Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks Amanda, I look forward to it.

Regards, Martin.

You need a ball valve on each distribution pipe to meter the flow into the gb's. Using 20mm pipe will restrict the flow but the valves will be a bit cheaper, so you could go 25 to tee then reduce to 20 at each arm off the tee.
You could also put some pipe with holes in it on the elbows coming back to the ft to increase aeration, I notice you have an air pump but every bit helps.
What size pump and is it f&d or cf by the way?
Oh, and if you are impatient this new hobby is going to drive you nuts!

Its a f&d system with a 1300l pump. Tried an extra bit of pipe to add more aeration and all the water went out of that pipe and none went through to the gbs.

I was thinking about it more last night and I wonder if the problem is that I have 8mm holes in the arms in the gbs...it changes each time the pump runs which bed is going to get more water so I am not sure if valves on each arm will solve the problem? I am such an irrigation amateur :p *scratches head*

Does pipe running horizontally count as head???

Technically no, although longer runs and especially bends will reduce flow.
Its always better to have a straight run to head then distribute if possible.

Hmmmm thanks Sleepe...perhaps a redesign is in order....

Looking at the pics again (having seen your comment about holes in the GB pipe) you might want to lose the horizontal part with the holes. It's not a good idea to have the water on the surface of the GB, even if it seems better that way to get it evenly to all the plants. For one it promotes algae as well as a few other things you'd rather not have in your GB.

Try just having a pipe straight down with just a small gap to the media surface - the water will still get to your plants.

It might also help with the uneven water flow, although it depends on what is causing that.

Oh Journeyman, that sounds like an awesome (and potentially easy) solution!! I will try it out tonight and hopefully it makes the flow a little more even and reliable. I had considered it way back during the design phase but discounted it as I hadn't seen a GB setup that way before. And double lucky for me - I hadn't glued that part of the pipework together!!

There is only one way to guarantee even flow.... back pressure.
so the easiest way to get back pressure is to add a tap to each pipe as stated earlier.

According to gravity/physics - yes, according to sleepe - no.

lol.

if done under gravity, it makes a huge difference, under pump pressure, not so much.

According to gravity/physics - yes, according to sleepe - no.

Looking forward to the results of that redesign Amanda. Sounds good.

Regards, Martin.

If you are relying on gravity, I doubt you would get a lot of head Yavimaya.


Edit

And BTW unless you are using a fairly big pump with bottlecaps you will not get a moving bed.

Okay - so...any hints on cycling?

I have got a few seedlings in and have added some Charlie Carp to the tank but wasn't sure how much to add...is it a matter of add some in, test it to see the nitrite level and then keep testing until it reduces to zero or do I keep adding more in whilst monitoring the levels? I figured Charlie Carp was an okay way to get the cycling going since the plants are going to use it too????

try running a hose from a water tank, you can get all the head you like - horizontally which is what this is about - but flow slows alot.
So horizontal head does matter.
People might like to think it doesnt, but remember if it is actually horizontal and not a slight slope down, you must push the weight of water!!!



As far as cycling hints, if you dont have fish or pure ammonia, then use your urine or perhaps buy a bag of pure urea from your local fertiliser seller.
I wouldnt use charlie carp, that is mostly nitrogen, im not sure of ammonia content, but it would be miniscule compared to nitrogen content.
infact they dont list ammonia at all.
http://www.charliecarp.com/technical_analysis.htm