Mespe's 50 Gallon Aquarium setup in Progress

[mespe]

mespe you need a sump between your lettuce troughs and the FT to remove the solids before the water gets to the lettuce.

I thought the lettuce roots were part of the bio-filtration, catching some of the solids.

[davidstcldfl]

If I had to describe the work of a bio-filter, I would say ....it does help to remove 'some' solids, and, it gives surface area for the bacteria to live on.

So you are correct saying they are 'part of' the bio-filter. The roots end up giving a place for bacteria to live.

In NFT and DWC/raft sytems, it's best to keep the solids away from the roots. Clean roots seem to produce healthier plants.
Seems odd, when you think about plants in 'dirt'....it doesn't seem like their roots are 'clean'....

[cedarswamp]

mespe you need a sump between your lettuce troughs and the FT to remove the solids before the water gets to the lettuce.

I thought the lettuce roots were part of the bio-filtration, catching some of the solids.

With solids on your roots you create an anerobic condition where the root can not get enough oxygen and are then prone to root rot.

[mespe]

mespe you need a sump between your lettuce troughs and the FT to remove the solids before the water gets to the lettuce.

I thought the lettuce roots were part of the bio-filtration, catching some of the solids.

With solids on your roots you create an anerobic condition where the root can not get enough oxygen and are then prone to root rot.

I didn't think this held true for lettuce, as lettuce is grown on floats in water. Maybe the fact that I've been having to pull the lettuce out of the trough daily to keep it from over flowing has something to do with all this,,,

[JCO]

I didn't think this held true for lettuce, as lettuce is grown on floats in water. Maybe the fact that I've been having to pull the lettuce out of the trough daily to keep it from over flowing has something to do with all this,,,

Why would you have to pull the lettuce out of the trough daily to keep it (WHAT???) from overflowing??? Please explain how you have your raft system set up. It would be great to see some photos of it. Are you using a raft system or and NFT? Please add photos.

[mespe]

Why would you have to pull the lettuce out of the trough daily to keep it (WHAT???) from overflowing??? Please explain how you have your raft system set up. It would be great to see some photos of it. Are you using a raft system or and NFT? Please add photos.

download/file.php?id=1002&mode=view

[JCO]

You are using an NFT system and you definately have to have super .. SUPER ... clean water flowing through those pipes and no light entering them to keep them from clogging and/or forming alage

[mespe]

Well I upset my bees last night, four of them got the better of me,,, they've been so docile, maybe they're mad at me for stealing some honey,,,

[mespe]

Filled the FT up with water from the sump. added some well water and took my son fishing. we caught 6 blue gill. Threw them in the FT, fired up the pump. Now I got to figure out a better way to toggle between the two GB's. I refuse to plug in anything other than the pump, so it's got to switch GBs from the water draining.

[keith_r]

good to see you back up and running!