Hydroponics medium?

[wifezilla]

Anyone doing hydroponics?

I am working on some "duckponics" using plants as a way to filter the duck's pond water (500 gallon plastic pond liner type). I also want to put a "bed" in line for growing human food after the water passes through some duckweed which will be fed back to the ducks.

I bought a large container, but I don't know what grow medium to put in it. I am mainly concerned with cost.

Any creative ideas?

Initial set up. Not near done but a start.

 

[Catalina]

Most people use perlite for hydroponics. You could use that or maybe sand?

 

[daisydukers]

Hydrotron rocks is what I use in my bubblers indoors...

Some people also use lava rock like you would put in a bbq...

Rockwool is also good but might be a bit expensive for you..and I dont know how it would work outside

I would probably just use some washed coarse pea gravel.

 

[GreenGoddess]

I have used hydroton. I love the look of it. I would think you might need as much help with filtration though as you can get since ducks poop so much.

 

[HiDelight]

my husband (who is a biological brianiac) says if you have even one duck there is not enough room with 500 gallons to make it biologically effective (he always wees on my parade and I do what I want anyway I am sorry) he said they will poop to much for it ever become biologically balanced you need a really large filter ..even larger than the pond ..

he did say that maybe if you researched Koi ponds to see what they are using and then double or triple that idea it might work for ducks

he just said the size is not great for the recycling system you want but the idea is fantastic ....

ok so me speaking

I think your pond is beautiful! what a great job! did you do it yourself?

 

[wifezilla]

Tell hubby that so far, the water is clear. My only issue is sediment. Since the duckweed died (froze...several times...LOL) I haven't gone ahead totally with my experiment. I will order more soon.

The ducks only take short dips in the water. They don't float all day like some ducks. Maybe that's why the pond is doing well

Hubby and I did put it in. We bought the liner from a neighbor who didn't use it more than a week and it sat in her yard after that for about 3 years...LOL

 

[HiDelight]

Tell hubby that so far, the water is clear. My only issue is sediment. Since the duckweed died (froze...several times...LOL) I haven't gone ahead totally with my experiment. I will order more soon.

The ducks only take short dips in the water. They don't float all day like some ducks. Maybe that's why the pond is doing well

Hubby and I did put it in. We bought the liner from a neighbor who didn't use it more than a week and it sat in her yard after that for about 3 years...LOL

awesome you guys! I think he thought the ducks hung out there more ..who knows what he thinks

I am using old iron bathtubs for ponds and we have one part of our yard with a tiny version like yours that is totally native plants

I love water areas in gardens

my neighbor has a duck pond to die for! it is in the midst of a finely detailed Japanese garden every year he has a mallard family and his water is spotless I know it comes from a spring however and runs off someplace constantly..he also has fish he never put in so somehow fish found there way into his pond

 

[RickF]

Sorry for resurrecting this older thread.. Just had to add one more suggestion.. When I was a kid, we had several DIY hydroponic setups using small plastic round wash basins (search Amazon for "round wash basin" for a pic) nested with the top basin having some wicking to suck up water+fertilizer from the bucket below. The only medium we used was 100% vermiculite and it worked great. I'm currently setting up 4 more of these for indoor use for growing lettuce and perhaps a few other plants -- we picked up the wash basins at the local Target for just over $4/ea -- they were "boots & barkley large litter box" made in the USA even. We should be setting these up tomorrow afternoon with some fresh seeds.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

I like to see old thread brought back because sometimes you wonder how things turned out.

 

[RickF]

Well.. Just a quick followup.. Apparently the wicking material I chose -- 100% cotton edging material I found at my local JoAnne's fabrics isn't working.. Either my holes are too small (the wicking is tight in the holes) or it just doesn't like the cotton -- I put 1/2 gallon of water in the bottom pan to be sucked up into the upper one by the wicking material and after >12 hours the water is 90% still in the bottom bucket.. I'm going to have to make some adjustments.. Ugg..

Ok.. Found a link indicating that I should probably have washed the wicking material prior to use as it improves capillary action.. Doh! I'll see if that helps..

Also, not sure if I need to pre-wet the media -- I just put it in dry.. Perhaps the initial wetting is required..