Knowledgebase
Welcome to the BTL Knowledgebase. Ever since we started lining ponds, creating covers, and helping people with their projects, we've gotten asked a lot of questions. Many of these questions are repeatedly asked, so we put together the BTL knowledgebase to help answer any questions you had about a particular subject. We are adding new questions every month, so continue to check back often!
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How much do aquaponics farmers make?
This depends on the scale of the aquaponics system, although an average successful commercial venture can expect to make around $50,000 a year.
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What are the benefits of aquaponics?
Aquaponics imitates a natural ecosystem, reducing your water footprint and replacing many of the nutrients or additives that are required in soil-based agriculture.
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Can you eat the fish from aquaponics?
Absolutely! As long as the fish you're growing are meant to be eaten.
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What does aquaponics mean?
Aquaponics refers to a system of agriculture that capitalizes on the symbiosis between fish and plants living in the same manufactured ecosystem.
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Who Can Help Me Figure Out the Best Turbidity Control for my Site?
A stormwater consultant will be able to help you design your turbidity control solution, as well as take specific measurements of the area and it's conditions.
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Are There Different Ways to Anchor a Silt Curtain?
Yes, anchoring your silt curtain will change depending on where your anchors are attached, as well as what kind of anchor you use.
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When Should the Turbidity Curtain be Installed?
Turbidity curtains should always be installed at the beginning of any project, before any possibility of sediment incursion exists.
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What's the Best Way to Remove a Turbidity Curtain?
It's best to remove any built-up silt and install the new curtain before removing your old one, as this will prevent any silt from escaping.
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How Often Should I Remove the Silt From the Turbidity Curtains?
Removal is generally avoided, as this process discharges excess particles itself; however, if built-up sediment is toxic, or preventing the curtain from working, removing the silt may be required.
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My Construction Site is on Land. Why Do I Need Floating Silt Curtains?
If your project is even slightly uphill from nearby water, runoff and natural erosion will carry loose sediment into the local waterway.
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Can I Select and Install a Turbidity Curtain On My Own?
In calm waters where you expect to use a small curtain or simple design, you can absolutely install your own turbidity curtain with the right tools.
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Why Do Some Silt Curtains Allow Water Through and Some Don't?
Permeable silt curtains are best in places where you’re expecting a lot of waves or a strong current, as the ability to allow water to pass through lessens the chance of the floats being submerged under water.
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What is a Type 3 Turbidity Curtain?
Type 3 DOT turbidity curtains are the heaviest duty turbidity curtain recognized by the Department of Transportation, mostly found in rougher conditions with faster waves and stronger currents.
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What is a Type 1 Turbidity Curtain?
A Type 1 DOT turbidity curtain is designed for calm or “Type 1” conditions, where currents, waves, and wind are minimal.
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What is a Type 2 Turbidity Curtain?
Type 2 turbidity curtains are more resilient than their Type 1 counterparts, found in conditions with moderate wind, waves, or currents
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Where Are Floating Silt Curtains Used?
You’ll usually see floating silt curtains in water near or around construction or urban sites, meant to protect the local waterway from runoff solids, particles, and sediment like clay or silt.
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How Can I Tell if My Turbidity Curtain is Working Properly?
Turbidity can usually be fairly obvious to the bare eye, as highly turbid water will be murky and unclear; however, you can also use a nephelometer to get specific turbidity measurments if need be.
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What Conditions Require Using a Turbidity Barrier?
You'll want to use a turbidity barrier when your project is close enough to a waterway that erosion and runoff sediment may be a concern.
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Can I Use Turbidity Curtains in my Dredging Project?
Turbidity curtains are an excellent solution for minimizing the environmental impact that dredging can have on local waterways.
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Why Are Turbidity Curtains Important for the Environment?
A sudden increase in turbidity, or the measure of how scattered light becomes by loose sediment and particles in the water, can have a major negative effect on marine life, plants, and entire ecosystems.
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What's the Widest Panel Available in Turbidity Curtains?
Specific measurements can be made to order for your particular project needs, however the industry standard is usually around 5 feet deep and from 50 to 100 feet wide
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Is a Floating Baffle the Same as a Floating Turbidity Curtain?
A floating baffle is very similar to a turbidity curtain; although it is particularly meant to redirect the flow of water, while turbidity curtains are meant to settle sediment.
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How Much Does it Cost to Install a Silt Curtain?
Depending on your project size, factors like waves, currents, and wind, and the type of curtain you’re using: you can expect to pay between $400 and $800 for a 50 foot section to be installed.
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What's the Difference Between a Turbidity Boom and a Curtain?
A boom has a much shorter skirt that hangs into the water, meant for catching particles closer to the surface of the water; while a turbidity curtain is focused on filtering silt beneath the water’s surface, requiring a longer skirt.
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