A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Polystyrene floats in DWC

I love Aquaponics but have yet to start my own set up. I'm still trying to fill in my knowledge gaps.

I am concerned about Styrene leaching into food from Polystyrene floats used in DWC, Anyone know anything that will stop me being concerned? Everyone seems to think it's only a matter of time before Aquaponically grown food is classed as organic but this will not be the case for DWC using Polystyrene floats.

Hope someone Knows more than me (should be easy!)

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Permalink Reply by Tradewind on August 21, 2013 at 7:35am

That is a great question. I went through the same problems myself. In the end, I decided to use 4" drain pipe with 2" holes that would accommodate 2"net pots. Works great with my overflow controlling the level in the pipe just the bottom of my baskets are in the water. I can put as many plants in the same horizontal space as one can in a raft system. You can place plants as close as 4" apart if you wanted, but I just use the one pipe 18 ft long since my system is rather small.

Miles Perryman said:

What thickness is most common in DWC raft system? 2" ? and how do I get the Blue Board, Lowes and HD dont carry over 1" thickness.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Phillip Meyer on January 4, 2014 at 2:00pm

Hey Jon!

Is your site up to sell them? I know the last time we talked you were working on that and I'm interested in purchasing some rafts. Let us all know if they are available. I'm seeking around 50.

Jon Parr said:

Try Beaver Plastics in Canada
http://www.bpgrower.com/lettuceraft.html

I used to use them, and they are a far better deal than Dow BB. They are cheaper to buy initially, no labor of cutting holes, and last longer. The only reason I can fathom to use BB is if you want it today, and didn't think of ordering the proper rafts ahead of time (I'm very guilty of that, for sure).

I am making my own rafts now, available in about a month. Mine are stronger (thicker), and use a clever strategy to double your production, by staggering the 18 hole layout to 36 holes and a delayed planting on the second group of 18. This literally doubles production, with no transplanting, and no bare raft space.

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Permalink Reply by Sonja Martin Young on January 4, 2014 at 3:36pm

Me too!

Paul Phillip Meyer said:

Hey Jon!

Is your site up to sell them? I know the last time we talked you were working on that and I'm interested in purchasing some rafts. Let us all know if they are available. I'm seeking around 50.

Jon Parr said:

Try Beaver Plastics in Canada
http://www.bpgrower.com/lettuceraft.html

I used to use them, and they are a far better deal than Dow BB. They are cheaper to buy initially, no labor of cutting holes, and last longer. The only reason I can fathom to use BB is if you want it today, and didn't think of ordering the proper rafts ahead of time (I'm very guilty of that, for sure).

I am making my own rafts now, available in about a month. Mine are stronger (thicker), and use a clever strategy to double your production, by staggering the 18 hole layout to 36 holes and a delayed planting on the second group of 18. This literally doubles production, with no transplanting, and no bare raft space.