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Growasis Systems2022-05-04T07:19:04-06:00

Maximize Your Growth Potential

  • photo of an elevated deep water culture system in an indoor greenhouse
Photo of Growasis Raft System Logo featuring head of lettuce on floating lettuce raft

Growasis™ Deep Water Culture Systems are plant production troughs designed to be scalable, easy to assemble and highly productive. Growasis deep water culture systems are included in our complete Flourish Farm Systems or they can be added on to an existing aquaculture, hydroponic or aquaponic system. We offer three different models which can be scaled to best fit your space and growing needs. Deep water culture (DWC) is the growing of plants floating on top of nutrient and oxygen rich water. DWC has been the preferred method of growing in commercial aquaponic farms for decades.

Growasis™ Modular Deep Water Culture Systems

Elevate Your Growing!

Make transplant, harvest and pest management easier at waist height. Steel legs elevate your Growasis™ Deep Water Culture System to 31″ above the floor so you can harvest at a comfortable level. Troughs come complete with:

  • Growasis™ Modular Framing System
  • Insulation Panels for sidewalls and underlayment
  • Duraskrim 20mm liner
  • Food grade and pre-drilled 28 hole Beaver Lettuce Rafts
  • Endwall panels with heavy duty bulkhead fittings
  • Installation manual and planting guide

Available in 2′, 4′, 6′ or 8′ widths. Lengths begin at 8′ and can be expanded in 4′ increments.

Table of Growasis Elevated Production Estimates

Growasis™ Ground Level Troughs

Growasis™ Ground level deep water culture systems can be installed on any level and well compacted surface.  You can grow a tremendous amount of produce and know exactly how many plants per square foot your farm can grow. Troughs come complete with:

  • Growasis™ Modular Framing System
  • Insulation Panels for sidewalls and underlayment
  • Duraskrim 20mm liner
  • Food grade and pre-drilled 28 hole Beaver Lettuce Rafts
  • Endwall panels with heavy duty bulkhead fittings
  • Installation manual and planting guide

Available in 2′, 4′, 6′ or 8′ widths. Lengths begin at 8′ and can be expanded in 4′ increments.

Table of Growasis Ground Production Estimates

Double Your Production

Growasis™ Double Decker deep water culture systems allow you to double your production and really get growing in your farm. Troughs come complete with:

  • Growasis™ Modular Framing System
  • Insulation Panels for sidewalls and underlayment
  • LED lighting system – installs under the upper deck
  • Duraskrim 20mm liner
  • Food grade and pre-drilled 28 hole Beaver Lettuce Rafts
  • Endwall panels with heavy duty bulkhead fittings
  • Installation manual and planting guide

Currently available in 2′ or 4′ widths. Lengths begin at 8′ and can be expanded in 4′ increments.

Table of Growasis Double Decker Production Estimates

Growasis Components & Features

Growasis™ Modular Framing System


Our Growasis™ modular framing system is a lightweight tubular metal framing system that easily connects together with the supplied hex key. There are no sharp exposed metal edges anywhere on our deep water culture systems. The 1″ EMT pipe is pre-cut in our shop to match the frame style and dimensions you choose when you order. No metal cutting, welding or driving of self tapping screws is required to assemble our frames. Powder coated connector fittings and pipe are used only in areas of the frame that are visible or in contact with the ground.

Beaver Plastics Floating Lettuce Rafts


All of our Growasis deep water culture systems use Beaver Plastics Lettuce Rafts which we have been using successfully for years in our farms. Beaver raft boards are made from recycled food grade resins using Sealed Surface Technology® to resist water penetration and provide a smooth durable surface for long-term plant production. Beaver boards measure 2′ x 4′ and come with pre-cut tapered holes that fit our seedling plugs perfectly.

Important: We do not recommend purchasing and using insulation boards in food production systems. You will have to drill all of the holes which is a huge waste of time and money and a big mess for you to deal with. Insulation panels are also not designed or approved for use in food production. 

Duraskrim Liner


All Growasis™ Deep water culture systems come with Duraskrim Liner ® R20WW consisting of virgin outer layers of white high-strength polyethylene film laminated together with a black layer of molten polyethylene.

The liner is installed with a slight radius curve along the base edge to diminish outward pressure on the sidewalls. Liner is sized to come down the outside of the frame providing a smooth and clean finish.

Liner is fastened to the frame with white PVC liner clips that snap down on top of the liner connecting it securely to the tubular frame. The top rail of the trough has a smooth rounded finish. No hard or sharp edges, staples or other fasteners are required.

Aeration Systems


Growasis™ deep water culture systems come with a flexible aeration ring which creates a single loop of air diffusers placed every 4′ along both sides of the trough. The aeration tubing is weighted so it stays down at the bottom of the trough where it belongs. The aeration ring connects to a single bulkhead installed in the end wall panel. An ultra quiet Alita linear air pump connects to the bulkhead outside of the trough to provide constant aeration to your plants. Aeration systems are carefully sized to ensure proper airflow and pressure to the air diffusers.

Growasis™ Growlight Frame


Growasis 4 x 12′ Double Decker with Aquabundance 3 Bed System

The Growasis™ Elevated and Double Decker deep water culture systems have the option to add our powder coated metal light rack kit which integrates seamlessly into the Growasis™ modular framing system. The metal frame can also serve as a trellis to support vining crops.

Growasis™ Modular Framing System


Our Growasis™ modular framing system is a lightweight tubular metal framing system that easily connects together with the supplied hex key and eyebolts. There are no sharp exposed metal edges anywhere on our deep water culture systems. The 1″ EMT pipe is pre-cut in our shop to match the frame style and dimensions you choose when you order. No metal cutting, welding or driving of self tapping screws is required to assemble our frames. Powder coated connector fittings and pipe are used only in areas of the frame that are visible or in contact with the ground.

Beaver Plastics Floating Lettuce Rafts


All of our Growasis deep water culture systems use Beaver Plastics Lettuce Rafts which we have been using successfully for years in our farms. Beaver boards are made from recycled food grade resins using Sealed Surface Technology® to resist water penetration and provide a smooth durable surface for long-term plant production. Beaver boards measure 2′ x 4′ and come with pre-cut tapered holes that fit our seedling plugs perfectly.

Important: We do not recommend purchasing and using insulation boards in food production systems. You will have to drill all of the holes which is a huge waste of time and money and a big mess for you to deal with. Insulation panels are also not designed or approved for use in food production. 

Duraskrim Liner


All Growasis™ deep water culture systems come with Duraskrim Liner ® R20WW consisting of virgin outer layers of white high-strength polyethylene film laminated together with a black layer of molten polyethylene.

The liner is installed with a slight radius curve along the base edge to diminish outward pressure on the sidewalls. Liner is sized to come down the outside of the frame providing a smooth and clean finish.

Liner is fastened to the frame with white PVC liner clips that snap down on top of the liner connecting it securely to the tubular frame. The top rail of the trough has a smooth rounded finish. No hard or sharp edges, staples or other fasteners are required.

Aeration Systems


Growasis™ deep water culture systems come with a flexible aeration ring which creates a single loop of air diffusers placed every 4′ along both sides of the trough. The aeration tubing is weighted so it stays down at the bottom of the trough where it belongs. The aeration ring connects to a single bulkhead installed in the end wall panel. An ultra quiet Alita linear air pump connects to the bulkhead outside of the trough to provide constant aeration to your plants. Aeration systems are carefully sized to ensure proper airflow and pressure to the air diffusers.

Growasis™ Growlight Frame


Growasis 4 x 12′ Double Decker with Aquabundance 3 Bed System

The Growasis™ Elevated and Double Decker deep water culture systems have the option to add our powder coated metal light rack kit which integrates seamlessly into the Growasis™ modular framing system. The metal frame can also serve as a trellis to support vining crops.

Growasis™ Deep Water Culture Systems FAQ’s

How much can my Growasis Modular Raft System Grow?2022-02-03T12:51:18-07:00

This will depend on a variety of factors such as available light, nutrients, humidity, water and air temps, pH, oxygen and air flow to name a few! Each Growasis product page has production tables showing estimates of annual and weekly plants based upon the size of the system. For maximum production we recommend seeding, transplanting and harvesting on a consistent basis, The frequency of these activities will depend on the environmental factors noted above along with other potential sales, distribution and market factors.

 

 

 

 

Why Local Pickup?2019-03-03T20:41:13-07:00

Short Answer: Some Growasis systems require 3/4″ thick plywood and/or foam insulation panels. These items are not practical to ship.

In the case of Growasis Elevated or Double Decker systems, you will need to pick up one or more 3/4″ x 4′ x 8′ sheets of OSB plywood for the liner support. Only use OSB plywood at the recommended thickness or greater to prevent sagging and potential breakage due to the water weight. The number of boards you need will be indicated by the dimensions you input into the design calculator on each Growasis product page.

Should you require insulation panels for your trough use only 1″ x 4′ x 8′ standard foam board insulation.

Will I need any special tools or cutting equipment?2019-03-03T14:39:05-07:00

Short answer: It depends on which Growasis you choose and the length of the system.

The tools you might need are (Circular Saw, Utility knife)

Our Growasis elevated and double decker systems require you to purchase 3/4″ OSB plywood paneling to support the liner and water weight. Modular systems starting at 8′ lengths and increasing by 8′ lengths (8′, 16′ 24’…) will not require any cross cuts of the plywood. However, modular raft systems starting at 12′ and increasing by 8′ lengths (12′, 20′, 28’…) will require one of the panels to be cut as a 4×4′ section. When you pickup your plywood check with your local supplier (ie Home Depot or Lowes) as they may provide free cuts on site so you don’t have to.

Our 2′ wide Growasis Elevated Raft Systems will require a 2′ wide piece of plywood. In this case a rip cut lengthwise through the plywood will be required. Again check with your local supplier. Otherwise any plywood cuts can be performed with a circular saw following the directions and equipment safety recommendations.

For Growasis Ground Level Systems we strongly recommend laying full size rigid insulation panels (1″ x 4′ x 8′) on the ground between the framing system. This will help to keep your water from losing valuable heat into the ground below. For 8′ wide troughs, the frame is designed to allow for two full size sheets to fit between each 8′ cross bar support without needing to cut the insulation panels.

You also have the option to add 1″ insulation panels into the sidewalls between the vertical support pipes. These panels can be cut to fit with a utility knife according to the directions. This must be done before installation of the liner.

How much is shipping?2018-12-18T06:32:44-07:00

That depends on the size of your Growasis Floating Plant System. When you place your order we will contact you with a freight estimate to your shipping address.

Can I install the Growasis System myself?2018-12-18T04:56:23-07:00

Absolutely!

We’ve made the framing system super easy to install. You can even move the frame around (before water is in) to get it positioned exactly where you want it. We have an installation video and manual to guide you through the process. All pipes are pre-cut and labeled so you know how to fit everything together. The metal fittings secure to the pipes with a simple hex key (supplied) or you can use a drill with a 5/16″ hex bit to make it go even faster. Should you be using insulation panels for the sidewalls you will need to cut those to fit between the pipes following the directions.

The Duraskrim liner installs over the framing system. Depending on the size of your trough it may be helpful to have some extra hands for the liner install so you can carefully guide and position the liner onto the frame. Once the liner is installed (following the supplied directions) you can insert the bulkhead fittings through the liner and endwall panel(s).

Depending on the size of the Growasis Plant System you purchased, you can have yours built and ready to fill with water in less than an hour. As always, we are here to help and want to make sure your installation goes smoothly. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.

 

What are the benefits of Deep Water Culture?2018-12-18T04:41:17-07:00

There are a lot of ways to grow crops so why grow in deep water?

  • Plants don’t die when the power goes out – This cannot be claimed with any vertical or NFT based growing system. In our DWC troughs, plant roots are constantly submerged in nutrient rich water staying hydrated even during an extended power loss or pump failure.
  • Precise crop spacing – We use Beaver Plastics food grade lettuce rafts boards that have evenly spaced, pre cut and tapered holes for planting seedlings. For example, a 28 hole raft board will allow you to plant up to 3.5 plants per sq ft. This is important particularly for commercial growers who are producing specific quantities for market. Production and financial metrics can be easily determined. Plant spacing can be modified depending on the type of crops.  
  • Thermal Mass and Stability – Water is the best source of thermal mass. In other words, it retains heat extremely well compared to other materials. The large volume of water in a Growasis Floating Raft System provides greater buffering capacity and stability in water temperature, pH and other water quality parameters. A large volume of water can also help to passively heat and cool your growing environment.
  • Easy Planting and Harvesting – Crops can easily be transplanted from a nursery directly into the raft boards. Harvesting can be done right on the raft boards at the trough or the raft boards can be picked up and moved to a convenient height and location for harvesting. Our Growasis elevated systems make it even easier by being conveniently positioned at waist height. 
  • Proven Technology and Results – Deep water culture growing has been around for decades and has been proven as an excellent growing method through extensive research and commercial applications. Our farms have used deep water growing systems for years and they have been the preferred growing method among all of our farmers producing thousands of crops every week.    
How do Growasis Modular Raft Systems compare with others?2019-03-03T15:00:06-07:00

There are a few other DWC systems on the market and usually they are sold as part of a complete farm package. Here are a few features of other systems to watch out for and how ours compare.

The Framing System – Other DWC troughs on the market use way too much expensive metal framing and fittings then are necessary. This increases the cost and complexity of your troughs. In addition, you have to fasten the framing system together with self tapping screws which requires an impact driver and leaves metal shards everywhere.  In some DWC framing systems the sharp metal frame edges are fully exposed on the outside of the trough showing the insulation panels. This is very unsightly and you could easily cut yourself when working along side the troughs.

Growasis troughs have no sharp edges, no cutting or drilling and no visible insulation boards.

Growasis Floating Plant System

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raft Boards

Other DWC systems on the market require you to purchase your own insulation panels to be used as floating plant rafts. There are so many things wrong with this it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s a quick bullet list of issues.

  • Manufacturers of insulation panels (like Dow) have publicly discouraged the use of insulation boards for plant or food production yet suppliers continue to promote their use.
  • Pink or blue insulation boards are not ideal as they do not reflect the light back to the plants as the white boards do. There are suppliers who even recommend painting the insulation boards so they can be white. This practice is a waste of time and now you have latex paint peeling off your boards and getting into your food production system. Not good…
  • When using insulation boards you have to not only cut all the boards but then you have to drill potentially thousands of little holes which creates a huge mess and is extremely labor intensive! This is arguably one of the worst things we’ve ever had to do in our early years in aquaponics. Why drill holes in insulation boards when there is an affordable food grade and pre-drilled solution already out there?

EPDM pond liner

Some suppliers also use heavy duty 45mm black EPDM pond liner for their troughs. This type of liner is extremely heavy and difficult to work with compared to the light weight 20mm structurally reinforced DuraSkrim liner. EPDM is great for lining ponds because it stretches and forms well to uneven surfaces but that feature as actually a drawback in DWC applications. Duraskrim liner is also white which is a good thing because it allows you to easily see your airstones and any accumulation of detritus in your troughs. EPDM is also a petroleum based product which is not recommended in food production applications.

Only virgin resins are used in the production of the DuraSkrim. All resins used in the food contact layer are FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 (c) 3.2 compliant.  “Dura-skrim has been approved as a material in organic farming.”

Jeff Evard
Certification Manager
Ecocert ICO LLC

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