Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yeah. I'm gonna go over the slits with my 3mm or 5mm grinder disk, as I also thought they were too skinny. Would have used grinder originally, but the baby is a light sleeper.

Thanks. I forgot to consider an emergency overflow. Will chuck one in now and post some pics later.

How's this ?



I did check that it was below the hole in barrel when level, but might still shave another cm off the "stand pipe". Need to get more T's now.

I could have just put a cheaper right angle at the other end of the floor pipe (where the crimp currently is)...but I figure that putting the emergency pipe closer to the actually barrel outlet will cover all bases in regards to the pipe clogging completely.

Perfect...
Got that covered now..

Juergen

_________________
Smack me if I say something Dumb..

I'm full of idea's..
That need to put into action..
One of those idea's is happening right now even If I think it is slight void of what It could be..

Can I have a Mulligan..

J

Update on large system build...FINALLY some decent progress

There are many more hours work in this than it looks like

Footings for grow beds and three large holes for sump barrels. I changed the layout of barrels slightly from the Sketchup to allow better access, and also sunk them into ground to help regulate temp and provide easier access.


Barrels cut with tank fittings and placed in holes (still to be plumbed).


Sump and grow beds in their final set up.


Fish tank footings have also been layed, but I need to wait for concret to dry befor I put it in position.

Looks like you have been very busy Dr Luke, good progress

_________________
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1622&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=45 (Fayes system)
http://backyardfarming.com.au/phpbb3/vi ... f=24&t=119 (Fayes garden)

Spanks!

I was hoping to finish by the time I went back to work. But I'm mostly happy, because this is the major manual labor finished (besides gravel washing). Now only the plumbing and gravel to go in.

Was going to go with Scoria, but the idea of all those extra minerals is freaking me out a bit. Might just go with blue metal and suppliment nutrients when deficiencies show. Its cheaper in my area also, but obviously heavier. Although a few year worth of suppliments probably closes the cost gap pretty quickly.

Bah!

Dead yabbie in small system this morning. I've been pushing the feed harder lately with the gold fish and higher water temps. He was missing a claw, so may have lost a fight, I would have expected a fish to go first if water quality was compromised.

Have switch bio filter to constant flood and will test water this arvo.

Tested ammonia, nitrites, and ph. All good. Amm looked like it might be 0.25 at first but drifted closer towards 0 by the 5 min mark. Did not test nitrates yet.

Maybe just unlucky.... If u r the yabbie.

LOL.

If this is my sump...does that mean I can't run my system when it's raining? hehe



Nah, should be good once I plumb them all together, burry the plumbing, and burry/back fill around the barrels.

BTW, for all those unbelievers in full tanks popping from the ground. One of my barrels had the bungs out, was full of water, and was floating slightly. I dont see how this is any different to having a "closed" vesel where the water level in the hole reaches the level in the vesel. In both cases the bouancy of the tank material will determine if it floats out or not.

Wish my plants would grow fruit and leaves as well as they grow roots. This root was only sticking 1cm out of this GB drain pipe about 4 days ago, now about 10-15cm. Had to travel total of about 30cm down the pipe to the FT.



Fishes flashing around in the bottom left getting a good feed.

My plants are starting to perk up again after adding the fish and the increased tank temps.

Another lonesome post .... letting you know I order my uniseals. Shouldn't be long till big system is runnning now I hope.

This was post number 123..... i like number patterns.

Woot yeah! uniseals in my hot little hands

Hope i have time for building stuff tonight.

I've finished the foundations for the FT and have it in place.

First pic is of the fish tank foundations. There are concrete footings in the ground and two bricks stacked on each. The pallet sits on the bricks to give the final elevation. I have filled the gap between the bricks for a few reasons:
1. I had no where else to put the dirt
2. It will provide additional support if the pallet sags for some reason
3. Reduces the air gap between ground and FT


Second pic is FT in place. Its pretty close to level.


Last pic is of the insulation bats i have cut to put under the FT on the inside of the IBC frame. I expect these to compress down to about 1cm when the FT is full of water. Does anyone see a prob with this? Does insulation loose its R factor when compressed this much? I have another roll of insulation to go around the sides aswell.

The only issue I see is if it gets wet..

But then there have been some interesting tests down years ago with different types of insualtion materials used in sleeping bags.. They soaked the bags and then got some tough Army dudes to try each type and to see which preformed the best..

So to me the only issue is wet.. LoL..


Juergen

Hey other than that it looks great..

_________________
Smack me if I say something Dumb..

I'm full of idea's..
That need to put into action..
One of those idea's is happening right now even If I think it is slight void of what It could be..

Can I have a Mulligan..

J