aquaponis & Deep water hydroponic

[Mantis]

We are creating an aquaponics system and i am wondering if anybody has any experiences with deep water culture hydroponics?
I am new to this site and would love some info. Thanks Mantis

[GaryD]

Hi Mantis,

Can you explain what you mean by deep water culture?

It's a name that I've seen applied to raft culture like that undertaken at the University of Virgin Islands.....and also (on a much smaller scale) to plants which are supported in net pots in a tub or drum full of nutrient (see here (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/392609/a_primer_on_deep_water_culture.html?cat=32)).

Gary

[Murray]

Hi Mantus,
Here are some pix from a farm we manufactured all the equipment for.
DWC
Troughs that are 1200 wide x 5000 long x 400 deep.
Also seen is some of the other equipment, Swirl filter and fish tanks.
http://www.aquaponics.net.au/Images/sites8h.jpg
http://www.aquaponics.net.au/Images/sites8g.jpg
http://www.aquaponics.net.au/Images/sites8f.jpg
http://www.aquaponics.net.au/Images/sites8d.jpg

[Mantis]

when i refer to deep water i am referring to an ebb & flo usually using 5 gal. buckets as your growing containers. this is the way you described Gary. i guess my concern is drawing too much water from the main fish tanks.

[Mantis]

Murray thanks for the pics. it helps me wrap my mind around this project

[ElfNori]

The one I liked the best (not to devalue Murray's contribution) was this one.

Hydroponic farming with fish (http://www.nature.my.cape.com/greencenter/pdf/zweig.pdf)

The plants are in the fish tank with wire cages to protect the roots. The center is left open for feeding the fish. The roots go between the foam rafts and the plants are moved from the center toward the outside as they mature and need more room. As each circle of lettuce is harvested the plants are moved outward and new plants are added.

No pumping is required, just an airstone to keep the water oxygenated. This is a very simple system once the cage and rafts are in place.

Nori