Robin's system

[robinmill]

ok so does anyone know how long the salt will stay active in the system?
or is it their forever?

my alpine strawberrys from the soil garden taste like little lollies , but the ones in the aquaponics have very little taste

the snowpeas, beans and tomatoes are nearly finished anyway so the salt killing them of wouldnt matter that much

[fishfood]

looking at your thread 1 ppt wont do the damage you have most plants will take 3 ppt
as far as how long will salt last depends on the plants and the amount you have maybee 1 month maybee4 months the only shore way of measuring is a salt refractometer about $35.00 ebay

[Fwoor]

my alpine strawberrys from the soil garden taste like little lollies , but the ones in the aquaponics have very little taste

How does the size compare between the two?

[bigdaddy]

Hi Robin,

I am the same I like to ask a lot of questions too that way we all learn.

I asked the same and got told, definitely, pure salt with nothing added to it .NOT table salt.

I went to Bunnings and got pool salt 25 kgs for about $7.00

Added 1 kg straight into the tanks, no problems

Like FF says use a refractometer,just make sure it measures in ppt,I checked on ebay a while back but I haven't got one yet.

Cheers.

[Fwoor]

I am the same I like to ask a lot of questions too that way we all learn.
I asked the same and got told, definitely, pure salt with nothing added to it .NOT table salt.

Added 1 kg straight into the tanks, no problems

Hi Bigdaddy, I believe you were reponding (at least in part) to my question there.

Do you feel that the distribution of the salt was sufficent and that it dissolved easily?
I know Gary has suggested pre-dissolving the salt then adding where the most mixing occurs. (i.e) at the pump outlet or bed return pipe so as to achieve a suitable mixing.

[bigdaddy]

Sorry Fwoor,and Robin,

I was responding to to your question in part, Fwoor, and I would always do what Gary suggests in preference to me.I just tell you my experience.I found it was OK it devolved OK and spread OK through my system.

Oh bye the way that was Sunray pool salt.

Cheers.

[Fwoor]

I was responding to to your question in part, Fwoor, and I would always do what Gary suggests in preference to me.I just tell you my experience.I found it was OK it devolved OK and spread OK through my system.

No problems. I believe we can all learn from each other (as much as from gurus).

The only thing I would be concerned about is a high concentration (much greater than 1ppt) of salty water going directly in to a grow bed line and killing plants.

[GaryD]

Hi BigDaddy,

No problems. I believe we can all learn from each other (as much as from gurus).

I agree. Learning from each other is a key element of adult learning (as distinct from learning from a so-called subject expert)......and it's arguably the principal strength of discussion forums.

Personally, I prefer to stay clear of being thought of as a guru (or an expert)......it puts me in the company of too many people I'd rather not keep. I'll go for experience over image every time.

The only thing I would be concerned about is a high concentration (much greater than 1ppt) of salty water going directly in to a grow bed line and killing plants.

I should have mentioned this.......it's the reason for diluting most everything that you add to a system.....be it calcium carbonate/hydroxide, potassium carbonate/hydroxide, acid, chelated iron or salt. A concentrated slug of any of these may prove detrimental to fish or plants. Many plants, for example, will be affected by a salt concentration much over 3ppt.

Gary

[fishfood]

Agreed 3 ppt is about the max to aim for as for mixing diluting if you have sick fish i just dump salt in the effected tank and isolate for 4 hrs for all the others [cleated ion lime ecorose i just dump it in the sump and from there it goes direct to the beds but each pass its 10% strength

[bigdaddy]

Hi Fwoor,

I agree that That's the reason why I post my experiences and contribute to. I also think we can learn of each other weather we are new or experienced at things.

If you look at my system you will see I have 4 tanks lined up.The pump is in the left hand tank and the drain goes to the far right I dumped the salt in the far right tank so by the time it got to the growbed the salt was well and truly mixed with the rest of the water.

I haven't got to the chelated iron and others yet I think my ph is still too high for that to be useful to me.
But Gary and fishfoods tips about that are handy to know in the future.

Cheers.