Comment

Comment by Randy Mann on May 5, 2014 at 9:46pm

Hey John I found this on the vent caps. 

http://www.shuang-huan.cn/Pro_Html/Vent-cap.html

Comment by Kim Romen on May 4, 2014 at 7:19pm

planning for my future pool.  not an AP question but a gardening one.  anyone know if grape vines or any other vines or aspalier trees (preferrably edibles) will grow on a wrought iron fence?  I'm also thinking of making a fence with wooden posts and attaching wire to the posts horizontally and making a fence and place for vines to grow.  any other ideas would be appreciated.  I know this is off topic, so no worries if noone responds.  :)

Comment by John Malone on May 4, 2014 at 9:03am

I did some looking online and couldn't find the vent caps that Affnan is using.  Maybe they aren't available in the USA.  

@Matt Miskinnis Having a guard around it sort of defeats the purpose of the simplicity of the build, but having just resolved an issue with tomato roots causing my siphon to run slowly, I'd agree with your concerns.   Even so, the simplicity of the design is very enticing.

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on May 3, 2014 at 10:38pm

I would have liked to see the siphon in action.  Does seem like an easy design, but my spidey sense was tingling looking at the cone at the bottom, if roots were to clog it I would think it would be a problem.  I would still put a gravel/root guard around it.

Comment by John Malone on May 3, 2014 at 8:25pm

From Affnan, the master of bell siphons, comes an even simpler version.
I'll try this out the next time I need one.

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on May 3, 2014 at 12:02pm

Greeting Nichole

The evaporation rate in Phoenix Az is 6 feet/year. That means a pool 6 feet deep will be empty in 1 year. 

Comment by Jeff S on May 3, 2014 at 7:27am

Nichole, You're loosing a lot of water. I'm not familiar with the evaporation rate in AZ but if you cover the tank and possibly the grow bed you'll cut down on most of the evaporation. Doesn't need to be air tight but if the water evaporates into a cover it will just drip back into the tank. I keep a barrel full of tap water next to my tank for changes and refills. After a day or so the chlorine has dissipated and it should be safe to use. I just did a 90 gallon change for a nitrite problem.

As for duckweed, the fish will eat it unless you build some kind of containment area for it. I put 800 1" fingerlings into a 275 gallon IBC covered with duckweed and it was gone in 4 days.

You can plant anytime. Planting doesn't require cycling. I just started a new seed bed and put seeds in immediately. They were growing in 4-6 days.

Once your ammonia levels are good add fish or just use some sacrificial goldfish to test the water.

Comment by sunset on May 3, 2014 at 12:23am

I am trying to find an alternative place to rent which has space for the system.  I will update as to whether or not I still need to find a new home for my system.  I will know for sure in the the next couple months, at the very latest.  

Fingers crossed.

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on May 3, 2014 at 12:17am

Hi Nicole.  15 gallons seems a lot to have to put in daily.  I have a 50 gallon top up tank that I refill about once a week.  I'm not sure about the RO systems. Do they use salt as a purifier? I could see that being a problem if so.  I have something called boogie blue, that is a water de-chlorination that you simply put on a garden hose that will work up to 30,000 gallons.  It's just a little precaution I use to make sure I don't kill my bacteria.  If you get a top up tank simply letting it sit for a 24 hours will get the chlorine out, and that would be the most important thing when you are first cycling so you don't kill the bacteria for the nitrification.

process 

Comment by Nicole Kwasneski on May 2, 2014 at 10:53pm

New to aquaponics, but have done a ton of reading

I currently have a ~250 gal IBC FT with 1 GB. I am (hopefully) nearing the point where I can add fish. (I've cycled for ~5 weeks, using ammonia and a "used" filter from my freshwater fishtank as accelerators). I have also added seaweed extract (which is now starting to clear) to allow me to incorporate some plants into the system. Granted, I do not expect alot from this first planting - as it is late in the season. My goal is to get the system stabilized for fall planting.

Question: I have used RO water for filling/topping. (My RO system is a small tube drinking water system - I fill a 5-gal jug and lug it out to the AP system). This takes 15 gals and nearly 2 hours/day (yes, I know I need a whole-house system).

That being said:

Is it normal to require ~15 gal/day to replenish the FT for evaporation? (no leaks - I checked)

If so, I want to try having a prep barrel (~50gal) where I can prep tap water using muratic acid (as indicated in previous inputs on this site). I just want to know if a 6% DAILY adder to the system using this method would be safe (once the system is stabilized)

I plan to add duckweed to the FT once the fish are added, which will hopefully help against evaporation...

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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