Comment

Comment by Giorgio on January 17, 2012 at 12:21pm

Aloha fellow Aquaponicos!

Please STOP buying the styrofoam and pain fot the rafts...

I will share how to make the ultimate floating raft for your system cheaply, easily and superefficient with so many benefits for you and system.

We can build this rafts   from locally available materials that are way safer than foam with incredible results.

I will take pics and post them here , so, you can have a better idea how is made.

This will be a revolutinary concept in Aquaponics

Comment by Jovan Johnson on January 13, 2012 at 12:23am

What paint do you use to paint the rafts?

Does it stop the extruded polystyrene from breaking don because of UV light?

And wont the paint leech chemicals into the system? 

Comment by David Hart on January 6, 2012 at 5:14am

David, You should get lots of different opinions and reasons on your questions ...  :) 

For me, I use the 2" slit pots (2" styro with a 2" hole) because that size, is all I need for the plants I grow in my rafts. I use the 1 " horti-cubes to start my seeds ....they fit fine in a 2 " slit pot.

Some of the larger varieties of romaine and bok choi's....their roots can get a little tight in the pots. But most of what I have raised in them, is a non -issue as far as size goes.
I've always had a combined/hybrid  system with my water going through gravel beds 1st,. then my rafts. I simply grow the larger things in the media....peppers, tomatoes, okra, ect.

.

On the other end of the 'size spectrum'.....as an experiment, at Sahibs Aquaponics, I took some tomatoes in regular plastic 6 " pots and placed some in rafts. I used a serrated knife to carefully cut the holes. Since they are in a mixture of coir, I was concerned about it, perhaps, being too wet. So I made sure the pots only are about a 1/4 to  1/3 of the way into the water. Almost like a wicking bed with an endless supply of water. The tomatoes are loving life ! Well except for the cold snap we just had in FL...   :(   (we have a smile face that is sweating....we need on shivering)

(The tomato plants do have a strong overhead support system)

 

As for hole spacing.....you have two things to think of....one, how much room does the plant need ? How valuable do I consider the space of my rafts ?

Earlier, I mentioned larger romains, since they do need a lot of space.....I now grow a different variety that doesn't need as much room.  Since younger lettuces seem to be sweeter when young, I tend to keep the hole spaces close....most at 4 " centers.  With the holes that close...I make the rafts smaller in size, since that tends to structurally weaken them. 

I have had rafts with holes further apart....and I've moved plants when they are getting crowded to the those rafts.

 

It all depends on what 'your' over all desire and goals are for 'your' system.

Comment by David W. Russell on January 6, 2012 at 4:24am

Question:  When and why do you use a 2" net pot or a 3" net pot and in cutting the holes, is there a general rule of thumb as to the pattern or space requirements?

 

Comment by Chris Smith on December 2, 2011 at 8:29am

If your plants are yellowing it is probably iron deficiency. You will need to add cheated iron to the system. The plants should green up once iron is in the system.

Where is the algae growing?? In the water or on the sides?

Comment by Dustin Hardin on December 2, 2011 at 1:20am

Some of my plants are yellowing. I have a gravel connected to two raft systems  filled bed with worms and all levels seem good... thoughts

Comment by Dustin Hardin on November 26, 2011 at 10:31pm

After adding some seaweed fertilizer the my system I now have a far amount of algae growing. I have covered my tanks from light and added extra air which has not  helped yet... thoughts? 

Comment by Isaiah Muhammad on September 20, 2011 at 6:10am

Hi guys just joined the community and the conference was excellent.  I would like to know if the 2" foam raft systems is a local purchase or is that something you have to buy over the internet.  Thanks.

Comment by Hana Hilmi on April 21, 2011 at 1:25am

Hello all, currently I'm so deeply in love with the NFT..but the Raft/Deep Water Culture still managed to catch my attention...as I also doing this regime as my seeding. Keen to learn more and explore...

Comment by Green Acre Aquaponics on March 14, 2011 at 9:13pm

You can either send it through the contact us form on the Contact Us page or just send it to me at greenacreorganics@gmail.com.  Either way is fine. 

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