Likoma Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 I have just installed a wet/dry filter as a return for my rift tank. It measures 1m x .25 x .25 and is filled with bio balls. I was wondering if I could plant the top of it out in a hydroponic fashion. I have a heap of spatiphyllum that I could use which has been in the tank for the past 4 months. I would replace the top .05m layer of bio balls with inert coconut fibre as a planting medium with JBL clay balls. Would there be any benefit for this other than ascetic, such as nitrate/nitrite absorption? Thanks in advance to any advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 It could work, but I don't think clay balls in there would be a good idea. The clay would dirty the water very fast with the water moving past them. The purpose of the plants would be to remove the things that you don't want. So if you need to feed clay balls because they are struggling to grow then they would be of no use to the removal of nitrates/nitrites. Then yes, they would become more of an aesthetics thing rather than a useful thing. hope that makes sense :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peet Posted August 21, 2011 Report Share Posted August 21, 2011 As said by si_sphinx, If you are wanting to take out nutrients then you shouldn't put JBL or any other type of fertiliser in there. I've seen a few marine setups which grew mangroves in their wet/dry to remove nutrients but I dont think it really took off. If I was going to do it I would use a grass (vetiver is really good at removing nutrients but grows to big I would think) grasses suck out nutrients but are very hardy and will survive lean times as well... have a look into the nutrient removal capacity of something like mondo grass which will handle being wet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sup42 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I'm going to have a go at the Same one day when I've run out of space to put tanks. There are a tonne of Good articles on the net on this very subject , Google Aquaponics. They grow vegetables on this very principle....to clean / reuse water from tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Use an inert medium such as plain gravel and make sure the plants NEED to take nutrients from the water. If they don't need to then they won't. They will need a light source and of course room to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 You could use leca instead of the JBL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Known also as Hydroton, your local Switched on Gardener will have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Yeah, I bought mine from the local SOG ... interestingly their online price is cheaper than their store price, but you can't pay the online price in the store! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 make it even more useful, plant it with basil, it'll enjoy the warmer temps as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Bought some more Hydroton last week from SOG. Seems the chain is being prosecuted for selling equipment for the illegal growing of cannabis. Over 200 staff have now been prosecuted. No wonder they're looking for staff at all locations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 :smot: but what did they expect, even the adds they ran on TV advertised the stuff they're being prosecuted for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Their prices for stainless steel Aqua one heaters seem to be pretty reasonable. Perhaps they should advertise their aquarium gear more? I didn't find any autosiphons so will have to make my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I guesstimate that over 98% of all hydroponics shops business comes from people who grow cannabis. The other 2% will be fish people buying plant tubes and hydroton :lol: The issue wasn't that they were selling equipment used to grow cannabis, it's all legal until the cannabis seed is planted. The issue is that they were giving advice on how to grow cannabis and growing it themselves on site or at their homes. You can set up a grow tent perfect for growing cannabis if you want but until you introduce the cannabis seed or plant, no one can prove what you were going to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 you sound experienced in this :gigl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I reckon..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 :smot: but what did they expect, even the adds they ran on TV advertised the stuff they're being prosecuted for. The selection of pipes, I mean flower vases along with marijuana smell deodorizer sprays doesn't help much more. :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Guys :facepalm: I watch the news religiously and have seen a fair few documentaries about it. It's actually a really interesting debate but way off topic (don't tell Sophia) for this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 would "it" grow well in an aquaponics setup??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 would "it" grow well in an aquaponics setup??? If by "it" you mean basil and tomatoes then yeah I actually don't know anything about growing cannabis, just about the legal debate around it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 mmmmmmmmmm gow your own pasta sauce. hrmmm how would I go around building a basil planter onto a 45L tank..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 You could go rafting ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Deep water culture uses a polystyrene "raft" which has holes which hold the baskets containing the hydroton and rock wool for the plants. This floats on top of the nutrient solution. The roots shouldn't rot if the water is well aerated so normally there is an air bubbler below. So, I wonder if it's feasible to have a small raft in your tank with a few basil plants. You don't want the raft to cover the entire surface as that's your oxygen exchange occurs. Normally they say that the container has to be black to prevent algae growth but if you also had some plants in the tank, it might be enough to suppress the algae. The plants in the basket should out compete the immersed plants though. The other issue is whether the fish will eat the dangling roots ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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