Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,
have read some others systems but mainly reading threads about standpipes and syphons and blah blah blah, and getting quite daunted by the whole thing.

So far we've been doing quite a bit of thinking and talking -
'what about X?'
'no that won't work because of Y'
'but if we did Z'
'we already talked about that and A.B.C.'
- you get the picture.

Because we're both new to this, we need to think through options before we actually try anything.

But how about this morning's effort? See what you think guys.

Take one poly horse trough (from Betapoly, just up the road). 500l but half full for this exercise = 250l

Take 2 wire stands (pre-existing) 3000mm x 900mm, sort of like aviary wire but larger mesh and much heavier gauge, although the legs are a bit dodgy for holding weight.

Stand the wire stands parallel but gap between them, and trough underneath (shades the fish, otherwise no shelter, in backyard).

Take 4 children's clam shell ponds (have 2 already), fit tap to base of each with hose draining back into tank. 3/4 fill with polystyrene beads and top off with coconut fibre.

Pump outlet connects to black polypipe (the whole pump thing intimidates me so I close my eyes and pretend it'll be alright) which splits into four, one to each clam shell, which then has a closed loop of black polypipe with holes drilled around the base.

Water is pumped up (it'll be alright) to the four closed loops, flows out on to coconut fibre and seeps out and down, through the hoses and back into tank.

This is the best we have come up with bearing in mind:
need to minimise weight in grow beds,
need to shade fish while getting good light to plants and not spending $$ yet on a shade house,
desire to reuse existing items,
desire to use technologies we already know (I have a LOT of experience with black polypipe, we also have a LOT of black polypipe available)

This is a system I feel comfortable with, I feel we could have a go at this system, it's simple and familiar enough, and would not be too daunting, and we could then learn the basics.

I'm a biologist, not an engineer (a biologist with a terrestrial focus, not aquatics!!) and my partner is, well, he's supportive, and he does a lot of thinking. But I'm afraid that unless it's a system *I* am confident to have a go with, we will stall, as he may not drive the *doing* side of things.

Anyone want to comment on the technicalities?

L, great that you are thinking about it.

Consider a few things:
Getting flow to all 4 tubs thru the black poly will rely on taps to regulate flow to each bed and a pretty decent pump.

if you are talking coconut fibre like muzza using, it turns the water a prety brown colour

if the clam shells are doubling as biofilter/grow beds, on continuous flow, you need to make sure all the medium gets and stays wet for the bacteria.

Have you considered using perlite? Or vermiculite or a combo of both? Or even clay balls are pretty light. Or m,aybe give the stands a bit of reinforcing before setting it up.

the idea of grow beds over top of fish is a good one. Good aeration, small footprint, shading etc.

also make sure the holes in the irigation grid won't get blocked with solids, make em at least 6mm IMHO

Also buy the best continuous rated pump yu can afford. If it is too gutsy, it can always be throttled back.

Good luck

mon

Sounds good - watch your pump size. My little system uses a so-called 1500 litre per hour pump, and it's continuous-flowing 2x55 litre growbeds OK, with a little bit of bleed-off to aerate the pond, but I would be looking at a 6000 Lph pump to efficiently supply 4 of your clam-shell beds and still have a bit up my sleeve for system expansion. I've used 20mm black poly pipe from pump to grow-beds, and controlled flow to each with cheapo plastic valves from M10 irrigation section (about $5,50 ea, I think). I've come out of each valve with a 20mm tee and done a circuit of each growbed with 20mm flexible conduit, drilled at 125mm intervals with 6mm holes. This setup is dead simple, has proven really reliable - once valves are set there's no adjustment needed, and there is only very occasional need to unblock the 6mm holes. About twice a month I flush the accumulated crap out of the system and then forget it for a while. You'll just need to figure out a way to keep the water level in your grow-beds right - you need to keep it about 20mm below the surface of the growing medium, so you'll need a protected stand-pipe on your drain that can keep that level - I've fixed the standpipe and altered the medium level to suit - easy !!

I forgot -- bear in mind the weight of the water when supporting your growbeds - 100 litres of water still weighs 100 kilos, whether it's flowing through 100 kilos of gravel or 10 kilos of coco fibre.

Luisa, what is the demolition business like in Rocky these days? If the legs on your stands are a bit dodgy, maybe get something from a demo yard or the dump shop. We've scrounged three table frames (X feet, single centre post, X table frame) that would be suitable type of reinforcement. You should have a look around to see what you can get for nothing or cheaply.

Onya monya! (and others)

Covered my thoughts, i'm tired, and only skimming posts I don't feels as bad when someone else helps out with answers