Recommended diameter of water pipes ?

[Bob Vento]

Which is the most commonly uses diameter for the PVC pipe, joints and valves being used in Aquaponic gardening today?

I have a bunch of 1/2" stuff, but I think that would be too small of a diameter for my system. I looked for some discussion here and did not see any right off.

[Rob Nash]

I gota agree with Matt on those points.

 

[Rob Nash]

i like to plumb my pumps to pull poops from the bottom,(say that fast five times) and hopefully not the fishes face

Note: the barbed piece on the top would be removed and replaced with a threaded 3/4" pvc nipple, then go to the 1"

 

[matthew ferrell]

You can keep the alliterations Rob.  I failed at the five times fast.  Is that a sump pump?  That inlet looks like it would be easy to clog. 

[Rob Nash]

this would be for a start up, with small fish ...when the fish and poops get bigger you would take the screen off.

[Bob Vento]

What bramd of pump is that and how many GPH does it pump? Approx. Price?

Rob Nash said:

i like to plumb my pumps to pull poops from the bottom,(say that fast five times) and hopefully not the fishes face

Note: the barbed piece on the top would be removed and replaced with a threaded 3/4" pvc nipple, then go to the 1"

 

[Rob Nash]

this is a "Eco ...something" (i think Sylvia sells them on her site) 600 gph, about $50 ...keep the box, and receipt  ...warantees are a good thing.

[matthew ferrell]

Now that is a piece of advice that we all should take.  I might steal that line for my next talk.

[Bob Vento]

I think it is an ...

EcoPlus Submersible Water Pumps

633 Gallons Per Hour

Seems like a pretty well designed pump that can be submerged or used as a stand alone.

[Sylvia Bernstein]

plumb my pumps to pull poops plumb my pumps to pull poops plumb my pumps to pull poops...

Rob, what we mostly sell is the ActiveAqua line of pumps.  I gotta throw my vote behind what Matt said as well...become a big fan of sumps over the past few years for all those reasons...although I have never had the thrill of being spied on by a fish eyeball in my grow beds...yech.

[matthew ferrell]

Those goldfish were determined to see the grow bed.  The funny part was trying to figure out what I was seeing at first.  I thought it was some exotic bug.

[TCLynx]

Yes you can avoid the sump tank for a small starter system where space is at a premium but may will recommend you secure your pump up off the bottom to avoid the risk of teaching your fish to breath air and walk in case of major plumbing failure.  Granted a pump that is 12 inches off the bottom won't pull poops as well and may require you to sweep the tank on occasion at least while the fish are too small to keep the poops stirred up.  And air stone and making a current with the water flow can also help keep poops moving on through the system.

Always!!!!!  Make sure you have a grill around the pump intake.  Make sure it is secure but removable for cleaning.  You want it big enough so it isn't clogging constantly but small enough that you are not making fish smoothies.

Same will go for systems with a sump tank though since you have to keep the fish from swimming through the pipes.  It is amazing what a fish will try to swim through and the first time I cut a fingerling in pieces with a 1" ball valve I was rather distressed though I think the fish died quick so it' pain of being trapped in the pipes was cut short by the event.

One drawback with in ground sump tanks here in Florida is that a heavy rain event could cause a sump tank to float out of the hole and cause damage and the sand washing into the hole under the sump will make it a pain to get things put back in order.

[matthew ferrell]

TC-
What about not burying the sump tank?  A long tank under the grow beds will also work.  I know about the floating, my newest tank must be kept full at all times or up she goes.  My next system here will utilize an above ground sump.