Understanding The Aquaponics System Equipment

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Loop Siphon

A loop siphon is flexible tubing that is attached to the drain.   The loop siphon is used to flood and drain the media beds.  When the water gets to the top of the tube it breaks the airlock causing it to drain.   When its empty air is again introduced into the tube and the cycle starts over again.

Bell Siphon

The bell siphon works just like the loop siphon but it’s a bit more sophisticated.  It has a vertical pipe and the height of that pipe is what determines the maximum level of the water.   When the water gets to the top of the tube the drainage begins.   A bell siphon comes with three parts.

• The standpipe – this is the part that determines the height of the water level
• The bell shroud with an air line – this is the part that stops the draining once the water has reached the maximum level
• The gravel and media guard

Unlike the loop siphon, the bell siphon will always leave some water and sediment at the bottom and this will allow the necessary bacteria to grow.  If you use the bell siphon, somewhere between one and two years, you will notice your crops beginning to grow faster and you will also see an increase in your plant yields.

Fish Tank

Your fish tank doesn’t have to be perfect you can use practically anything.  Just remember that if you use a tank that is used that you know the background of the container.  You need to make sure that it has never been used to hold chemicals or anything else that could be harmful to your fish.  You could use something like a large trash can; however, fish generally prefer to swim horizontally as opposed to vertically.  In addition, a horizontal tank will allow for a larger surface area which helps keep the water oxygenated.   You should use a tank that is black and if your container isn’t black then you should paint the outside black to keep out as much light as possible.  (Use paint that is made for a plastic surface.)

You will need to have a large enough tank to accommodate the number of grow beds you have or plan to have in the future.   A 100 gallon tank can accommodate four 25 gallon  2″x4″x6′ grow beds.

Grow Beds

The grow beds should be between 6″ and 12″ deep.  The deeper it is will enable you to plant a wider variety of plants.  Plants such as carrots and onions have an extensive root system and require a deeper bed in order to be grown successfully.  However, if you are on a budget, stick with the vegetables that don’t have such an extensive root, then you will only need the more shallow grow beds.  Thus requiring less clay or gravel making it cheaper because you don’t have to buy as much product to fill the beds.

Your grow beds capacity should equal the capacity of your fish tank.  That means if you are using a 100 gallon tank, you will need to be able to handle 100 gallons of water.   Just remember that the clay pellets will displace approximately half of the water volume .  If when starting out, your grow bed isn’t as large as your fish tank, just use less water or use more media to displace the water.  Always keep in mind the 1-1 ratio.  A one foot long by one foot wide by one foot deep area of water will hold around 7.5 gallons of water.

Sump Tank

Technically you don’t need to have a sump tank.  This is optional.  However, a sump tank will help prevent the water levels from fluctuating in the fish tank when the water is flooding and draining the beds.  If you use a sump tank, just remember to keep it above the level of the grow bed.

Water Pump

Your water pump should be big enough to recycle the water about four times each hour.  Some of the water will remain in the grow bed so you will need to calculate accordingly.  Example:  a 2″ x 4″ x 6′ bed system you will need a 250 GPH rated water pump and this will give you an output of 100 GPH as it has to push the water up at least four feet.   This is more than enough for this size of bed; however, any overflow you have will go right back into the fish tank and provide additional circulation and oxygenation.

Air Pump

The proper amount of air for your system should be about five to ten GPH for each gallon on water in your fish tank.  It’s really difficult to add too much air into your system.  So this is something you really should not worry much about.  Just buy a pump that is rated for the size of the fish tank you’ll be using.

Grow Bed Media

Your grow bed media can consist of gravel (just make sure it’s the right type of gravel) or clay pellets.  Gravel is cheap but it could easily cause problems with the pH of your water and you will then have to continually adjust it which is not good for your fish.

Clay pellets are the preferred grow bed media because it is pH neutral and retains the moisture very nicely.  Clay pellets are also much lighter than the gravel so the weight of your system won’t be as much of a concern.

Plastic Plumbing Parts, Plastic Tubing & Hoses

You will of course need various plastic plumbing parts, as well as, plastic tubing and or hoses.  The type and extent of these will depend on the system you decide to install.

Loop Siphon

A loop siphon is flexible tubing that is attached to the drain.   The loop siphon is used to flood and drain the media beds.  When the water gets to the top of the tube it breaks the airlock causing it to drain.   When its empty air is again introduced into the tube and the cycle starts over again.

Bell Siphon

The bell siphon works just like the loop siphon but it’s a bit more sophisticated.  It has a vertical pipe and the height of that pipe is what determines the maximum level of the water.   When the water gets to the top of the tube the drainage begins.   A bell siphon comes with three parts.

• The standpipe – this is the part that determines the height of the water level
• The bell shroud with an air line – this is the part that stops the draining once the water has reached the maximum level
• The gravel and media guard

Unlike the loop siphon, the bell siphon will always leave some water and sediment at the bottom and this will allow the necessary bacteria to grow.  If you use the bell siphon, somewhere between one and two years, you will notice your crops beginning to grow faster and you will also see an increase in your plant yields.

Fish Tank

Your fish tank doesn’t have to be perfect you can use practically anything.  Just remember that if you use a tank that is used that you know the background of the container.  You need to make sure that it has never been used to hold chemicals or anything else that could be harmful to your fish.  You could use something like a large trash can; however, fish generally prefer to swim horizontally as opposed to vertically.  In addition, a horizontal tank will allow for a larger surface area which helps keep the water oxygenated.   You should use a tank that is black and if your container isn’t black then you should paint the outside black to keep out as much light as possible.  (Use paint that is made for a plastic surface.)

You will need to have a large enough tank to accommodate the number of grow beds you have or plan to have in the future.   A 100 gallon tank can accommodate four 25 gallon  2″x4″x6′ grow beds.

Grow Beds

The grow beds should be between 6″ and 12″ deep.  The deeper it is will enable you to plant a wider variety of plants.  Plants such as carrots and onions have an extensive root system and require a deeper bed in order to be grown successfully.  However, if you are on a budget, stick with the vegetables that don’t have such an extensive root, then you will only need the more shallow grow beds.  Thus requiring less clay or gravel making it cheaper because you don’t have to buy as much product to fill the beds.

Your grow beds capacity should equal the capacity of your fish tank.  That means if you are using a 100 gallon tank, you will need to be able to handle 100 gallons of water.   Just remember that the clay pellets will displace approximately half of the water volume .  If when starting out, your grow bed isn’t as large as your fish tank, just use less water or use more media to displace the water.  Always keep in mind the 1-1 ratio.  A one foot long by one foot wide by one foot deep area of water will hold around 7.5 gallons of water.

Sump Tank

Technically you don’t need to have a sump tank.  This is optional.  However, a sump tank will help prevent the water levels from fluctuating in the fish tank when the water is flooding and draining the beds.  If you use a sump tank, just remember to keep it above the level of the grow bed.

Water Pump

Your water pump should be big enough to recycle the water about four times each hour.  Some of the water will remain in the grow bed so you will need to calculate accordingly.  Example:  a 2″ x 4″ x 6′ bed system you will need a 250 GPH rated water pump and this will give you an output of 100 GPH as it has to push the water up at least four feet.   This is more than enough for this size of bed; however, any overflow you have will go right back into the fish tank and provide additional circulation and oxygenation.

Air Pump

The proper amount of air for your system should be about five to ten GPH for each gallon on water in your fish tank.  It’s really difficult to add too much air into your system.  So this is something you really should not worry much about.  Just buy a pump that is rated for the size of the fish tank you’ll be using.

Grow Bed Media

Your grow bed media can consist of gravel (just make sure it’s the right type of gravel) or clay pellets.  Gravel is cheap but it could easily cause problems with the pH of your water and you will then have to continually adjust it which is not good for your fish.

Clay pellets are the preferred grow bed media because it is pH neutral and retains the moisture very nicely.  Clay pellets are also much lighter than the gravel so the weight of your system won’t be as much of a concern.

Plastic Plumbing Parts, Plastic Tubing & Hoses

You will of course need various plastic plumbing parts, as well as, plastic tubing and or hoses.  The type and extent of these will depend on the system you decide to install.

Types Of Aquaponics Systems

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Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The nutrient film technique is most commonly used in commercial hydroponic applications and is used to grow large quantities of leafy vegetables that have small root systems. The water to feed the plants is pumped through small narrow troughs. The NFT system is generally not used in aquaponics.

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

The deep water culture application is much like the NFT system except it doesn’t use a thin film of water it uses a deeper bed of water using a suspended float.  Just like the NTF system there are only a certain types of plants will thrive in a system where their roots  are continually submerged.

Media Filled Grow Beds

The most commonly used growing method in aquaponics is media filled grow beds. With this system the medium,  otherwise known as gravel or clay pellets, is used to suspend the plants. The media from the  grow beds keeps the nutrients where the roots are located.  The gravel or clay also naturally recycles the waste from the fish.

Another benefit from using the media filled grow bed method is the fact that you can grow more of a variety of plants and vegetables.  Actually, you can grow just about anything when you use media filled grow beds than you can any of the other systems.The other two systems work best for leafy greens but have a harder time with anything else.

You will have to decide whether you want to use gravel or clay pellets.  Many people pick gravel because it costs less and is easier to get. However, they later come to realize that perhaps gravel was not the best choice.  Gravel is very heavy and you have to keep in mind that you will have the weight of the gravel, as well as, the water and both of these will have an effect on your structure.  Gravel could also affect the pH of your water.  But this will depend on the type of gravel you use.

Clay pellets are a much better choice. Clay pellets are lighter than gravel and won’t affect the pH of your system because the pellets are pH neutral.  Additionally, the pellets retain moisture but will still allow air to get to the plants roots.  This is what makes the clay pellets the preferred product among most people who maintain an aquaponic garden.

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The nutrient film technique is most commonly used in commercial hydroponic applications and is used to grow large quantities of leafy vegetables that have small root systems. The water to feed the plants is pumped through small narrow troughs. The NFT system is generally not used in aquaponics.

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

The deep water culture application is much like the NFT system except it doesn’t use a thin film of water it uses a deeper bed of water using a suspended float.  Just like the NTF system there are only a certain types of plants will thrive in a system where their roots  are continually submerged.

Media Filled Grow Beds

The most commonly used growing method in aquaponics is media filled grow beds. With this system the medium,  otherwise known as gravel or clay pellets, is used to suspend the plants. The media from the  grow beds keeps the nutrients where the roots are located.  The gravel or clay also naturally recycles the waste from the fish.

Another benefit from using the media filled grow bed method is the fact that you can grow more of a variety of plants and vegetables.  Actually, you can grow just about anything when you use media filled grow beds than you can any of the other systems.The other two systems work best for leafy greens but have a harder time with anything else.

You will have to decide whether you want to use gravel or clay pellets.  Many people pick gravel because it costs less and is easier to get. However, they later come to realize that perhaps gravel was not the best choice.  Gravel is very heavy and you have to keep in mind that you will have the weight of the gravel, as well as, the water and both of these will have an effect on your structure.  Gravel could also affect the pH of your water.  But this will depend on the type of gravel you use.

Clay pellets are a much better choice. Clay pellets are lighter than gravel and won’t affect the pH of your system because the pellets are pH neutral.  Additionally, the pellets retain moisture but will still allow air to get to the plants roots.  This is what makes the clay pellets the preferred product among most people who maintain an aquaponic garden.

The Three Different Types of Aquaponics Grow Beds Explained

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aquaponics grow beds

The ingenuity of the human mind is amazing, and one example of this is aquaponics. Who would imagine that one could grow healthy food without traditional media like soil? You can. And you can do it yourself, easily at home. Aquaponics takes the best of two worlds, hydroponics (growing plants in water) and aquaculture (raising fish, snails, crayfish etc. in water and fuses them together.)  Even more astonishing is the variety of aquaponic methods available for the DIY aquaponics enthusiast. Here is an overview:

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The nutrient film technique works  by creating an environment where the roots of plants have constant access to a moving stream of nutrient rich water. Imagine plants growing in a shallow “film” of nutrient filled solution and you will get the idea. The great thing about this is that plants have access to a ton of oxygen, more so than they would in traditional soil. The basic structure is that the plants are placed at an angle so that the nutrient solution can loop around and around providing the root systems constant food and oxygen. Overall this is a very viable option for nearly any plant/vegetable you want to grow. However, it is best suited for light plants that grow and will be harvested quickly. Plants like tomatoes and zucchini can be grown, but you have to be sure you have the right support systems for the stems so they plants do not lop over.  This method is generally not used for aquaponics but is commonly used in commercial hydroponic applications.

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

The deep water culture method of aquaponics is one that is seemingly counterintuitive. Plants are constantly placed in non-moving water (aka “arrested” water). It seems that this is a disaster waiting to happen. Talk about overwatering and giving roots a chance to rot out! But actually, the fact is that if the environment is the right temperature, has enough oxygen and the right minerals, plants thrive! Who knew?

Usually, plants are “planted” in a Styrofoam platform that sits on top of the water. The tank is deep with lots of room for the plant roots to grow downward. An air pump keeps bubbly oxygen constant and, voila, it is plant nirvana! Any do it yourself aquaponics grower can do this.

Media Filled Grow Beds

This kind of aquaponics looks more “normal”, in the sense that plants are grown in some kind of “stuff”, not just water. This is usually gravel, or expansive clay pellets, but there are many options besides these most popular ones. If you use gravel, the trick to this type of aquaponics is that the media has to not have too much space between the gravel, nor too little so the oxygen balance remains healthy.  You also have to be aware of the weight of the media so that you have a strong enough stand  or bench to place it on. Once this is set up, then water from a fish tank is pumped in to the media. This type of aquaponics is one of the best ways and is preferred by most growers, commercial and individual. Media filled grow beds tend to be preferred because it allows for diversity of the plants you can grow, and is low maintenance.

Aquaponics is an amazing technology that anyone can begin to do at home. It is relatively inexpensive and yields healthy food you can use for your family. Further, it utilizes the basic symbiotic relationships in nature so there is less waste and no chemical pesticides. Aquaponics is a great hobby and an effective way to have alternatives to store-bought food. Get started today! You will be glad you did.

The ingenuity of the human mind is amazing, and one example of this is aquaponics. Who would imagine that one could grow healthy food without traditional media like soil? You can. And you can do it yourself, easily at home. Aquaponics takes the best of two worlds, hydroponics (growing plants in water) and aquaculture (raising fish, snails, crayfish etc. in water and fuses them together.)  Even more astonishing is the variety of aquaponic methods available for the DIY aquaponics enthusiast. Here is an overview:

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The nutrient film technique works  by creating an environment where the roots of plants have constant access to a moving stream of nutrient rich water. Imagine plants growing in a shallow “film” of nutrient filled solution and you will get the idea. The great thing about this is that plants have access to a ton of oxygen, more so than they would in traditional soil. The basic structure is that the plants are placed at an angle so that the nutrient solution can loop around and around providing the root systems constant food and oxygen. Overall this is a very viable option for nearly any plant/vegetable you want to grow. However, it is best suited for light plants that grow and will be harvested quickly. Plants like tomatoes and zucchini can be grown, but you have to be sure you have the right support systems for the stems so they plants do not lop over.  This method is generally not used for aquaponics but is commonly used in commercial hydroponic applications.

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

The deep water culture method of aquaponics is one that is seemingly counterintuitive. Plants are constantly placed in non-moving water (aka “arrested” water). It seems that this is a disaster waiting to happen. Talk about overwatering and giving roots a chance to rot out! But actually, the fact is that if the environment is the right temperature, has enough oxygen and the right minerals, plants thrive! Who knew?

Usually, plants are “planted” in a Styrofoam platform that sits on top of the water. The tank is deep with lots of room for the plant roots to grow downward. An air pump keeps bubbly oxygen constant and, voila, it is plant nirvana! Any do it yourself aquaponics grower can do this.

Media Filled Grow Beds

This kind of aquaponics looks more “normal”, in the sense that plants are grown in some kind of “stuff”, not just water. This is usually gravel, or expansive clay pellets, but there are many options besides these most popular ones. If you use gravel, the trick to this type of aquaponics is that the media has to not have too much space between the gravel, nor too little so the oxygen balance remains healthy.  You also have to be aware of the weight of the media so that you have a strong enough stand  or bench to place it on. Once this is set up, then water from a fish tank is pumped in to the media. This type of aquaponics is one of the best ways and is preferred by most growers, commercial and individual. Media filled grow beds tend to be preferred because it allows for diversity of the plants you can grow, and is low maintenance.

Aquaponics is an amazing technology that anyone can begin to do at home. It is relatively inexpensive and yields healthy food you can use for your family. Further, it utilizes the basic symbiotic relationships in nature so there is less waste and no chemical pesticides. Aquaponics is a great hobby and an effective way to have alternatives to store-bought food. Get started today! You will be glad you did.