Do you combine different media, methods or even culture species in such a way that no rules or system descriptions out there really applies to you? This is the place to share, ask questions, learn and refine.
Kobus my man...you truly are the "Research Wizz Kid" :-)
Too detailed for me at this stage but you know that I am thrilled to know that there is someone like you out there looking into such. Thank you :-)
My systems are mainly raft systems modeled after Friendly's systems. Last month I replaced one my net tanks with a large gravel bed. I used black cinders since it is readily available since I am living on a volcano. The cinder is porous and extremely light. I added composting worms to the cinder.
The gravel bed has worked better than I imagined. I replaced a labor intensive filter with one that gives me extra growing space. The bed has changed the entire system. The water is cleaner and has a higher DO now due to the flood and drain cycle. I am keeping more nutrient in the system and can sell off some fish. When my troughs get the flood of water they act as a buffer and my sump does not fluctuate more than an inch.
Adding this gravel bed has changed my theory on system design. I am starting to reconfigure my first system using my current theory. I will post pics as soon as I can and explain my new design.
I am really happy with the gravel beds as a net tank replacement. I am also working on several vertical designs. I have 3 built and more to follow soon.
Today I am building my low tunnels and will be posting some pics tonight. My design is simple, cheap, and mostly available at the big box stores.
Hello Chris,
Maybe crazy but this is what I have come to the conclusion in my Auqaponics research fish farm, the gravel beds / media beds significantly increase the filtration, aeration and I would say with "tongue in cheek" the nutrients available (via composting worms), for the DWC plants.
I came to the same conclusion. I plan to expand my gravel beds because of how well my longer term plants are doing in media. I can pick leaves of celery and chard for up to 3 months and both crops are exploding with growth. My worm population is growing rapidly as well.
Water displacement by roots are one thing. Just like media beds, 1/4" media create more bacterial surface area than 3/4". Smother media surfaces opposed to irregular ones, so too roots, i think the thinner(longer) roots will be more efficient at conversion than larger ones.What about the different types of surfaces of liners? Suspending rafts above the water as opposed to floating (eliminating bacterial surface area,but introducing extra aeration)
Sahib Punjabi
Too detailed for me at this stage but you know that I am thrilled to know that there is someone like you out there looking into such. Thank you :-)
Nov 16, 2010
Chris Smith
The gravel bed has worked better than I imagined. I replaced a labor intensive filter with one that gives me extra growing space. The bed has changed the entire system. The water is cleaner and has a higher DO now due to the flood and drain cycle. I am keeping more nutrient in the system and can sell off some fish. When my troughs get the flood of water they act as a buffer and my sump does not fluctuate more than an inch.
Adding this gravel bed has changed my theory on system design. I am starting to reconfigure my first system using my current theory. I will post pics as soon as I can and explain my new design.
Nov 16, 2010
Chris Smith
Today I am building my low tunnels and will be posting some pics tonight. My design is simple, cheap, and mostly available at the big box stores.
Nov 16, 2010
Sahib Punjabi
Maybe crazy but this is what I have come to the conclusion in my Auqaponics research fish farm, the gravel beds / media beds significantly increase the filtration, aeration and I would say with "tongue in cheek" the nutrients available (via composting worms), for the DWC plants.
Nov 16, 2010
Chris Smith
Nov 16, 2010
Harold Sukhbir
Nov 22, 2010
Harold Sukhbir
Nov 22, 2010