Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Jan

Just remember when using old bathtubs that you may have to patch any chips in the enamel to stop heavy metals leaching.

Have fun... and welcome to the addiction!

Hadn't thought of the leaching! Thanks for the info!

OK been doing some more info and I have decided on the following:

CHIFT PIST system

2000 l FT stocked with 15 silver perch
600 l GB
300 l sump

pump capacity not sure yet (4000l/hr ??)

Was thinking of the ammonia cycling; is it necessary to cycle the water whilst letting the bacteria do their thing? Wanted to gain some time and add some ammonia to the GB's before they were linked up to the FT

Anyone that sees any issues with the current proposed set-up pls let me know!
All the advice has been very usefull, thanks heaps

Jan

PS you guys noticed all the acronyms

Is the 600L of growbed just one bed or several. If one bed then your sump will only just do it and will need fairly constant top ups. If several smaller growbeds you can run some of them as constant flood as Jamey mentioned as these have no effect on the sump level.

Hey Richard,

they are 6 bathtubs

from your reply I guess you would run them in series rather than parallel?

I was actually thinking of running them parallel, but did wonder how to distribute the water evenly

any suggestions?

Cheers, Jan

nah run em in a series, so some can be FD and some CF. put a valve on each line going into the GB, then turn it half on/off to adjust fill time and make sure each egts the same amount

thought i was going quite well with the acronyms...........

CF FD??

sorry for my ignorance (again)

Jan

Constant flood and flood and drain in the grow bed

thanks

it did come to me last night in bed, when I had a lucid moment (don't worry I do have a life, but being an old bastard such as myself, you tend to lay awake at night after playing basketball, 'cos everything ACHES!)

thanks again mate,

Jan

here's the propoposed set-up

Got my grant money (over $3000.-)!!

So it's time to spend some money and get things going, I'll keep you guys posted

Jan