Optimize System Efficiency
Right-Size Beds to Your Fish and Flow
Grow bed volume should match both your fish stocking and your delivered flow. Light-demand plants (leafy greens) thrive with smaller bed:tank ratios, while fruiting crops benefit from larger beds that buffer nutrients and support deeper roots.
Depth, Media, and Oxygenation
A bed depth around 25–30 cm (10–12″) balances root support and biofiltration. Porous media like expanded clay reduces weight and improves oxygenation; heavier gravel is cheaper but increases pump work if undersized.
Flow & HRT (Hydraulic Retention Time)
Constant-flow systems often perform well when water spends a few minutes in the media. If HRT is too short, bacteria contact time drops; if it’s very long, you may be under-circulating. Tune flow or pipe size to hit your target range.
Plumbing for Lower Head Loss
- Upsize pipe diameter to reduce friction and save energy.
- Minimize sharp 90° turns; use 45° where possible.
- Keep runs short and manifolds balanced for even distribution.
Iterate Safely
Increase bed volume or flow gradually and observe plant response, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia/nitrite levels. Log changes so you can correlate settings with results.
Disclaimer
These calculations are estimates intended for planning. Verify against your species, climate, and actual test readings.
