Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Looks you are making some good progress with the heater.
The Frankenstein riser pipe came out very nice, it has a cool steampunk look. What will you use as insulation between the heat riser pipes? If you could keep us informed with dimensions on pipes/ducts etc it would be great.

My RMH project is all in still in my head. Drainage will be something to take into account in my situation as well, Holland is a rainy place somethines. I am thinking of holes, diam. approx 10 cm, drilled in the ground underneath the RMH base. Depth about 0.5 metres and fill them up with gravel/pebbles so water will drain downward faster.

It is also very nice to have your boy building one simultaniously. You will be able to exchange advice.

Your son just says that he's building a RMH. I wonder what he's really plotting.
Just kidding, I can't wait until my kids are old enough to be a help instead of a hindrance. Right now, my boy is basically a puppy dog.
Keep up the good work!

I wonder if pyromania can be sent through the genes?

Yes, definitely! But can also be acquired later, so its just a matter of time before the entire earth's population turns the planet into a toasted marshmallow.

I think it is a part being human, it can be suppressed, but never controlled.

How's the RMH going, Mister Bill? I'm hoping to learn from your trials!

The trials that I face, my dear, cannot be overcome.

Oh, you are talking about the rocket heater. Uh, nothing has been done since my last post. Kind of out of everything at this time. Supplies, ideas, money, warm weather, health, energy, stamina, you know, all the important things.

One thing I do have is encouragement to give to you. Go for it and take lots of pics. Be a pioneer and blaze some trails for us.

BTW, nice stack of bricks you acquired. Are they fire bricks or pavers? Do you have a fireplace or woodstove to gather the ashes to make your morter? And from the posted pic, I'm hoping that is just rain on the face of the bricks and not some sort of varnish or coating?

I like your choice of verbs.


They're pavers. I have pellet stoves. And it's rain.

The thing I don't really have is clay. But I have so much else to do before I can really get to the RMH that I'm not worrying about that right now. Much.

Bumps can be a good thing. Thanks G2N.

Got out to the new AP area and dug a hole, mixed up some concrete, and set a post.

This will be behind the RMH and also the end wall of the DWC as well as the start of the growbed supports for the upper level.

One post was, er, "holding me up"

Much as I normally hate wiggly graphics (they tend to make my inner ear unhappy), I've always wanted to use that one.

Can't wait to get back to my AP stuff. I'm heading into another "work 8 days/week" stretch for a while, so greenhouse time will be sparse. But I remember all too well when I didn't have a job at all, which makes it hard to complain when I have too many of them...and the more jobs I have, the more PVC fittings I can afford, so it's all good. I just have to learn a little patience!

Drilled holes, installed two more posts in concrete. Retaining wall metal going on tomorrow. Then to backfill a bit so the growbeds can be built up against the retaining wall.
The future is still in my head.
Coffee helps.
Too dark for pics.

Been working on the retaining wall. Tin will be painted the same color as the house. Not very pretty at the moment, just give it time.
Need to get this done so I can put the growbeds on the upper level. Lower level will be wicking tubs.

Oooo things are starting to come together. :does homer's twinkle finger dance:

Hey Mr. Bill,

Maybe you have seen this one already, but nevertheless. This one has two special features;





We have stopped our system, due to lack of rocket mass heaters. Freezing temps...