Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Even an expensive $20 timer... is still going to save you $20 in power....

Wow...
I'm humbled...I had a similar timer on our salt system for our pool...well...the soon-to-be ex's pool now
Most of the timers I see in our stores are the cheap one or two point mechanical timers...
Thanks werda...

And of course Rup!

I have been thinking I will need a constant flow for my system. I have not had the patience to do much more than fiddle with sketchup since I downloaded it last year...and since I have a new work laptop and need to reinstall it...maybe I will try and sketch my ideas...

Ultimate goal is 1500gal ft, gravity to similar amount of gravel gb, to sump. Sump will have the pump with the water split to the ft and a multi-shelf dwc and nft trays...included would be a small amount gravity feeding from the ft to some duckweed, azola, water hyacyth (sp) troughs...

But with the cheap, unreliable utility pump I have currently I was thinking of a timer to at least be more consistent vs hand siphons....anyway

Thanks for your help and advice...as always

Brian

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My system thread
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=12335

The trial systems haven't had a lot of love in recent times and I decided they needed a bit of an evening out and trim up of plants. The basil is going crazy and the capsicums are fairly prolific, which I hadn't realised as many were hiding under the foliage.
Here are the ones that I harvested when I pulled out the old plants.
Siphon system

Continuous flow
Standpipe and timer
Here are another couple of pics that I thought looked pretty.
These two plants are still growing in the flood and drain system, looks good so I left them there.

I found some lacewing eggs at the base of the celery in the flood and drain system, so soon they will hatch and go insearch of the baddies. There are loads of little black aphids on the garlic chives in the constantly flooded system so I have cut them right back to minimise the infestation.

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http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... a&start=45 (Fayes system)
http://backyardfarming.com.au/phpbb3/vi ... f=24&t=119 (Fayes garden) https://www.facebook.com/Botanic.Obsession

That's interesting.... the constant flood system seemed to be out in front initially, for some time.... just ahead of the timer system... with the siphon system probably dragged the tail....

Now the timer system seems to be way ahead.... in terms of yield anyway....

And the constant flood seems to be the one dragging it's tail....

There is certainly way more capsicums coming out of the flood and drain system and more stil to come that are looking good.

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http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... a&start=45 (Fayes system)
http://backyardfarming.com.au/phpbb3/vi ... f=24&t=119 (Fayes garden) https://www.facebook.com/Botanic.Obsession

hmmm...interesting indeed

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~2010/2011~
~2012/2013~
~2014~
~Backyard farming~

(Without going through the thread again) Is the constantly flooded system getting an abundance of air diffusion ? At this point of knowledge, I think most people would agree that is the trick to getting non-leafys constant flood to work well. It should be getting an equivalent amount of air (into the water though) as the other two systems.

All three systems are set up identically Thorn... other than the flood/drain...

Maybe another trial could be set up between constant flood and constant with extra air. Unfortunately I do not get enough rain here to try that (and local aquifer is too high pH). Great work thus far though, good pics!

I understand your train of thought thorn but I would think that the CF system would be more aerated than the others as it has the constant water splashing back into the FT. If anything it is best to assume the CF has a higher count of DO.

_________________
~2010/2011~
~2012/2013~
~2014~
~Backyard farming~

It would depend on amount of water splash in the system. I was thinking of the design picture I saw on another thread around here that showed water flowing from the left side of a tank to the mostly divided right side and an air diffuser on the bottom of that side helping circulate and aerate the water to the plants above it on the same side. I initially tried a constant flood system that splashed back to the tank and only got root rot from it.

If we compare these 3 systems in regards to DO levels - each of these systems dont have an air diffuser/aerator will be my initial point but to continue..

so we can compare them in 2 ways to keep it reasonably uncomplicated

Firstly, aeration in the GB's themselves due to the draining cycle of the flood and drain systems is obviously greater than the CF, is this benificial? Maybe thats why we are seeing the growth difference now? Its no secret some plants fair better in different circumstances so difficult to measure.

Secondly, the timed flood and drain system will have a smaller amount of splashing return water compared to the CF and the auto syphon system will only splash when the syphon cycle permits. Would be safe to assume the CF would provide a more constant surface break and water disturbance

I mean you could take it further than this so I think it would be a good discussion if anyone has some observations/eductaed answers.

food for thought

_________________
~2010/2011~
~2012/2013~
~2014~
~Backyard farming~

And in a constant flood media bed you have media impeding the distrobution of dissolved oxygen through the bed so there is where the biggest problem with constant flood is, you need enough flow and very highly aerated water to make up for the lack of grow bed draining to draw air down.

The aeration of the fish tank is sort of beside the point to the plants here in a way.

Some plants don't care much but others definitely like the extra drain time while others might actually like the extra water time depending on season.

Looks like peppers/capsicums as you say, really like the flood and drain, at least in this trial.

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Aquaponic Lynx
TCLynx Bought The Farm
Old Main System
Old 300 gallon System

As these trial systems have now been ripped out and sold, these questions might be a little late:

Were there any discernible difference in the solids captured in the GB in the different systems?
Were there any discernible differences in the media? Did one method dissolve/smash/affect the media more/less than other?
If any worms were added to the test systems, was there any observable difference in the populations in the GBs at the end?
Is there a final summary/conclusion for the trial?
What's next?


Scott

[Bugger. Old timer's disease! I had another question and now cannot remember what it was!]

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2008-2009: Experimental, NFT
2010-2012: IBC system(s)
2012-Now : 1000L FT, 500L GB, CF, no additional filters

SkyPE: wabbit.com.au

Huh what? When did that happen, I thought they were all still running?

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Aquaponic Lynx
TCLynx Bought The Farm
Old Main System
Old 300 gallon System