need ideas for keeping inground FT water level stable

SuperVeg

rsevs3 wrote:

The flood and drain seemed to have slightly better results in the BYAP test also.

Oh really? I thought the CF one was better but I really didn't have a clue. The thread is so long and I couldn't find anywhere that specifically said.
I thought EB was indicating that CF had the better growth... ?

RupertofOZ

I think everyone was surprised by the results for CF Superveg... whereas, everyone knew how well timed F&D performed...

Pretty much neck and neck...

SuperVeg

OK, thanks for clarifying :thumbleft:

rsevs3

Yep they were really close. Although i think F&D wins by being so much more simple. As long as the pump keeps running, pipes stay clear and you dont overfill then you are all good

PTJeff

SuperVeg wrote:

So what are peoples main reasons for not using CF ?

I want my fish tank below ground to look like a pond, so CF wouldn't work.

I guess the main reason is that if the power goes down, the draining of the 4+ beds would flood the fish tank, where as if i f/d one at a time and the power goes, one bed draining into the fish tank would have less consequences.

I guess my next problem to solve is when using a f/d with a bell siphon and the power does go out, how to drain the bed so the plants dont sit with wet feet?

Back to rsearching the forum and reading the books.

Jeffrey

SuperVeg

PTJeff wrote:

SuperVeg wrote:

So what are peoples main reasons for not using CF ?

I want my fish tank below ground to look like a pond, so CF wouldn't work.

Why not ?

Quote:

I guess the main reason is that if the power goes down, the draining of the 4+ beds would flood the fish tank, where as if i f/d one at a time and the power goes, one bed draining into the fish tank would have less consequences.

I guess my next problem to solve is when using a f/d with a bell siphon and the power does go out, how to drain the bed so the plants dont sit with wet feet?

Back to rsearching the forum and reading the books.

Jeffrey

Don't you just put a small hole in the base of your standpipe so that it will slowly drain the GB ?

EDIT: drain to the FT sorry...

PTJeff

SuperVeg,
Here is where my confusion starts...I thought the CF method of keeping a constant height in fish tank was to have an overflow pipe in fish tank to drain into grow beds, then the beds drain into sump and then pump back into fishtank.
Doesnt this have to be all downhill? then pump back uphill to fishtank?

Jeffrey

SuperVeg

No, the CF means Constant Flood in the grow bed, as opposed to F&D (flood and drain) in the grow bed.
So the stand pipe is in the grow bed, draining back to the fishtank.

scotty435

PTJeff wrote:

SuperVeg,
Here is where my confusion starts...I thought the CF method of keeping a constant height in fish tank was to have an overflow pipe in fish tank to drain into grow beds, then the beds drain into sump and then pump back into fishtank.
Doesnt this have to be all downhill? then pump back uphill to fishtank?

Jeffrey

You can run CF with the pump in the FT which is located below the growbed. Water is pumped to the GB and drains to the FT.

or

You can run CF with the FT above the growbed. The FT is draining by gravity into the growbed which then drains into a sump tank where the pump is located. Water is pumped back to the FT creating a continuous cycle.

SuperVeg

That's how I should have explained

earthbound

If you're worried about overflowing when the power goes out then perhaps you are best having standpipes without drain holes, that way the water won't drain out of the beds, and if it's only stagnant when the power goes out that should be ok, it's not too often or long..

SuperVeg

how long is too long do you think EB ?

johnra

PTJeff - I have a fish pond in ground. GB's are higher, about one meter. I will be running CF. I have standpipes with NO small hole for drainage. If I think the power will be out too long I can siphon off the water to the ground using a small hose inserted into the standpipe guards. One can also install emergency drains on GB's for such a problem. Johnra

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