Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Rup,

Thanks for the honest assessment. Frankly, I thought it was too good to be true!

I drew the GH first a week or so ago as an idea, but had no idea even how the filtration would work, so this has been a bit of an exercise in learning. Then, this thread was a good opportunity to learn this type of filtration and play with an idea for a two barrel (easily obtainable) system.

The original GH drawing had the larger round containers... Now, two questions:

1) Is the layout of a two barrel/container filter in my drawing technically sound?

2) What would the formulas be to guesstimate stocking density and system volume? I.e., how much do you think a two barrel filter system could support... or, how large a filter would likely be needed for the above raft system? (Still an exercise in theoretics... but I'm tinkering with ideas for down the road.... Building a CHIFT PIST GB system right now, but someone tentatively offered a 1500 gallon tank to me, so I may be upgrading the size of the system before even getting started good...)

Thanks for the input.

CB

Your best idea might be to contact the "Friendlies" in Hawaii Countryboy.... they provide a complete set of plans for a DIY commercial system... http://www.friendlyaquaponics.com/doitmyself.html

And read the UVI system papers... which include recommended flow rates, stocking densitites etc...

Could be Taz... definitely hazno shadow.... ...

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=5535&p=188701&hilit=koi#p188701

Yep that's the guy!
Nice system.

I'll read more of the UVI papers... I've read the whole of the Frendlies site. Kinda turned off by the high price for the 'plans' on a commercial system. Like, $1500. Betting 95-98% of the info they give is on this site in one form or another...

Frankly, I'm doing testing and struggling to gain the knowledge so I can help local cattle farmers generate another source of income. I'm putting together a good size GH and GB system to demonstrate, for free, to help get the word out. The selfish motive is that I want more food produced locally and I want to help the struggling farmers and smaller operations in this area to be relevant again. I don't care if I lose money doing it. Paying $900 for a "copyrighted system" and agreeing to $600 licensing fees on additional systems chaps my hide!! I understand if they want to make a few bucks for the knowledge, but the rate they have is a bit steep. (Okay, stepping off the soapbox! )

One of the great values of this site is the free flow of information that is intended to help promote the hobby. I applaud the owners of the site for their business sense selling equipment, but never putting a crimp on knowledge. (Besides, I can't even access their equipment from this side of the Pacific...) The BYAP magazine is excellent and I look forward to more detailed articles in the future! ...

Now, back to the topic: biofilter plans.

Bentaz has put some excellent stuff out here... Now, what are the rough rules of conversion for a raft filtration system similar to the 2:1 rule for GB systems? I'll get to reading and hope some of you sages can weigh in with experience or well thought out theories...

Peace.

CB

BTW, excellent thread here with some nice snippets of info on volume v. specified size biofilter system: 12000l water cycled every 80 minutes using one barrel and two 1000l IBCs... That is a proven operable biofilter system that can help formulate a benchmark.

Thanks for the link!

CB