Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

im still on the path and after GH is built ill plumb something up. but with my health issues ill prolly only get one try so i want to be clear and hopefully get this correct and something running asap

my pump is 1" fitting so my GB feed lines will also be 1" the return to FT will be 4" (because thats what i have on hand) i have 3/4 and 1" uniseals for GB

what size should the my drains and overflows be? im using 35 and 45 gallon totes and 2 johnny built wooden boxes with liners. they are 2.5 feet by 8.5 feet by 6 inches deep (prolly only good for leafy greens and herbs) but i needed/wanted more GB

im still confused on drain/overflows placement and sizing
and exactly how i can keep this tiny media im using from clogging both.

even if use standpipe to protect drain i may still have to wrap it with small mesh wire or plastic mesh ?? i dunno yet for sure but this media is really small, but again its what i have and gotta use if possible


from the summer sys thread:

TCL "What size pipe fitting does the pump take? whatever size the pump takes should be the size pipe you use for the feed into the pump and the feed from pump to fish tank.

For the gravity feed from the fish tank to grow beds, go at least a size or two larger than the pump pipe. Water flowing under pressure from a pump will be far more water than will flow out the same size pipe under gravity. To avoid overflow always size gravity plumbing much larger than the pressure fed pipe feeding."

oh well nvm

Placement should be at the other end from the inlet, this increases solids trapping.
feed lines should be equal to or greater than the pump's outlet, especially if you're traveling any distance.
4" gravity feed is big, but will never cause you problems

As for your standpipes. You've left of some information.
1. Just how small is your media (got a pic?)
2. Are you planning on slow drain or Bell siphon?

im thinking slow drain and if it not drain fast enough
ill drill some larger holes (at least a few)

the filler is pretty small and what i guesstimate about the same size as small aquarium rock




i may add 50 pounds of river rock per small GB, that will make it drain much better. it does drain pretty well
from the bucket tests i have done. at least i think it drains pretty well having never seen a real system do its drain thing

the 4 inch is some scrap pipe i found long ago and hoarded. i have about 60 feet so ill use it

oh btw on the outlet for the GB water supply. i do want to use some sort of sponge to catch any solids that do make it into the GB from supply side. what do you guys and gals use?

i saw some really coarse (blue) spongy ac filters in walmart. they look very similar to the filter block material the pet store sells but im not for sure its the same material. its marketed as a "cut to fit" ac filter

im making good progress on the green house (12x16) its like a quonset hut cut down the center
will have knee wall for some extra headroom

as soon as it is complete ill set the 2 larger GB and the 2 small seed starter beds. the small totes will be last as they are easier to move around until i find their proper place

working by ones self is tough but very rewarding. i was going to use a large oak timber as top ridge for GH but i could not set it by myself so now its kneewall hahaha.

ill take contruction pics if its not raining tomarrow. im way less challenged now that i have the winwoes xp and a modern pc w/dsl (thanks lesia) uploading pics is easy now and we all like pictures

much thanks as always, johnny

That stuff is ultra small.
buy some larger rocks to line the bottom of the GB, and around the standpipe with, this will act as a filter to stop heaps getting into your drain.
as you're using slow drain I would expect the minimum stand pipe diameter to be the same as your inflow diameter. After all it is 'slow drain' so the resistance caused by your slow hole should far outweigh resistance in the standpipe, especially if the stand pipe is draining into 4" storm.
Be aware of the dangers with storm water, you will want to seal the ends, there's nasty compounds in the center of the pipe wall. See other threads for details, it was heavily discussed.

this big pipe says "NSF-DWV" sch 40 pvc

will it be ok for my return run to FT? or is it the bad stuff?

As far as i know, the 4" (100mm) DWV is fine. Its only the bigger stuff that is made up of 3 layers that causes problems. If your pipe is the solid wall type you should be fine.

The ac filter should be ok as well. Once the system has been running for a while you will not need it, algae in the growbed filters really well.

If you can, use 1 1/2" pipework from the pump, this will allow you to use a bigger pump later on if required. Step this down to 1" into the growbeds.

Use a 1" pipe as your standpipe. For starters, have around 4 x 6mm holes in this standpipe, about 1" apart, from the bottom up to the top. Make SURE that the standpipe is easily removable to enable the adding or removing of holes as required.

Have the 4" dwv around the outside of the standpipe, with holes either drilled, or grinder slotted. This outer 4" dwv must stick up above the top of the media a good couple of inches, otherwise when you are planting you will push media over the top.

pic


see, too low.

thank you OBO

thats exactly what i will do brother