Aquaponic Gardening

A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Raft/Deep Water Culture Growers

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Raft/Deep Water Culture Growers

A group dedicated to raft growers. A place to share tips, tricks, and general info.

Website: http://coastviewaquaponics.com
Members: 378
Latest Activity: Dec 8, 2022

Discussion Forum

A short time lapse of a "different" application of DWC

Started by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. Jul 2, 2017. 0 Replies

Just an FYI. Here is the link to the youtube vid: http://bit.ly/2sLEAgABelow is a still of the system.…Continue

Floating Raft above Aquarium

Started by Courtney. Last reply by kimlee kingston Jan 4, 2015. 2 Replies

Hi everyone! I had some issues with setting up a grow bed's plumbing and it got me to thinking, in the interim, can I just set up a raft directly onto the fish tank? If it were any other kind of…Continue

polypropylene for "tray-ponics"-type "rafts"

Started by Paul Trudeau. Last reply by Joni Solis Nov 14, 2014. 37 Replies

Glenn Martinez has described a nice small raft system where he uses 24 inch x 36 inch x 8 inch-deep plastic masonry mixing tubs (trays) (available at Home Depot) as plant troughs.  Instead of…Continue

Stll in business- Coastview Aquaponics

Started by Michael Gough. Last reply by Michael Gough Aug 20, 2014. 3 Replies

Aloha all,Just joined today. 2 years ago had taken a tour of Coastview Aquaponics operation. Going back to the big island IN 4 WEEKS to see what damage our Puna property sustained from the…Continue

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Comment by Rick Welland on March 19, 2012 at 4:32pm

thanks much Kate..will be pumping up from fish pond to holding tanks,then gravity feed thru trays back to (with areation) the fish ponds. Because I'll be solar pumping what will happen if I reduce the flow at nitetime so I don't need to use battery  power? Water needs to flow 24/7?

Like Giorgios idea re pontoons on the rafts rather than foam..Roots getting air should be a good thing -correct? 

Comment by Kate Mink on March 19, 2012 at 3:36pm

Rick, a good flow rate is 2 -3 gallons per minute. Pump sizing is going to depend significantly on how far you have to lift the water.  Many pumps will have more flow and less lift than you need. One piece of free advice - if you're pumping up to your fish pond (as I do to my tank), arrange the outlet so the water sprays or fountains up and then falls - this aerates it.

Comment by Rick Welland on March 19, 2012 at 2:47pm

Hi all..Am just getting started re AP. Want to do a raft system for lettuce/ greens. Have a good sized (thruflow) fish pond with over a hundred tilapia in it. Plan to solar pump the water up to holding tanks and then circulate it thru 24 growing trays which descend the hillside in a greenhouse situation. Looking at 4 rows of six trays-  (12" deep,16" wide, 24" long). My question (among many others) is what would be a good flow rate for the water- or what size pump is needed for a system this size?

Comment by Chris Smith on February 24, 2012 at 11:28pm

Chris, I am having a little trouble visualizing  what you are proposing. Could you elaborate or post a diagram?

Comment by chris taylor Swamp Creek Farms on February 24, 2012 at 11:44am

This may be off topic,  but I am setting up a DWC system in a GH.  My ideas are getting a huge pvc ditch drain,  soldering the ends up with plastic,  and doing it that way,  whats the difference if i fill it with gravel or just letting water flow ?   on one end i want to put three fittings above each other,  so i can raise and lower the water level  if needed. 

Comment by Maynhia Stott on January 24, 2012 at 4:03pm

Giorgio,

Thanks for sharing you're design. I was in Kauai not too long ago and toured the aquaponic center at the college there. The guy there, did something similar but he but the poxy on top of the styrofoam board and he said that it was healthier for the plants because of the air gap. I like your idea better I'm not a fan of styrofoam.  I was going to buy the foam boards last week, glad I didn't. 

I'm designing my raft bed at a 12" deep can I get by with a shallower bed?

Comment by Jerry Walsh on January 20, 2012 at 9:34am

My comment should have gone to disscusion, my bad.

 

Comment by Jerry Walsh on January 20, 2012 at 9:33am

Top of the day to you aquaponeurs. I have read many articles and have the aquaponics bible with Sylvia's contribution, I can not find what my tank water amonia level should be after cycling. My sytsom cycled a few weeks back, amonia and nitrites are almost non existing while my nitrates are high. I have read this is good sign, and that I need to add more grow bed vegetation. Sould I see signs of amonia after the pond cycled ?

Comment by Pices on January 18, 2012 at 4:40pm

Sorry for all the questions - love your innovations. The old saying is "Necessity is the mother of invention!"

Comment by Pices on January 18, 2012 at 4:34pm

So the improved oxygen level is in the water? Due to the air contacting a much greater surface area (no rafts blocking the air)? Or does it have something to do with the pots suspended above the water in the air? Any chance you have a DO meter?

 

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