A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Our small DWC Raft System

Ya'll,

We have expanded our IBC Tote Flood & Drain System gardening area by adding a DWC Raft System. It is currently under construction and I have posted a Facebook album link to the pictures of our progress.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3737770846848.2132983.135...

Any and all comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Since we are new to this I am sure we will have many questions.

Regards,
Bob

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ned Berndt on September 18, 2012 at 7:29am

Hey Bob,

Very nice. I am finally building my backyard test system. 300 gal fish tank, 32 cu ft media bed/bio filter, 64 cu ft DWC with aeration. Possibly adding an NFT after the DWC before the tank return.

Heading to Denver Friday, will you be there?

All the best,

Ned

Permalink Reply by Bob Vento on September 18, 2012 at 7:46am

I wish ... just don't have the funds to go.
Learn a lot and share your knowledge with us poor folks.

Bob

Ned Berndt said:

Hey Bob,

Very nice. I am finally building my backyard test system. 300 gal fish tank, 32 cu ft media bed/bio filter, 64 cu ft DWC with aeration. Possibly adding an NFT after the DWC before the tank return.

Heading to Denver Friday, will you be there?

All the best,

Ned

Permalink Reply by Bob Vento on September 25, 2012 at 11:48am

How was the conference in Denver Ned?

Ned Berndt said:

Hey Bob,

Very nice. I am finally building my backyard test system. 300 gal fish tank, 32 cu ft media bed/bio filter, 64 cu ft DWC with aeration. Possibly adding an NFT after the DWC before the tank return.

Heading to Denver Friday, will you be there?

All the best,

Ned

Permalink Reply by Suzi Gibson on October 12, 2012 at 6:36pm

Bob,

Are you using cement mixing tubs for your DWC tubs? What you've set up, IBC included, is pretty close to they type of system I want to do

Permalink Reply by Bob Vento on October 13, 2012 at 10:58am

Suzi,

YES I am using the large cement mixing tubs from Home Depot (Approx 20 gallon)

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202086174/h_d2/ProductDispl...

Also I use a small solar garden pump (wait for it on sale I got mine for under $20) just to move the water a little when the sun is shining. I have discovered when you don't cover the tubs with water in them algae begins to bloom. So my suggestion is keep it covered.

http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-powered-fountain-pump-66093.html

Regards,
Bob

P.S. Check the my original link of pictures of the system for updated pictures as the system progresses.

Permalink Reply by Suzi Gibson on October 22, 2012 at 7:53am

Ok, so let me see if I'm seeing this right.... Your system goes: IBC Fish tank -> Flood/Drain Grow Bed (which in your current system setup acts as your biofilter?) -> small scale DWC -> Return to IBC Fish tank?

Permalink Reply by Bob Vento on October 23, 2012 at 5:30am

Suzi,

Not really ... my 2 systems are stand alone systems.

I do however use nutrient rich water from my fish tank to fill the DWC raft system as water evaporates. Then I replenish my flood & drain system with collected rain water.

Regards,
Bob

Suzi Gibson said:

Ok, so let me see if I'm seeing this right.... Your system goes: IBC Fish tank -> Flood/Drain Grow Bed (which in your current system setup acts as your biofilter?) -> small scale DWC -> Return to IBC Fish tank?