Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I finally finished constructing my controller boxes.
Soon to be hooked up to my system.

Box 1- Main control
- Microprocessor (picaxe ) controlled sequential pump timer.
- 240V interface
- Primary air pump
- Battery charger
- Various LED indicators an audio low water alarm
- Water temp LCD display

Box 2- Backup air
- Mains fail relay
- 12V to 240V inverter
- backup air pump
- LED indicators and mains fail alarm
- Battery volt LCD display

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My system - Updated 24th August 2008
Less lawn, more grow beds !

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My New Commercial System - viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6616
My Work - http://www.goldfieldsmc.com.au

By almighty, very professionally looking job,
had to look up your Occ. seems you were left with plenty spares from jobs

Is it one of the 18X modules, CHI030 or 35?
Never used any of them, make them from the stripboard as needed.
Not as neat but cheaper.

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SS barrels, Blue Barrel propagator,
Entre la branche et la racine, il y a eu le temps... Proverbe chinois

Yep, it is a Pixaxe 18X on a Revolution CHI-030 project board.
The board certainly makes it neat and easy for a first time picaxe project.
I've got a better photo of it here.
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 55#p139455

The Rittal boxes were indeed surplus from work, they needed a bit of work but they do make for a neat job.

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My system - Updated 24th August 2008
Less lawn, more grow beds !

apart from the Rittal boxes what sort of cost to put that together? I have not done much electronics since uni (~15 years ago).

I'm too scared to work out how much it all cost.
All I know, is there are a few RED bills on the fridge that won't get paid for a while.
Jaycar and my electrical wholesaler have done well.

Whatever it cost, I see it as insurance.
My old setup consisted of cheap mechanical timers, power boards in plastic bags, air pumps under Tupperware containers and a mess of extension cords.
- It was all wrong! a HSM waiting to happen.

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My system - Updated 24th August 2008
Less lawn, more grow beds !

yeah I agree, best not to think too hard about cost somethime. Its looks awesome though. I will eventually be putting in a 4500L system at my inlaws that is about 1hr away so I want make things as fool proof as possible with some backups. My biggest problem would be putting the 240V interface box together as I am not a sparky.

Very nice looking backup set up.

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Aquaponic Lynx
TCLynx Bought The Farm
Old Main System
Old 300 gallon System

Yay, it all works
-One pump per growbed. Sequentially controlled with a microprocessor.
-Battery backed air pump

No more;
-Low tides in fish tanks
-Fiddling around with little plastic tab things on timers
-worrying what will happen if the mains fails

Just plug in the laptop, set and forget

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My system - Updated 24th August 2008
Less lawn, more grow beds !

OK - Time for the big picture..
System overview
Flood and drain, with standpipes, timers and sump.
One pump per growbed, running sequentially.
Timing by micro controller

Fish tanks
5 x 500L green bins
= 2500L total
Connected by 25mm manifold - too small!
Equalisation helped with 32mm U siphons
-any tank may be isolated from system if need be.

Grow beds
2 x 500L cool EB GB's
1 x 560L circular galv tanks (2 x 280L) lined with pond liner
= 1560L total
Filled with 14mm blue metal (gravel) on 50mm RHS stands

Sump
1 x 500L green bin (3/4 buried)

Pumps
3 x Laguna 3500 Powerjet (55W 3700lph) - GB pumps - sequentially time switched
1 x Easypump 300AV (300W 6600lph) -Sump pump on float switch
1 x cheap and nasty - Backup in sump on float switch

Air
1 x Hailea ACO-328 - (55W 70lpm) - Main - running continuously
1 x Hailea ACO-328 - (55W 70lpm) - Backup - mains fail relay and 150W inverter

Fish
- 40, nearly plate sized trout
- 50, tiny SP's
- a few goldies

Control and monitoringl for the geeks!
Picaxe 18X on revolution CHI-030 project board.
- 240V AC control with Jaycar SY-4065 relays.
- manual override switches for pump control
- Low water vertical float switch
- Heart beat, pump (1-3) ON, low water and mains fail LED's
- Low water and mains fail piezo buzzer
- Battery volt and water temp LCD display

Yep, I know...
All very over top, more complicated and expensive than it should have been.
However, it has kept a single bloke, busy and well fed for the past twelve months.
I'm sure it will all pay off in the long run and works great!

If (when) I to do it all again - Would I do it like this?
NO !

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My system - Updated 24th August 2008
Less lawn, more grow beds !

more pics...

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My system - Updated 24th August 2008
Less lawn, more grow beds !

.

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My system - Updated 24th August 2008
Less lawn, more grow beds !

Nice, very nice oh hell it's impressive.
How big are the fish
Lets see the fish.........

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My system
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=3929

http://www.cincogardens.com.au

very pretty

Will have to make a note. Who I can ask about electrical backups.



These pay off in the long run. I didn't even think about that. Will have to stop using shits and giggles as my main reason for doing things.

Very nice system.

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When I go, I want it to be peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like his passengers.

http://www.backyardfarming.com.au/phpbbb/

Gilly,
I'd like too see my fish too.
Only see them at feeding time and it's almost impossible to get a good photo.
You will have to drop around some time and see them for yourself.

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My system - Updated 24th August 2008
Less lawn, more grow beds !