Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Sounds like a good rule to me!!!! I like to up-size plumbing except where there is a really good reason not to.

And when it comes to bulkhead fittings, it is always better to have the larger size installed, ya can always reduce down with a bushing but it is really a pain to re-install a larger bulkhead even if the gravel weren't in the way!

Thanks again Col and TCLynx... What would I do without this forum and of course the people contributing to it??

Heh, you'd spend more money than you'd need to fixing stuff ups


Had a good day today, put the 90mm underground water / power pipe in.





Levelled it all off.


Built my 2 backup aeration boxes.

















Each box has:

10A Battery Charger,
10A Solar Charge Battery Controller,
300W Inverter,
135w Electro Magnetic air pump.

The battery charger runs as long as the mains is connected, and it is controlled by the solar controller, it just sees the charger as a solar panel, and adjusts the rate of charge to keep the battery charged correctly. The inverter is a fan cooled one, and it does not even get the slightest bit warm running the air pump.

When mains power is lost, the charger looses power, and a relay switches the inverter on. The relay is controlled by a 240v - 12v wall plug that was stolen from an external hard drive.

Works awesomly, takes around 5 seconds for the solar controller to switch the battery suplly on, and off it all goes. Will probably have around 8 hours of aeration with the 150AH battery.

Love days like that

Where is the ventilation for the tool box? I think he air pump might have trouble functioning if it can't take in air. and the charger/inverter/battery might have trouble with heat if there is no air exchange.

I expect you probably need to make one of those recessed ends and air intake grate and perhaps add some further protection from rain/water getting in.

looking great

I see a little head poking out in the 4th picture down

Ah Boris u qwak me up

har har har

Duck thinking, "How do I get over into those great ponds?"

thats the duck that shalt not lay eggs after moving houses....

TCL, the box is plenty cool enough, and very water resistant. The charger has been running @ 9Amps all day and is barely warm to the touch. When the air pump is running you can see the sides of the box suck in, so it should be fine.

Interesting thing, putting the amp meter on the air pump, at full flow no restriction it draws around 110 watts, at full restriction it only draws around 40 watts....i guess the piston does not move as far therefore using less power....? Mirrors the results for the vortex water pumps.

The sides of the tool box suck in when the air pump is on!!!! (Imagining what would happen if the air pump kicked on next summer when it's hot!!! Sides suck in with hot malleable foam plastic and then what?
Even more reason to add a few air holes to allow the air pump better access to the air to pump!!!
Could even put a bit of an air filter over the holes if ya like.

I'm really not talking much just drill a couple small holes in that overhang where there isn't danger of water getting up in it.

Or connect a hose to the box that runs underground. Then in summer the air going into the box is cool and can help keep the equipment inside the box working at a lower temp. Cooler air for the fish also.

Hi OBO,

I have a large air pump like that, during the summer gets really hot in fact have now been running it overnight to put some heat into the tank. If you dont want to ventilate the box ( I would though) plumb a piece of hose through the side for the air pump inlet (same as you did for the outlet)

I have drilled a hole at the opposite end of the box, so air is drawn past the components to the air pump. Hopefully it never needs to get hot, it is a backup after all


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There you go...didnt read the backup......

+1 I like that idea!