivalent to 4 1" pipes.</p>
<p>As for the solids they wont justify a swirl but a mesh in a basket or an old sock shall recollect all of them.</p>
<p>The problem in your case is that they will be mashed by the pump, which is most frustrating and would justify one of those superb drum filters, precisely fed by…</p>
<p>Glad to be of some help. Your questions first. you are right about the "equalizer". Gravity pipes must be much larger than pressure ones. I think 2" would be on the safe side as it is equivalent to 4 1" pipes.</p>
<p>As for the solids they wont justify a swirl but a mesh in a basket or an old sock shall recollect all of them.</p>
<p>The problem in your case is that they will be mashed by the pump, which is most frustrating and would justify one of those superb drum filters, precisely fed by pump. (sarcastic laughing, mine are fed by air lifts and the poops get there in perfect condition). That's the prime interest of gravity fed GBs from the FT.</p>
<p>Your pump in the sump should be as high as possible without pumping air, you may use the float switch as a safety.</p>
<p>The amount of water in a gravel GB is around 40% of the volume. But your siphons must get the right level to fire.</p>
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<p>Finally your splash setup shows creativity but you are pumping dirty water from the sump. Just simply put your drilled pipe after the Siphon, be generous for the diameter as well.</p> Philippe, thank you again! …tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-21:4778851:Comment:6035682015-04-21T19:11:57.334ZMikehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Mike883
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267887?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267887?profile=original" width="621"></img></a> Philippe, thank you again! I made another sketch showing the way you had explained but I had 1 more question on the setup. What size would I have to make the "equalizer" or overflow from the tank to the sump. I am worried that if both beds happen to drain into the tank at the same time that the overflow will not be able to keep up with the rate of water that it needs to…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267887?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267887?profile=original" width="621" class="align-full"/></a>Philippe, thank you again! I made another sketch showing the way you had explained but I had 1 more question on the setup. What size would I have to make the "equalizer" or overflow from the tank to the sump. I am worried that if both beds happen to drain into the tank at the same time that the overflow will not be able to keep up with the rate of water that it needs to transfer back to the sump unless the sizing of the pipe is adequate.. My bell siphons are both 1" and reduce to 3/4", should I be using much larger conduit for the drain to the sump from the FT, like 1-1/2" - 2" to be certain that there will be no possibility of the tank overflowing? </p>
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<p>As far as solids getting pumped out, could I add a swirl filter or something of the sort to remove solids after being pumped out of the ST?</p> Ok, try that: You pump from t…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-21:4778851:Comment:6038092015-04-21T18:16:22.178ZPhilippe Pauverthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PhilippePauvert
<p>Ok, try that: You pump from the sump up to the GBs, you syphon down into the FT, arrange some splashes for aeration, then the delicate part...get your overflow from the very bottom of the tank. See the post by <a class="fn url" href="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=0mm0cglxqchye" rel="nofollow">Jim Fisk</a> on how to do that in that discussion:…</p>
<p>Ok, try that: You pump from the sump up to the GBs, you syphon down into the FT, arrange some splashes for aeration, then the delicate part...get your overflow from the very bottom of the tank. See the post by <a class="fn url" href="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=0mm0cglxqchye" rel="nofollow">Jim Fisk</a> on how to do that in that discussion: <a href="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/xn/detail/4778851:Topic:602158?xg_source=activity" target="_self" rel="nofollow">http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/xn/detail/4778851:Topic:602...</a></p>
<p>I wouldn't attach, in your case, some air stones as they will put the water in convection and prevent the SLO to suck the solids.</p>
<p>almost there: Your solids shall end up in the sump so the pump to the GBs must not be in the very bottom or the solids will get in flour form and spoil the system on the long run. You will have to remove the solids from the bottom with a small pump and discard the water. Some people are from different advise, make your choice.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that your setup will have to perform 5 tasks: Remove fine and coarse solids, provide bio filtration, aeration and degasification (the later with a nice splash from the GBs into the FT.)</p>
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<p></p> Ah, understood. Makes sense..…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-21:4778851:Comment:6035652015-04-21T17:02:11.498ZMikehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Mike883
Ah, understood. Makes sense.. So what about if I just flip the pump into the sump and pump into both beds and tee off from the sump into the FT as well, having an equalizer still between the sump and FT so water is constantly circulating through. Would it matter which side the bed drains would go into?<br />
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I've googled CHIFT PIST but there are so many designs and opinions that it's just leaving me more confused than when I started. I feel a bit more comfortable dealing directly with some first…
Ah, understood. Makes sense.. So what about if I just flip the pump into the sump and pump into both beds and tee off from the sump into the FT as well, having an equalizer still between the sump and FT so water is constantly circulating through. Would it matter which side the bed drains would go into?<br />
<br />
I've googled CHIFT PIST but there are so many designs and opinions that it's just leaving me more confused than when I started. I feel a bit more comfortable dealing directly with some first hand experiences long as people are willing to share.<br />
<br />
Also I come into the issue that my FT is unable to be raised higher than, to allow overflow to my GBs. With space given, the tank/sump needs to be on bottom. If this does not work as I'm imagining, I would most likely just stick with the basic flood and drain setup with siphons the way I have it now. Might help others who came across this in the future as well.<br />
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Thanks Philippe! Hi Mike, you may want to Goog…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-21:4778851:Comment:6035622015-04-21T16:47:00.487ZPhilippe Pauverthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PhilippePauvert
<p>Hi Mike, you may want to Google CHIFT PIST aquaponics systems as the pump in the FT present several inconvenients: Chop the solids then more difficult to remove, disturb and may swallow the small fishes if not taken care of and there is a risk to dry out the FT if there is not a safety device.</p>
<p>Hi Mike, you may want to Google CHIFT PIST aquaponics systems as the pump in the FT present several inconvenients: Chop the solids then more difficult to remove, disturb and may swallow the small fishes if not taken care of and there is a risk to dry out the FT if there is not a safety device.</p> Haha, I am so into this and c…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-21:4778851:Comment:6036512015-04-21T16:26:55.703ZMikehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Mike883
<p>Haha, I am so into this and can't wait to get things going!! I was explaining the process to a buddy at work and showing him some pictures and videos of my setup in action, and his exact words were "it looks like some breaking bad s**t" lol... </p>
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<p>I like the idea about the seed starting but I'm not completely sold on the whole floating raft thing.. I'm assuming you need some sort of filter to rid the solids? I kind of like the idea of the grow media being used as my filter..…</p>
<p>Haha, I am so into this and can't wait to get things going!! I was explaining the process to a buddy at work and showing him some pictures and videos of my setup in action, and his exact words were "it looks like some breaking bad s**t" lol... </p>
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<p>I like the idea about the seed starting but I'm not completely sold on the whole floating raft thing.. I'm assuming you need some sort of filter to rid the solids? I kind of like the idea of the grow media being used as my filter.. Sorry if I am misunderstanding you on the whole "floating raft" concept, but I am assuming that it is essentially like a recirculating DWC system where water levels in the GB and FT would stay constant with water circulating and draining back to the FT? Do you need to provide aeration to the GBs with pumps and air stones when you use a setup with floating rafts?</p>
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<p>Sorry bout all the questions, trying to soak up all the knowledge I can!! <img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/></p> they are little piggies they…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-04-21:4778851:Comment:6038052015-04-21T16:12:22.419Zerinhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/erin
<p>they are little piggies they hate me at the moment being in a closet . </p>
<p>you will loose a few at the first so start with a couple extra i try and keep something growing that i can put in . i use a flood bed or rafts but its a little different the lid has 5 hole's drilled 3/4" in the lid the plants are hung so roots free floating. i use rafts mostly to start seeds i use blue styrofoam with holes and put the seeds in a piece of cheap scuff pad pieces i cut in little L shapes after the…</p>
<p>they are little piggies they hate me at the moment being in a closet . </p>
<p>you will loose a few at the first so start with a couple extra i try and keep something growing that i can put in . i use a flood bed or rafts but its a little different the lid has 5 hole's drilled 3/4" in the lid the plants are hung so roots free floating. i use rafts mostly to start seeds i use blue styrofoam with holes and put the seeds in a piece of cheap scuff pad pieces i cut in little L shapes after the plant comes up i pull the seed scuff pad out of the styrofoam and pit it in the lid when the hi tide comes it hits the bottom of the scuff pad . </p>
<p>its a fun hobby my friends call it mad science</p>
<p>erin</p>