My half-barrel system provided adequate depth for the plants to establish deep roots, insulated from the summer heat, and my very conservative growbed to tank volume ratio of 1:2 provided ample nutrients to the roots.
With only one pump and three barrel-halves, I connected all the barrels via PVC pipe with one siphon at the opposite end from which the water entered the barrels. Unfortunately, the piping connecting the barrels was 1 to 1.5 inches above the bottom of the barrel half. This meant that only the barrel with the siphon could drain completely – the others would have standing water below the connecting pipes.
Once the cucumber and squash roots reached the standing water, they plants began to weaken. This culminated in root rot that brought the once thriving plants to an early demise.
Additionally, I found that my mechanical timers did not keep reliable time. I had set the pump flow for 15 minutes, which would provide enough water to just start the siphon. Unfortunately, I frequently found that the timer cut short, so the siphon didn’t start, leaving the roots soaking for far too long. To circumvent this, I kept the pump running continuously. With no time for the roots and shale to dry out between cycles, it probably exacerbated the root rot problem.
To avoid these problems next year, I plan to do the following:
- Put a drain in the bottom of each barrel
- Connect the drains to a single siphon outside the barrels
- Pump water in through the bottom of the siphon system. If the timer cuts short, water can drain back to the tank through the pump
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| Planned System Design Outdoor Season 2012 |
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| Planned Siphon System Design for Outdoor Season 2012 |
I will also swap out the fish pond for an IBC tote to take up less space. Additionally, I may move the location of the aquaponics, as it only gets full sun between 9am and 3pm.
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