Monitoring Aquaponic Grow Bed Water Levels

With ebb and flow water systems, it is useful to monitor your water level under the surface of your grow media.  This is a simple but effective method do that.

As you are filling media into your bed, put a length of 1.5" PVC pipe in the bed vertically in the media.  Allow the top to protrude above the media surface by a good 2 inches (5cm) at least.  If you are using fine media, it would be good to attach some fiberglass screening with plastic lock ties at the bottom of the pipe.

Now make the indicator using a straw and a piece of styrofoam that is smaller than the diameter of the PVC pipe.  Say about 1.5cm in width.

 Picture showing styrofoam with straw embedded.  Note the graduations marked on the straw.  This is long because I use deep grow beds in my setup.

Picture showing the level meter in operation.  Water filling the grow bed is causing the indicator to rise.