Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

@ Pond I will be doing a bit more on the 3d printer stuff I have uploaded files but not made them public yet on Thingiverse. I have one last version to try and then a different scale save. 1/2", 3/4", 1". The 1/2 one is still going great in the turtle tank but under its own pump and not off the Fluval 306 outlet.

@ CoachChris when can I get some of your hot sauce? Will you ship?

Rob, yes, I'll ship it to you. PM me with your address. Sending Samual Jackson some next week as well. I had another tough guy wimp out on the No Pussy Hot Sauce challenge. He bragged about how he could "easily do it", but after his first taste of 1/2tsp or so, he backed out.lol My son made a new recipe with it. Something called mule' sauce. It's Mexican and made with chocolate, spices, and my NP sauce. It's very interesting. He said it's supposed to go on meat??

Is it called mole? That stuff is awesome. Recipe please!

This is hopefully the last "road trip" that I need to take to finish the RAS. I got RFF barrels drilled and uniseals in. Now just have to get 19 tanks plumbed.

Sam, let me know if you get it made before I do. The daughter is looking forward to it. I read the comments and a few said it made "too much" sauce. So you might want to reduce the amount?? I'm using my sauce to kick it up a bit.
http://www.marthastewart.com/868410/slo ... icken-mole

Yes, mole, not mule. I knew it was some king of animal.lol

Chris are you raising the fish in IBCs? What are you using for mechanical/biofiltration?

Sam, yes. Those will be my fingerling tanks(6) and filter tanks(2). Planning on using 2 RFF and a MBBF filter. Debating on a sieve or shade cloth type. I would like a RDF, but need to get this thing done and running, so will go with a cheaper option for now. Starting with tilapia and then going to try a few koi to see how they do. Not sure what the market is for the Koi, but, I think I'll be able to get rid of them. Nice for the AP during the cooler months too. I was thinking about catfish, but don't really like the flavor as much, and really don't like getting stuck by dorsal/pec fins.lol

Coach,

If you end up deciding to go the Sieve route check these guys out. They have the best prices I have found yet.

http://sieves-meshes.dualmfg.com/viewit ... are-pieces?

Chris,

A drum filter would be ideal, but if you can't get one then you'll still have to remove the suspended solids out of your water somehow. UVI style bird netting filters are labor intensive and I advise you to avoid that.

I like the static upwelling bio-bead design that you can shut off with valves and backwash when you want to clean the filter. More economical, less labor than bird netting filters, and allows you to manipulate nitrate levels.

Samuel,

Wouldn't a properly sized sieve filter basically act as a drum filter without all the mechanics. Basically it is a stagnant drum filter. This also means you could bypass the labor intensive part of the bird netting filters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE0jTMEi53M

Yeah, thinking the cloth filters would be a PIA. I don't have interns...just me.lol I like the idea of the biobead idea as well, just not sure it was enough after the RFF's.

I could use my blower motor to clean the beads off after shutting filter down, then flush and go back "on line". A lot easier then cleaning out netting, especially if you have to do it daily. In my small system, doing it every few weeks, is no big deal. Doing it daily, with a larger amount of crap, would most likely suck.lol

I'm really not famiar at all with sieve filters. But the lower micron screen you have the more solids you will remove, but more frequent maintenance required to clean the screens. So in the end you sacrifice one thing for another. With the static biobeads there is tons of surface area for a biofilm to develop and capture the suspended solids as they pass through. You can also plumb your backwash valve into a mineralization tank to keep all of your solids and add nutrients back into your plant system.

Sam, do you suggest a certain size/brand of bead? I have some polyethylene pieces, they are small maybe 3-4mm look like rice grains. I was planning on using them. I can use them in an IBC or barrel and add a large pipe to flush with air form the regen blower. Then, like you said, have that flush to a MT that I can use to add to my AP system if needed. Initially, I'm just going to do 50-60 Dutch buckets with peppers and a few Toms for my hot sauce.