The aquaponics system creates an ecosystem for plants, bacteria, and fish, requiring supply requirements to enhance their growth and development. Water pumps deliver such nutrients into the aquaponics while removing the harmful materials that endanger such species. Water pumps are critical in the functioning of aquaponic systems and, therefore, vital to choose the right one. Various pump characteristics determine their suitability in different locations calling for an expert decision. This article will help you learn how to choose the right water pump for aquaponics.
Aquaponics brings about numerous benefits to farmers and the planet. Such includes water efficiency with no soil or chemicals used. Water acts as the means of pumping required nutrients while removing the excretes that accumulate at the bottom, endangering the species. There is the harvesting of fish and plants from one source. Growing plants in different areas from nurturing aquaponic animals creates less waste with minimal labor and maintenance. Before we get into the details, we’d like to recommend the following water pump as a fit-for-all choice. It’s even worth considering for any fish tank, along with an air pump of course.
Aquaponics System Flow Rate
It is the overall rate at which the pump pushes water from the system while circulating it effectively and efficiently. Aquaponics requires an adequate water flow measured by gallons per hour through the system. When looking for the right pump for aquaponics, such units help make the right choice. It has a general principle of recirculating all water in two hours. It denotes that with 500 gallons of water, it should take 250 GPH as the flow rate. The gallon per hour conversion chart aids in the determination of the flow rate. Such flow rate is critical in ensuring the right and continuous water flow to aquaponics while enhancing overall ecosystem growth.
Head height and discharge piping restrictions affect the water pump’s rate. Head height covers the total distance between the water surface of the housed pipe to the highest point before reaching the critical area. Higher water columns in a tube make it harder to push it out due to increased column weight. It is, therefore, harder to pump water out of the aquaponic while it has increased water columns.
On the other hand, Restriction causes pump inefficiency with no production of the desired flow rate. Such includes pump size, which denotes that small piping restricts water flow. Connecting similar water pipes and fittings is advisable to enhance a reasonable water flow rate. Blocked inlets cause restrictions on pushing water in and out. Debris mainly blocks the area, which calls for frequent cleaning.
Aquaponics System Pump Curve
It’s advisable to read the pump curve to select the most appropriate one. One can obtain such information from the manufacturer’s datasheet. Online search is also another good source of such information. Upon determining the best pump to use, the next is to look at the left axis. Its calculation matters when choosing the head height while drawing a line to the right side. Working in an area between two pump lines calls for moving to the right to have the lowest recycling time. Oversized pumps are also another choice to increase the total pumped water than without having such water.
Amount of Pumped Water
Factors such as pump length give various amounts of pumped water into the aquaponics. Choosing the right pump requires understanding how much water is pumped per hour and the most significant height for that pumping. More vital pumps are the best choice due to the addition of different valves slowed down. Oil-free pumps enhance fish safety due to their lack of copper exposure. Stainless steel impeller has long functioned with easier cleaning, benefiting the user.
Pump Placement
To ensure optimal performance in your aquaponics system, it’s essential to select a water pump that fits the height requirements and installation needs, such as those offered by YoutubeStorm. This choice not only enhances efficiency but also helps save money and energy.
Power Consumption
It’s advantageous to have low power usage in aquaponics. Understanding the electrical consumption of the pump in terms of wattage used is critical when choosing the right one. Aquaponics has electricity costs despite being a cost-efficient method. It’s crucial to have a pump with minor energy consumption by looking at its wattage at the leaflet instruction. It aids in avoiding consuming increased electricity costs, which one can as well save. Consistent running of the pump requires less power consumption to prevent incurring highly related costs. Lower wattage denotes reduced consumption, meaning less money in settling energy bills.
Aquaponics System Head Height
It is likely to have different aquaponic systems with varying levels of the fish tank and grow bed. The distance between the fish tank water level and the grow bed describes the head height. It requires making such distance measurements using rulers or a tape measure. The larger the head’s location, the more energy is needed to pump the water. Therefore, keeping the head at a minimum level is advisable to enhance its overall efficiency. In other instances, fish tank water level and grow bed level share the same level with no head, meaning no energy is required to pump the water. It is advisable to have an aquaponic system with minimum head height to reduce the power for pumping the needed moisture.
Proper water pumps efficiently transport water from snd out of the fish tank. It calls for the determination of the gallons per hour, head height measurement, and the combination of such elements. There are different water pump types, including submersible, with limitations on the number of gallons. Its cooling off comes in line with submerging into the water.
Aquaponics System: Determining The Proper Water Pump Fitting
In the determination of the proper water pump fitting for an aquaponic system, there are certain things to follow.
- Gallons per hour determination
Its determination gives a clear answer about the amount of water pumped within an hour
- Head height measurement
Such requires determining the distance lying beneath the two levels, with a larger one denoting increased energy
- GPH and head height combination
The two factors combine to give the correct aquaponics pump size.
Here’s a thing you might need to better your aquaponics system: LaMotte Aquaponics Test Kit
Aquaponics system has become quote popular recently. It is a combination of the aqua culture and a modernist hydroponic. What aqua culture and hydroponic system mean has to do with living alongside various sea creatures and plants and helping them develop. Aqua + ponic system makes the sea plants provide themselves with enough food that they get from the excretion sea creatures living in the same area with them. This kit offers those interested in such topics hands on experience.
They can freely observe each sea creature or plant living in the same area. It offers testing the variety of methods using different substances. You can perform up to 50 test per substance. It comes with sufficient laboratory equipment, reagents, tools and step by step tutorials. Everything comes in a foam wrapped box you can carry with you with maximum comfortability. What’s more, you can perform these tests in fresh or salt water.
How to Choose the Right Water Pump in Aquaponics System: Conclusion
Water pumps give the desired height of the aquaponic system, especially with the vertical one requiring lifting of the fish from the tank below. It is, therefore, the heart of the entire system due to the continuous supply of essential requirements. All organisms depending on water pumps will likely suffer immediately upon its failure. Having the right water pump for aquaponics gives one peace of mind while not necessarily attending to it at all times. Now that you know to choose the right water pump in aquaponics, you’re all set. You may want to ensure the quality of the water as well. If you want to test the water for aquaponics, we recommend the following water test kit:
