Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks DR,

I'm not sure the slots would work with normal thin PVC pipe like you get for down pipe as the pressure form the GB media might distort the pipe once the structural integrity is lost by cutting all the slots. I use 100mm sewer pipe PVC which is 5mm sidewall thickness.

Make sure you keep the guard in the angle grinder, I learnt the hard way

but seriously, if you want that scar to go away, smear liberally with Ungvita (vitamin A ointment) and massage it into the scar for 3 minutes each day.



Scott

I suspect that if you don't make the slits the full length but leave some tabs in several places, the structural integrity will be good enough to hold the gravel back in a normal depth grow bed no problem.
I've used mesh tubing and the fact that it is round seems to help keep it from being smashed by the gravel so long as the gravel is filled in evenly around it on all sides. And I've used mesh tubing in extra deep grow beds with heavy gravel. So I think a bunch of slits in pipe should be ok so long as there are some tabs not cut along the way.

And yes I think the slits are a far better idea than drilling thousands of holes in pipe, that is soooooooo tedious.

I was doing an experiment with a 200mm deep bottom of an IBC being used as a GB and keeping it constantly flooded to 30mm below the top of the gravel to see if seeds germinated better than in the flood and drain gb.

Results: constantly flooded method failed, only radish germinated where in the F&D GB almost all types of seeds germinated and grew strong, the radish from the continuously flooded GB all started to die 1 month after germination where the ones in F&D did not.

Conclusion Flood & Drain is the only way.

Yesterday I built a mini Affnan using a 20mm to 13mm reduction stand pipe in a 32mm bell for the shallow GB to turn it into F&D. Worked perfectly the first time and has continued to do so ever since. Either I am having incredible luck or the affnan siphons really are the easiest and most reliable method for auto siphons, I love them.

Today
Temp 17 C @ 1000
pH 7.8
Amm 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I am slowly increasing the fish feed but I can't see the fish feeding as they are so shy so I don't know when to stop feeding. I guess I will just keep and eye on the Ammonia to see if I am over feeding.

I need some more fish

Water temp 19 C today after a 35 C day yesterday, I am hoping that the water temps stay low for as long as possible because I have decided I am going to get trout next year. The SP are boring and don't grow fast enough to produce the nutrient for my plants so when trout are availiable the SP will be trout snacks

get barra now, and make them Barra snacks

Good idea,

Where around Perth can you get Barra ATM, what size and how much?

Update.

I built a fence to keep stock out of the AP/orchard area.





GB sitting in the top of the FT experiemnt is working although I am only growing water cress and mint so no surprise there. I changed my float pump so the tide is not as big so other vegies would not get the flood and drain cycle but at least it adds some extra filtration capacity.

pH stable at 7.4

Other readings stable at zero, as mentioned before I need more fish.

My temps have stayed low, range today was 15 to 19C and not surprisingly the fish weren't eating much this morning I am hoping the temps increase to get more growth, if they stay consistantly low I will get trout in winter if not I will try to keep the SP all year and just put up with the slow growth rate.

Simo, got some pictures of the plant growth in your GB's now? I am thinking of grabbing a few dozen SP to wack in my sump now I have it set up, will keep the marron entertained if nothing else. Do you know if the Gidgie fish farm is open Sundays?

Why not do both? Keep the tank you have for SP, just keep throwing another 50 fingerlings in each year and harvest out the biggest 50 each year once they get to size and get another FT tank to do the seasonal fish in. You can add grow beds as your fish mass increases and the need arises - not like you are short on space

I like the way you think Burnsy and you don't even eat fish!

Pictures of vegie growth

Bed One 3 weeks ago



Bed One today



Best growth is in the Beetroot.

Bed Two 3 weeks ago



Bed Two today



Small grow bed planted with seeds 3 weeks ago as it is today

System overview

Things have certainly come along since you first hatched the "plan" Simo...