Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Never run two pipes of the same size into another pipe the same size.

Why are you using two SLO's would not one do the job? I ran one 50 mm DW from each of my IBC's for my RAS and put them into a 65 mm DW which went into the RFF. My problem was using one 50 mm outlet into my filter. The RFF. And tanks backed up. Once I changed and ran two pipes to the filter every thing went well.

thanks for the tip

So I decided to run 2 because I wanted to have a backup incase one got blocked. I had the pipe there but I could have used 90mm also.

So how about I put that 50to90 increaser and then into the RFF? Still using a Y section but putting the 90 pretty much straight afte that?
Or would it be better to do what you have done and make 2 inputs to RFF with seperate pipes?

You kind of confused me a bit there with your questioning 'why' then answering

I'm going to redesign with some blue barrels in the middle - the round ones will have fruit trees.
Do you think 2x 1/2 IBC sumps will be enough for the blue barrels and 5 beds running constant flood?
I'll have to add another 1x sump I think





Free Scoria from our local Garden Supplies who have donated

Re sump size. What will happen to the water in the growbeds in the event of a power outage/pump failure/something bad?

Will they drain or remain flooded?

Well, yes if I had timed flood and the little hole in the bottom of stand pipe then they wouldn't fit in 2 400mm high sumps

I was thinking constant height standpipe - maybe try a bell siphon or 2 on the smaller beds.

I can always upgrade with more sumps - or should I steal IBC growbed now .... Actually thats probably better as I won't be able to put it under later.

So 3 sumps = 1000+ litres
4 IBC grow3beds
blue barrels on stands draining into angled 100mm pipe T'ing of across into IBC sumps

Okay new design based around a U shape with a row of IBC and a row of blue barrels connected with a horizontal blue barrel.

Progress today



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And we're off!!

Looking good Jayendra.
Been hard at work I see.

Nice going Jay, you're a machine.

Jay, I love your greenhouse, you've got stacks of room in there. Very jealous.
Coming along nicely mate.

Its not my greenhouse the schools... and yes its got tons of room, hence my AP adventuring in there.

Ended up getting heaps of IBC's for free from my local. And the scoria was donated by the local garden centre.

Nice!

Intro lesson - anything you would add?

Welcome to the Passion

You will find this semester highly interesting but you need to consider the following:
1. You like to grow things and eat things you grow
2. You have patience
3. You know how to read and research
4. You don't need to be spoon fed by the teacher to learn.
5. You have some interest in science, fish, edible plants, and documenting your progress

Some of the things you will learn about:
1. The balance between plants and fish (cycling your system)
2. Designing your system
3. Research, reading, conversations and Internet forums regarding systems
4. Various plumbing fittings, sizes and construction
5. Learning required water conditioning: (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate)
6. Working together (collective knowledge)

Week 1:
1) Read 'The IBC of Aquaponics' - particularily have a scan through pages 8-25 (intro) then page 178 onwards (important info). The other pages are peoples systems.
Here is the link for the document: www.backyardaquaponics.com/Travis/IBCofAquaponics1.pdf
Its quite big (38mb) so be patient

2) Look at Mr Birchall's photo's of his systems
https://plus.google.com/photos/10266506 ... 2517660705
&
https://plus.google.com/photos/10266506 ... 0911619345

3) Watch some youtube videos

4) Look at the basics of Barrel ponics - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/singl ... nic-system

5) After researching - decide what type of system you want to make - simple barrel system or IBC

6) Decide how much money you can spend on the system
Barrel system will be approx 70-100$
7) discuss with class mates

Start to write up a 'Portfolio' of your journey with:.
Powerpoint or word or othes
Vital information you collect
Design ideas
Brainstorming
Discussions with other members of the class
Pictures
etc
9) Experiment with Google sketchup if you know how to download and install - search for 'aquaponics' in the menus - FILE-3D WAREHOUSE-GET MODELS

I will be there next week to unpack the information, but I'm no expert either so I stress the importance of RESEARCH and QUESTION!!