A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Rain Question

This may seem like a silly question but I live in Southwest Florida and we are almost in the dead of the rainy season. I am using totes as the grow beds and I don't know what to do so that my beds will not flood during a heavy storm. I don't want an excess of water in my system after the usually daily rain.

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Permalink Reply by Sahib Punjabi on August 4, 2011 at 2:45pm

Hello Bob,

Most people cove them with a clear poly by building a "hoop house". That is what I am now looking at doing. It is extremely difficult to maintain correct water chemistry without such protection.

God bless,

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on August 4, 2011 at 2:51pm

Hum, I actually like the rain for my systems but I've got them designed with overflows so if too much water comes in I can let excess water flow away and so far I haven't had a "loss" of nutrients due to this, of course part of this might be that I haven't been getting the rain quite so clockwork up here on the "florida ridge"

Some sort of clear roof over the system to divert the rain water into a catchment tank for use in topping up the system seems like it would be ideal in my "perfect world" however I don't get to build such a thing without inviting building inspectors in which I don't feel like doing.

Permalink Reply by Chris Cates on August 4, 2011 at 3:41pm

You shouldn't need any kind of permit for a non-permanent structure. A pvc hoop house that's not permanently attached to anything would be easy to make and not too expensive. You'd want to stake it down of course.

You might want to give your local building dept a call and ask. I know I wouldn't hesitate here in Ocala.

TCLynx said:

Hum, I actually like the rain for my systems but I've got them designed with overflows so if too much water comes in I can let excess water flow away and so far I haven't had a "loss" of nutrients due to this, of course part of this might be that I haven't been getting the rain quite so clockwork up here on the "florida ridge"

Some sort of clear roof over the system to divert the rain water into a catchment tank for use in topping up the system seems like it would be ideal in my "perfect world" however I don't get to build such a thing without inviting building inspectors in which I don't feel like doing.

Permalink Reply by Bob Gee on August 4, 2011 at 3:58pm

I was looking more for ideas of overflow control instead of building a structure. I know the structure will have to come I just can't do it right away. I don't know how to make the overflows.

Chris Cates said:

You shouldn't need any kind of permit for a non-permanent structure. A pvc hoop house that's not permanently attached to anything would be easy to make and not too expensive. You'd want to stake it down of course.

You might want to give your local building dept a call and ask. I know I wouldn't hesitate here in Ocala.

TCLynx said:

Hum, I actually like the rain for my systems but I've got them designed with overflows so if too much water comes in I can let excess water flow away and so far I haven't had a "loss" of nutrients due to this, of course part of this might be that I haven't been getting the rain quite so clockwork up here on the "florida ridge"

Some sort of clear roof over the system to divert the rain water into a catchment tank for use in topping up the system seems like it would be ideal in my "perfect world" however I don't get to build such a thing without inviting building inspectors in which I don't feel like doing.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on August 4, 2011 at 4:30pm

Unfortunately I'm on residential property in Orange county with nosy neighbors who like to wander the neighborhood and send complaints in to code enforcement. No, temporary structures are not allowed in orange county except for you can get a tent permit (only good for two weeks up to twice a year) but that is really geared for putting up like a big tent for say a wedding or event or something and you have to have drawing showing parking and exits and fire extinguishers. I asked about putting up one of those temporary canopies like people use for carports and stuff, apparently I would probably get told to take it down if code enforcement saw it.

As to overflows. That is pretty easy. Let me see if I can link some pictures or diagrams of how you might do it.

So, you could simply install something like the SLO (solids lifting overflow) in whatever tank is the lowest in the system so that if the water gets up to the level you can then just divert the flow out to say a garden bed or something. Make sure you have a screen or grate on the overflow to keep fish from flowing out if your fish tank is the lowest point.

Permalink Reply by Chris Cates on August 4, 2011 at 4:48pm

Thank God we have our various governments to prevent the horrible damage that could be done to neighbors fragile psyches.

TCLynx said:

Unfortunately I'm on residential property in Orange county with nosy neighbors who like to wander the neighborhood and send complaints in to code enforcement. No, temporary structures are not allowed in orange county except for you can get a tent permit (only good for two weeks up to twice a year) but that is really geared for putting up like a big tent for say a wedding or event or something and you have to have drawing showing parking and exits and fire extinguishers. I asked about putting up one of those temporary canopies like people use for carports and stuff, apparently I would probably get told to take it down if code enforcement saw it.

Permalink Reply by Bob Gee on August 5, 2011 at 5:18am

Yea that is a huge concern. Just wish they had that much concern for something substantial.

Chris Cates said:

Thank God we have our various governments to prevent the horrible damage that could be done to neighbors fragile psyches.

TCLynx said:

Unfortunately I'm on residential property in Orange county with nosy neighbors who like to wander the neighborhood and send complaints in to code enforcement. No, temporary structures are not allowed in orange county except for you can get a tent permit (only good for two weeks up to twice a year) but that is really geared for putting up like a big tent for say a wedding or event or something and you have to have drawing showing parking and exits and fire extinguishers. I asked about putting up one of those temporary canopies like people use for carports and stuff, apparently I would probably get told to take it down if code enforcement saw it.