Floating raft bed alternatives

[Juniper Rivers]

Hello friends,

 

I am trying to find an alternative to polystyrene floating raft beds and am curious if anybody on here can point me in the right direction.  I remember seeing a youtube video months ago where some people were using raft beds that appeared to be made out of plastic and fit together almost like a puzzle in an interlocking fashion.  These seem ideal and I would love to find some for a closer inspection.   Any information or help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

[Averan]

I think you're referring to the shrimp farmer in Asia with the oval aquaponics tank....if you find out where we can get those rafts let us know!

I've had some thoughts about placing a sealed air-filled 3" PVC pipe along each side inside a trough so that they can float while allowing some sort of rigid, light-weight and waterproof board to be placed on top like a raft.  I haven't done any tests yet and have not found a suitable material to hold the plants.....

[TCLynx]

Those plastic plant floats are $$$$$$ and they require special net pots.

 

I've kinda tried the pontoon idea but the weight of the plants makes getting the right floatation tricky (as the plants get heavier they sink the raft.)

[Averan]

yeah...that's another part that i haven't figured out yet.  might have to use some giant 6" pipes or something!

[Rebecca B]

I've seen people attach those flotation noodles to their floating seedling tray. Wonder if the noodles are more buoyant?

[TCLynx]

The noodles are only good temporarily,  If left in the water long term they will start to waterlog.

[wireman]

Check Out:

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/video/dou-shi-xiao-yang-tai-chao-xi

 

I think these are the things you are looking for. The poster does mention the name in the vid.

 

Cheers.

[Averan]

they referred to the foam floats as 'ufo'.  those are the same things used in the other video we referred to.  'googling' for 'ufo foam float' and other similar terms comes up with nothing.

[TCLynx]

well cause those floats in the videos are not foam but hollow plastic things that hook together with little rubber clips.  Cosmo got some at one point.  They are costly and tiny.

[chris taylor Swamp Creek Farms]

what about those foam puzzle mats for kids ??  the ones without the alphabet cut outs

 

[TCLynx]

Could try it.  I would fear they are too thin and flexible to support much.  I don't know the material they are made out of so if you are worried about being organic or food grade you will have to do your own research into that.

I expect those puzzle foam mats will waterlog over time and they are not UV stable so will deteriorate in the sun.

[chris taylor Swamp Creek Farms]

the material its made out of is water resistant and UV resistant,  they use it for more than just kids toys,  around swimming pools and spas, in boats,  its all over the place.. 

well,  here is what its made of

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene-vinyl_acetate

[TCLynx]

Well, I do know that the floor mat ones my mom got are not up to handling the UV of being out in the sun long term like they would be for a summer as a floating raft.  The ones they left on the porch faded and started to flake in a month or two.

 

Didn't see anything in the listing that made me think they are food safe either.