traveling roots

[Michael Euteneier]

can anyone out there tell me what im supposed to do about roots traveling down my circulation lines clogging them so that my pump  runs dry or struggles in my DWC system? how do i get the roots not to travel with the flow? screens and filters would need to be changed/ cleaned several times a day. There must be a trick to this im sure.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I have had roots grow over 2 feet up the siphon and down the stand pipe blocking flow. The answer for me is designing a siphon or drain that every few weeks you can clean the roots out. I have tried to prevent them with screens but that will block flow too.

[George]

https://youtu.be/Jf8Lxpl_8z8

this might help

[Pam DeLong]

Thanks George! Good resolve!

 

 

(Great...now I'm hooked on the other videos that guy has!)

[Michael Euteneier]

while the link you suggested did not help me with this particular issue it did help in so many other ways, I too am hooked on this guys videos and have even subscribed, I have never subscribed before. Thanks for the info.

George said:

https://youtu.be/Jf8Lxpl_8z8

this might help

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Post pictures of your issues.... Hard to suggest when we cant see.   Are you draining from the bottom of the DWC tank or at the water surface?

[Jim Fisk]

And one more reason that we will be changing our one dwc 3' x 13'  bed over to bell siphon flood and drain. I ran into the same problem. With our bell siphons a quick rotation every few months cuts any roots right off and they float to the top of the GG for easy extraction. Can't wait to get to the quarry. Tried dwc for a year + and find only disadvantages to it.

[Jim Fisk]

Jonathan, not sure what needs to be designed in regards to bell siphons. Just make a GG with slots that will cut off the roots. Mine are 4" pipe on my 3" bells and in 3+ years they have worked perfectly. I rotate the GG every few months, not weeks. I have now sold about 700 bell siphons and everyone is happy

Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair said:

I have had roots grow over 2 feet up the siphon and down the stand pipe blocking flow. The answer for me is designing a siphon or drain that every few weeks you can clean the roots out. I have tried to prevent them with screens but that will block flow too.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Jim that actually is a good design that  not everyone knows, but I think Michael's issue is in his DWC drain. My chard bed is the worst... needs maintenance once a month while lettuce never needs it.

Jim Fisk said:

Jonathan, not sure what needs to be designed in regards to bell siphons. Just make a GG with slots that will cut off the roots. Mine are 4" pipe on my 3" bells and in 3+ years they have worked perfectly. I rotate the GG every few months, not weeks. I have now sold about 700 bell siphons and everyone is happy

[Michael Euteneier]

Thank you Jonathan, you hit the nail on the head. I am in the process of building my aquaponic system, im an old dirt grower for thirty years but I have seen the light, started with my first hydroponic system, the dwc , and have been amazed at the results, except this root problem, as I circulate my water through the bottom of each bucket the roots circulate with the flow, some times clogging the one inch line. my buckets are on aprx. 40 inch centers and the roots will travel into the adjoining bucket. I have attempeted to upload photos, but as this is my first time operating in a forum not sure im doing any of this correctly. I do appreciate the input. and I agree that bell siphon system is the way to go just haven't gotten there yet, have gathered all the materials for the new aquaponic set up and this weekend I begin actually constructing it. have a feeling you guys will get a few dumb questions out of me before im done.
Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair said:

Jim that actually is a good design that  not everyone knows, but I think Michael's issue is in his DWC drain. My chard bed is the worst... needs maintenance once a month while lettuce never needs it.

Jim Fisk said:

Jonathan, not sure what needs to be designed in regards to bell siphons. Just make a GG with slots that will cut off the roots. Mine are 4" pipe on my 3" bells and in 3+ years they have worked perfectly. I rotate the GG every few months, not weeks. I have now sold about 700 bell siphons and everyone is happy

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I do mostly media beds but if I recall correctly a drain in a DWC grow bed is at the water line and drains the bed as an overflow. Water does not leave from the bottom but actually leaves from the top. Than should keep roots out.

[Michael Euteneier]

I actually run a current or flow DWC system, started out with four, five gallon pots and a thirty gallon res. then then eight pots 50 gallon res. to 16 pots 150 gal res and throughout this summer switching to 900 gal fish pond and two 12x20 green houses. I tried doing pictures again well see' 

Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair said:

I do mostly media beds but if I recall correctly a drain in a DWC grow bed is at the water line and drains the bed as an overflow. Water does not leave from the bottom but actually leaves from the top. Than should keep roots out.

[Michael Euteneier]

Michael Euteneier said:

I actually run a current or flow DWC system, started out with four, five gallon pots and a thirty gallon res. then then eight pots 50 gallon res. to 16 pots 150 gal res and throughout this summer switching to 900 gal fish pond and two 12x20 green houses. I tried doing pictures again well see' 

Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair said:

I do mostly media beds but if I recall correctly a drain in a DWC grow bed is at the water line and drains the bed as an overflow. Water does not leave from the bottom but actually leaves from the top. Than should keep roots out.