Aquaponics Indexing valves.

They are a means to sequentially flood grow beds.

They are purely passive mechanical devices. Only plumbing connected to them.

The flow of water operates the indexing valve. When the flow starts, the valve engages to feed…

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I want to make everyone aware that those inexpensive solenoid valves like used for irrigation are not necessarily the simple way to control water flow to grow beds.



See those solenoid valve require a certain amount of water pressure to operate properly. If there isn't enough pressure behind them, they may not open to let water flow through at all. Very few aquaponics systems are likely to run pumps at high enough pressure to effectively operate these valves.



For example: many… Continue

Sorry, couldn't help it.



Anyway, yesterday there was a big chunk of plant matter laying on the grow bed right by the front porch and the cook said, ya know what that is? Part of a Banana Flower.



Now this banana was a fairly small transplant when placed in this grow bed this past spring.…

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Now I've learned that herding most of my ducks is actually pretty easy (except for a moma duck trying to get back to her eggs, that is a whole other challenge) herding the ducks usually just takes a little patients and a long stick, walk slowly tword them so they will walk away from you in the direction you want. Don't walk too fast or they may panic and bolt around you instead of moving away in the direction you want. Use long stick, or net or mop, whatever to extend your reach wider so they… Continue

pH is a very important part of aquaponics so here is another blog post about it.



My first two years I was running systems that was full of shells as media, that system really didn't need much pH monitoring at all (or at least hasn't over the 2 years.) I've never seen the pH get down to 7.0 and the only things that cause it to get over 8 are a major algae bloom and a giant water change with well water. That lulled me into a false sense of security about pH.



Now I have my 300… Continue

I went outside this morning and was on my way to an appointment so didn't have any extra time but I went to peak at the fish like I often do



?There was a 11 inch catfish laying on top!!!! of the tank cover???



There is a little gap off to one side near the feeder but to have gotten up onto the cover by the feeder then some how get on top of the higher bit of cover over the center of the tank was… Continue

Yesterday I started a bunch of trays of seeds. The trays I'm using hold 42 small peat pellets (7 rows of 6)

Anyway, I made a point of planting one tray in such a manner that I can do another tray the same (I often do each row as a type of seeds since I'm not likely to need 42 of any one thing all at once, I'm not commercial.) So since yesterday was ranked as a good day for planting above ground crops and today is a poor day for planting according to the almanac, I'm doing a… Continue

Just so you all know, I use the

Gardening by the Moon Calendar from the Farmers' Almanac http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening/

I can't say as I've done any good side by side comparisons to know if it really works but I use it. There have been some times when I didn't check and just planted stuff because it was the only time I had and some of those times it seems very little came up. If it was due… Continue

Not so much about Aquaponics, but more of just a Garden Journal post.



Planting Peas today. Snow peas, 1/2 lb packs of two different varieties from Johnny's Selected Seeds

Snow Sweet I planted on the East side of the South section of trellis and on the West side of the North Section of trellis along the middle of my side yard along the line of crepe myrtles.

Oregon Giant I planted on the West side of the South section (seeded very heavily I might add) and more normal seeding… Continue

Just to reassure all that everything is fine before I even tell the story (though it isn't very dramatic that way, it isn't that dramatic a story anyway.)



Anyway,

It was labor day weekend and I was about to go out of town for 9 days and I noticed that the air volume coming from the air pump seemed to be far less than normal. Well dang, it's a holiday weekend and I can't get the replacement diaphragm kit for my pump before I leave. I'll just have to hope and pray there isn't a… Continue

I have lately read some things that give very cut and dried black and white answers about that is necessary for Aquaponics. This really bothered me because it didn't necessarily make note of the other parameters that affected such answers. There might be some advise you shouldn't second guess (like when you ask for help and explain the trouble, then it is usually prudent to listen to the help given) but when very hard fast narrow rules are handed out as if they apply equally to all situations,… Continue