Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all, I have just joined up, I am a new comer to aquaponics and I need a bit of help. I have been lead to aquaponics through researching information for my (erm... dare I say it...) hydroponic vegie system that I have. I have spent about 6 months reading up on aquaponics and have completed my setup which includes a 500L silver perch fish tank and 1000L scoria grow bed.

My problem is that I decided not to use a 240V pump system because I wanted to use as closed a system as possible (my set up also includes worm and aquatic plant farms for fish food). For power, I am building 2 x 70 watt and 1 x 50 watt solar panels which will charge 2 x 200a/h and 1 x 125a/h batteries via a 20amp voltage charge regulator. I want to use that system to run a 12v pump on a timer with 15min on and 15min off cycles. I have kept the distance between the bottom of my fish tank and the top of my grow bed as little as possible but it is still around 1.5m.

My issue is that I do not know what pump to use and if there is even such a thing as a 12v timer. I have spent a bit of time checking this forum, ebay and the internet but have not found what I am after so if anyone has any suggestions, directions etc it would be muchly appreciated! Sounds daft of me not checking these things prior to heading in this direction but I just assumed there would be these items easily available.

I am going to post some pics of my progress soon and put some prices and locations that I bought items because I have been able to set this up extremely cheaply so far. I also have a few little feature aquaponic systems on my front porch that I think folks may be interested in reproducing. I will post some info on these as well soon.

Can't help with the timer, but for a 12 volt pump try the local boat accessories place. A bilge pump or something similar would probably do what you are after.

Or one of those pumps they use in caravans for pumping fresh water to the sink (caravan and camping store).

BTW, welcome to the house of fun

Himzo.

Couple of leads Kizza... not sure how many on/off cycles though...

http://www.energymatters.com.au/program ... p-885.html

8 on/off...

http://www.12volt.com.au/ ... go to "Misc"... then scroll down...

Figured these guys would have something.... Rainbow Power Company... Nimbin ...

Again, only 8 on/off...

http://www.rpc.com.au/catalog/digital-t ... -2108.html

http://www.rpc.com.au/pdf/DCtimer.pdf

Why not run an inverter? DC pumps are very inneficient, and the parasitic draw of the inverter would not waste much power in comparison.

300W inverter - dick smiths, $79.

lol d*ick smiths

I use a 12v DC pump in my system and it has done fine. Surflo 2800 series costs about $75 and draws less than 5 amps. It is a diapram pump used for R.V. potable water. Rebuild kits are available and they run for years. They safely run dry and pass some solids; delivery about 5gpm with no head and about 4 with a 5 ft. head.
I run mine contiuosely and use a syphon for flood and drain. With 4 ft. head it delivers to much so I put in a bypass to return part of the flow. Now I get one cycle every 45 min. or more depending on how much bypassed. I have no knowledge of a 12 volt timer that will give that short an interval.

From a quick google around, a Shurflo 2800 pumps ~ 820 litres per hour at nearly 5A 12v.

My inverter running a 240V, 65w, 4500 Litre per Hour pump, draws 5A 12v.

wow, cheers for the input folks - it is certainly food for thought. I had contemplated the inverter but actually assumed that they would waste too much power - but it appears not. If I went with that it would also solve my timer issue as well. I will let you know how I get along!

Sorry my Shurflo draws to little to register on my 30 amp induction amp meter. It calls for a 5 amp fuse, but niether one I run has ever poped a fuse.