Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Here's an idea I've been thinking about recently that adopts a header tank, flood and drain gravel beds, a syphon, and floating raft. A small pump, pumps from the fish tank into the higher header tank that has a floating raft on top and yabbies underneath the raft to consume incoming solids. This header tank slowly fills, lowering the water level in the fish tank. Because the growbeds are all plumbed into the fish tank these also drain of water as the fish tank level goes down, with the water level in the fish tank and growbeds being almost the same.

Then as the header tank fills it starts an auto syphon that drains the water back to the fish tank, raising the fish tank level, and also flooding the gravel growbeds at the same time. The header tank would have a cut of point of about half full so that the yabbies and floating plants would still have sufficient water.

One of the issues I can see with the system is solids, I'm not sure that the small pump into the header tank would push many solids up. Also I think the inlet/outlet into the growbeds would probably require some access to allow for occassional root removal.

I think this would be a fairly efficient system though, as there's only minimal pumping...

Any thoughts?

Sounds good Joel. Somebody posted once before about a system that had at least some of it's grow-beds rising and falling witht eh fish tank level. Would probably have buckleys of finding it though. I wonder if they ever tried it.

Actually looks like a small hydroponic system in an old book I have.

They would raise the bucket of nutrient solution above the plant to flood the plant and then lower the bucket to drain it.

I like it.

wish i thought of that

I think there's some merit in the idea, though I don't particularly like the idea of so many fitting below water level, but then thats just me... I'm not sure that I'd actually make one like it, just thinking aloud...
Mc s pic in the wheelie bin challenge got me thinking along those lines http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... sc&start=0

I was thinking of much earlier than the wheelie bin challenge. I am even wonderring now whether it featured in one of the sketches I did for myself when dreaming of systems I would have. I did heaps in the early days before I made anything a reality.

I think it has heaps of merit EB. The more options, the more likely people will be able to make something which meets their particular needs. Some might choose to have a bed set into the tank using this method.

With such a small pumping head it would be very energy effcient. Good for the solar one you were thinkg of EB?

The downside is the need to raise the beds so much - unless you dig the tank in or are working on a terrace or something.

Hee Hee .. C'est Moi!

Here was my tidal idea ...

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/alb ... pic_id=149

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/alb ... pic_id=192


Joel ... it does work on a small scale ...

scaled up to your level .. would be amazing!

If autosiphons do not work on such a scale .. then timer valves ... no prob ...

IMHO The tidal system is a good idea .. and if there is a prob regards dissoved Oxygen in the growbeds .. just figure a way to divert some water to get a spash efrect or use an airstone here and there.

Yes, that second drawing... Thats where I saw it before it was you making suggestions about how to fix my barrel system Johnnie, and you pointed me to that before... It's a combination of that, and Mc wheelie bin pic, taken up to a larger scale..

Joel ... I reckon this is a possibe way to go .

I would love to see it big scale!

(Then I would like to do it at school!)

If overflow fittings are placed at the top of each growbed, it could direct excess water( due to any autoosiphon blockages) back to the fish pond. .. this would act as an "alert" system"

Call me if you want to chat on this ...

Header tank does not have to be big ....

Almost foolproof if we can design it properly!

aha - twas Johnie. After seeing that I considered incorporating something into my system on those lines. Made some drawings but have no idea what I did with any of my thoughts (most of which were probably crap anyway ).

hahahaha..... you've typed in foolproof here, while I've typed it into the other thread about the other system...

Thats one of about 5 different designs I'm trying to work on at the moment...