There are many really useful diagrams out there that people have posted but I can never remember where to find them, even some of my own that I have uploaded to the forum several times and I feal bad using more space for diagrams that I know already exist here. So, I thought I would create a thread where we can upload (if it isn't already here) or do the image link here with diagrams you can find on the forum so we have a easy place to find them when we need to help people out with them.

Hay Kuda, I would love to see your siphon diagnostic diagrams here since they are mucho useful in explaining siphon issues.

Other useful things like the nutrient chart and the ammonia toxicity chart would be nice to have here too.

(If we get enough of the useful diagrams linked here, perhaps the moderators will sticky it for us.)


I think I just figured out how to find things I have attached in the past, I'm embarrassed I didn't catch onto it earlier, in user control panel you can go to manage attachments to find a list of all the pictures you have uploaded in the past. By clicking on one, you can then copy the image location to then paste into an image link like I am about to do here.



Above is a simple CHIFT PIST Diagram using a loop siphon to drain the grow bed



You can have many Grow beds hooked to a CHIFT PIST system, just make sure the sump tank is big enough to deal with all the water needed to flood the grow beds.

Nice thing about doing the image links, if the images are already on the net somewhere, you can put as many images into a post as you wish rather than being limited to three attachments.

Placement of a automatic float top up valve in a sump tank


Another Simple CHIFT PIST system design


And here is a diagram of one way to do an NFT system but using a gravel filled grow bed to provide filtration.

Many thanks

hmm... nice design. I generally use no sumps and have the grow bed higher than the fish tanks. mainly for solids removal.

DT where's your diagram then?

You got me Dave. It is only fair I post a diagram if I am going to comment.

This is the design I always use because of being able to utilize the solids in the growbeds, ( I always throw in a few worms that love them) and on the return I can grow flowers and chard in the nft trays. I only utilize one pump so that I keep the costs down for the person installing the system.

There are variations on this theme depending on space, funds available, the needs of the person I am installing it for and what is being grown.

There you have it. It ain't pretty but it works.

Pretty enough I reckon... and it works...

How have the plants in the NFT gone DT??

The plants in NFT are doing real well. So much so in fact that I need to find a bigger type of tubing for the NFT tray to allow for the watter to be able to pass through thee roots. The problem is the roots block the pipe. So periodically I have to take some scissors and trim the roots of each net pot.

What I use for NFT is PVC downspouting. I simply make holes the size of the net pots and fill them with lava rock, place the seed in a peice of tissue and place it in the medium.

I have Swiss Chard, Bok Choi, and Marigolds, all doing very well except for the above problem.

.. can relate to that DT.... I've got half a tray of Basil that I need to use a machette to harvest...

The roots have now blocked the tray to the extent.. that the channels are bowing from the weight of the Basil... and the water is dripping over the top...

yeah I used to grow basil in the tray but I can't eat it fast enough to stay ahead so I simply have a couple of plants in the GBS I try to pull all the net pots each week and feed the roots to the rabbits and the Worm bed.

Some more diagrams

Ok, so few others are jumping in to link their diagrams so as I find ones I think are useful throughout the forum, I'm image linking them here. Please feel free to assist me in this as there is no pay involved and I don't know how best to find the diagrams I know are out there.

Extra grow beds CHIFT PIST set up example

Very Zen

i have this setup of AP and the water flow is continuous. is it ok?