Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi, first post. I have a small system that's running off a 15gallon fish tank that has been going really well for a few months.

I'm moving up to something larger. Attached is a diagram of the setup as well as how the plumbing is connected.

I have a 1000GPH pump now, but it's pumping water into the fish tank faster then the fish tank is able to drain.

My pump is pushing water through a 3/4" tube and the fish tank is draining into grow beds via a 1" tube.

My question is. Should i be throttling the pump to a lower rate via a valve or should i enlarge the drain tube from fish tank to grow beds?

My hunch is to step up from a 1" drain pipe to a 2" drain pipe and let the pump just flow at max rate. Just wanted to see what everyone else thought first.

Thanks!

BTW, no fish or plants yet. Just trying to get the flow rates worked out first.

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As far as the flow rate is concerned, there is the obvious possibility of a control valve, but then you are wasting electricity by limiting the flow and increasing the pressure in the pump..

IF - you can raise the FT, that will allow increased flow from the FT, hence help with the pump flow rate..

You could be devious, and add another overflow from the FT to the SUMP.. HIGHER than the outflow to the GB, and thus if you are pushing MORE into the FT than can flow to the GB, then the overflow will carry the excess back to the SUMP..
ie.. it all becomes auto regulating
If you push TOO hard, the extra flows back..
You CAN'T overflow the FT
the increased "Artificial Head" in the FT will increase the GB flow that bit more..


A pipe size adapter increasing the mouth size, is a really good idea..
( If it overflows, it will suck extra air into the overflow and give fairly silent aeration..)
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AND - as you are using IBC's have the pickup for the "Bottom-Sucking drain" in one corner, with the air-stone creating the circulation pattern.. (sweep solids towards that corner..)
Square is never good for picking up the solids anywhere, and especially from the center..
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BuiDoi - Thanks for the info. I will play around with it a bit this weekend.

Here's a pic of the setup thus far. Still very much a WIP.

We have a surprising amount of critters in Los Angeles but a small amount of yard space. So i'm doing a kind of non walk in greenhouse thingy. Still have to wrap the sides with chicken wire and make some sliding doors for the front. Waiting on the Dura-Skrim liner to get here to finish off the grow bed. (i've been experimenting with flow rates by just having the FT drain into the Sump). Need to wrap FT and Sump and do a lot of general clean up to the whole thing. But the bones are there!



Also, here is my tiny system that i built a while ago. It used to just be the grow bed above the FT on a little ledge...but after multiple raccoon and possum attacks i had to build the little structure it's in now. As well as the enclosed FT/Cooler as the raccoons wipes out my first batch of Gold fish.

Day after i built the new enclosure...which was maybe 3 weeks ago ish on the left and how it is this am on the right.

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That is all looking just sooo good..

We also are space challenged, and hence our Super Compact system..

At least our system is installed under a near fully weather proof "Car Port" (for want of a better description ) IF ONLY it could be made bug proof..

PETER
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Welcome to the forum RL.

That looks fabulous. Would the timber you are using be Californian Redwood by any chance?

At least our system is installed under a near fully weather proof "Car Port" (for want of a better description ) IF ONLY it could be made bug proof..

I am feeling this,from out of nowhere i am surrounded by an army of bugs,sole destroying sometimes after so much work and effort to be suppling a bug banquet,i was up at first light this morning to spray them a wake up call....

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The bride and I use "Spot-The-Bug" as therapy..
COUNTLESS green grubs to feed to the fush.. Grrrrrrr..
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Yeah, we got lots of butterflies laying eggs on the little setup. Once i put the netting on it that stopped.

Trying to do a similar thing with the big one. We shall see.

Latest update.

Have plants and fish in the system. Getting good readings on all the chemistry. Been up for a couple of weeks.

40 tilapia fingerlings and 10 channel cats.

Metal mesh all around to keep critters out (even in urban Los Angeles we get attacked by racoons, skunks, possums). Wrapped the tanks in black plastic and am slowly getting some old pallets to cover them with to make them a little more aesthetically pleasing.

My first little solar power experiment as well. Right now i'm using it as a backup...but when i get another panel or two i should be able to run the water and air pumps with it.

Fun stuff!!!!