Aquaponics : Grow bed media and water

In this post we will look at Aquaponics grow bed media and water, two crucial aspects of an aquaponics system. The grow bed medium could be the plant’s habitat as the water is the actual fish’s habitat. Both are interconnected and when there are problems in a single, they will manifest themselves within the other.

There are a lot of grow bed media available, ranging from a basic ones to ‘bioengineered” top quality ones. A popular and effective one is gravel, which also is actually very cheap. Gravel is ideal as it provides good support to the roots of your plants and filters water very well. Further more, it proves to become a good habitat to the beneficial bacteria,which is busy turning fish wastes into plant nutrients. Get spherical gravel, and it must be big enough not to clog but small enough to provide good root support. The plant root base need good water circulation and oxygen, and if this medium compacts an excessive amount of it, this won’t be possible. Good medium sizing Aquaponics is just about 0. 5 to 0. 75 of an inch in diameter.

If you opt for a different type of medium, you must make sure that it provides some important properties. It should always be chemically inert and it also must not have an effect on the pH of the water. For example, limestone leaks calcium carbonate so it will push your pH up. Gravel, lava rock,and the majority river stones usually are pH neutral.Also, the medium must not decompose, as this may affect the pH levels and potentially clog up the systems. Decomposing materials also can leak substances inside the water that can harm you fish.Stay clear of soil, peat moss, sawdust as well as wood chippings.

It is crucial that the medium you selected is porous, as this allows good air and also water circulation and definately will give the bacteria lots of surface area to be able to colonize. You should also ensure that the medium is not hard to handle;it must be gentle on your hands and on the plant’s roots.

Next, something about the water. You want water to be 100 % pure, free of chlorine as well as other chemicals and as all around pH 7 as possible. Municipal water will probably be high pH and may contain chlorine.Even so, all you need to do is to fill up your tank and leave it sit for 2 or 3 days. The chlorine will certainly evaporate off itself. If the pH of the water is too high, you can purchase aquarium pH regulators, or else add some vinegar or perhaps iron sulfate fertilizer. Add small quantities at any given time and test.However, if the pH for the water is too low, get the aquarium pH regulator, put some baking soda or calcium carbonate.Once again, add in small quantities at any given time and test. You final pH need to be between 6. 7 to 7.

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