pros and cons of using styrofoam as rafts - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T12:11:58Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/pros-and-cons-of-using-styrofoam-as-rafts?groupUrl=raftdeepwaterculturegrowers&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A511169&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noPat,
There is a Canadian firm…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-09-01:4778851:Comment:5111692013-09-01T14:16:35.093ZNed Berndthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/NedBerndt
Pat,<br />
There is a Canadian firm that supplies ready made rafts with holes spaced for 18 (3 x 6) and 28 (3 x 6) and (2 x 5) staggered...Beaver Plastics. In 2' x 4' size.<br />
Tip - If you're drilling holes for net pots be sure to remove the teeth from the 2" hole saw with a grinding wheel. Basically turn it into hole "knife"...reduces the blue board "dust" significantly
Pat,<br />
There is a Canadian firm that supplies ready made rafts with holes spaced for 18 (3 x 6) and 28 (3 x 6) and (2 x 5) staggered...Beaver Plastics. In 2' x 4' size.<br />
Tip - If you're drilling holes for net pots be sure to remove the teeth from the 2" hole saw with a grinding wheel. Basically turn it into hole "knife"...reduces the blue board "dust" significantly Went out this morning and bou…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-31:4778851:Comment:5108972013-08-31T20:02:25.100ZPat Jameshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PatJames
<p>Went out this morning and bought some blue board. Now I need to figure best spacing. I posted this in another groups so I will do the cut and paste thing and double post instead of typing everything from scratch.</p>
<p>I am replacing several of my old piece of crap styrofoam rafts with Dow blue boards. I also want to change my hole grid pattern and was wondering what is the consensus for the best spacing for an IBC tote? I am currently using 8 inch spacing which gives me room for 21 pots.…</p>
<p>Went out this morning and bought some blue board. Now I need to figure best spacing. I posted this in another groups so I will do the cut and paste thing and double post instead of typing everything from scratch.</p>
<p>I am replacing several of my old piece of crap styrofoam rafts with Dow blue boards. I also want to change my hole grid pattern and was wondering what is the consensus for the best spacing for an IBC tote? I am currently using 8 inch spacing which gives me room for 21 pots. That is 6 rows with alternating 4 per row and 3 per row. Before I commit and start drilling/burning, I wanted to see what others use.</p>
<p></p> Lisa Johnson,
Interesting ab…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-28:4778851:Comment:5097332013-08-28T00:57:07.860ZNed Berndthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/NedBerndt
<p>Lisa Johnson,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Interesting about the watercress and mint...could you share some pictures?</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Lisa Johnson,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Interesting about the watercress and mint...could you share some pictures?</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> I use a hole saw and I use 2"…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-28:4778851:Comment:5098292013-08-28T00:17:29.220ZLisa M. Johnsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/LisaMJohnson
<p>I use a hole saw and I use 2" pots about 5000 of them. I also have some 3" holes that I use Solo Cups in for larger plants. I burnt holes in the bottom of the red solo cups with a soldering iron (time consuming but it works well). I do that to allow for the water to flow thru it. Those are the two sizes that I use. I use floating PVC with plastic netting for mint and watercress.</p>
<p>I use a hole saw and I use 2" pots about 5000 of them. I also have some 3" holes that I use Solo Cups in for larger plants. I burnt holes in the bottom of the red solo cups with a soldering iron (time consuming but it works well). I do that to allow for the water to flow thru it. Those are the two sizes that I use. I use floating PVC with plastic netting for mint and watercress.</p> Going to stop by Home Depot o…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-27:4778851:Comment:5094542013-08-27T13:17:18.048ZPat Jameshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PatJames
Going to stop by Home Depot on my home from work and price blue board. I got his other because it was around $12 a sheet.<br />
<br />
How do you prefer to cut the holes? Hole saw or do you burn them? Also, what size net pots are you using? I have several hundred 2" pots.
Going to stop by Home Depot on my home from work and price blue board. I got his other because it was around $12 a sheet.<br />
<br />
How do you prefer to cut the holes? Hole saw or do you burn them? Also, what size net pots are you using? I have several hundred 2" pots. Aloha,
The thin styrofoam…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-26:4778851:Comment:5092512013-08-26T23:24:29.532ZLisa M. Johnsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/LisaMJohnson
<p>Aloha,</p>
<p></p>
<p> The thin styrofoam is not a good plan. I am replacing mine with Dow board. Most of my system has Dow blue board and it holds up great. The thinner foam with silver reflective top is the boards I am replacing. The board gets very soggy with water and who knows what else it absorbs. I emptied the older ones about one year old first and found they were very weighted with water. The ones I had added last were not as bad but definitely on there way to being very…</p>
<p>Aloha,</p>
<p></p>
<p> The thin styrofoam is not a good plan. I am replacing mine with Dow board. Most of my system has Dow blue board and it holds up great. The thinner foam with silver reflective top is the boards I am replacing. The board gets very soggy with water and who knows what else it absorbs. I emptied the older ones about one year old first and found they were very weighted with water. The ones I had added last were not as bad but definitely on there way to being very weighted. If you have the choice go with the Dow board or you will be replacing the cheaper ones soon than later.</p> Jim, I was trying to get the…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-26:4778851:Comment:5094052013-08-26T22:04:50.499ZPat Jameshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PatJames
<p>Jim, I was trying to get the rafts suspended. I took a pvc pipe, strung a line through it and put the board on top. I held high enough on the ends but the middle sagged. I am just going to have to spend the money for the better product..</p>
<p>Plus after taking out all my 3/4 inch pipe, I have extra to build a better support support.</p>
<p>Jim, I was trying to get the rafts suspended. I took a pvc pipe, strung a line through it and put the board on top. I held high enough on the ends but the middle sagged. I am just going to have to spend the money for the better product..</p>
<p>Plus after taking out all my 3/4 inch pipe, I have extra to build a better support support.</p> I'm going with Ned
Styrofoam…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-26:4778851:Comment:5090892013-08-26T19:41:19.203ZJim Troyerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JimTroyer
<p>I'm going with Ned</p>
<p></p>
<p>Styrofoam is not worth the money for this process. </p>
<p>2" blue board is good, it doesn't sink under the weight of the plants. </p>
<p>I would suggest that you consider some suspended rafts too. Make a lip around the inside of your tote and set a panel on it. The height is fixed and can be easily adjusted with shims to figure out what works best. Studies have shown that an air gap is worth working for.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm going with Ned</p>
<p></p>
<p>Styrofoam is not worth the money for this process. </p>
<p>2" blue board is good, it doesn't sink under the weight of the plants. </p>
<p>I would suggest that you consider some suspended rafts too. Make a lip around the inside of your tote and set a panel on it. The height is fixed and can be easily adjusted with shims to figure out what works best. Studies have shown that an air gap is worth working for.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Hi Pat,
I would only use 2"…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-26:4778851:Comment:5092182013-08-26T15:44:11.213ZNed Berndthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/NedBerndt
<p>Hi Pat,</p>
<p></p>
<p>I would only use 2" DOW blue board for rafts:</p>
<p></p>
<p>1) lasts a long time and will not fall apart.</p>
<p>2) Rigid enough for a 2'x4' raft</p>
<p></p>
<p>3) Stands up to 2" hole saw well.</p>
<p></p>
<p>4) easily painted white</p>
<p></p>
<p>Best regards,</p>
<p>Ned</p>
<p>Hi Pat,</p>
<p></p>
<p>I would only use 2" DOW blue board for rafts:</p>
<p></p>
<p>1) lasts a long time and will not fall apart.</p>
<p>2) Rigid enough for a 2'x4' raft</p>
<p></p>
<p>3) Stands up to 2" hole saw well.</p>
<p></p>
<p>4) easily painted white</p>
<p></p>
<p>Best regards,</p>
<p>Ned</p> I can not reference the white…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-26:4778851:Comment:5092142013-08-26T15:19:33.204ZTeresa Barberhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/4seasonsgreen
<p>I can not reference the white film on the foam board. You may want to post brand name here so we can avoid in the future, but in most cases 2 inch foam board is used on most commercial farms. Thicker board is self supporting.</p>
<p>I can not reference the white film on the foam board. You may want to post brand name here so we can avoid in the future, but in most cases 2 inch foam board is used on most commercial farms. Thicker board is self supporting.</p>