Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Got a freebie today! My friend got this in 2006 and never used it so he gave it to me. I think I will use it for an air pump on the fish tank as a backup. COOL! I will have to add the relay so if the power goes out it will automatically kick on. Just one more piece of the puzzle coming together.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

OK, question! I have access to some ibc's that have fertilizer in them. They are food grade and the contents are humic acid that's safe door food crops. Do you think that would be bad for grow bed use. Personally I'm good with it but if you guys think that's a bad move I would respect that. Some of the other ones have urea nitrogen and iron chelates. Would be nice cuz they would be free. What do you think??? :think


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Don't know myself, can you get hold of the safety data sheets?

Yeah, I'll look tomorrow when I get to the office. Just got the idea yesterday when we were spraying the golf course.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Hi RayRay,

There are also ways to use the backup with the backup water pump to keep aeration going but it depends on how your setup works. Basically your system water level has to rise in the sump enough to trigger the float switch. If you're running Constant Flood you can do this by having one or two beds with holes in the lower part of the standpipe so that the water level in the sump goes up if there is a power outage. Just a thought.

Cheers

Hmm, I would say good to use.

Humic Acid - comes from humus (composting) and seems to be the new fad in diet/body building.
Urea Nitrogen - Urea is what is in urine (from you or your fish) that turns into ammonia - good stuff, well, not really bad as it breaks down quickly.
Iron Chelates - what you add to your water if the plants have iron deficiencies (check what type of chelates).

Update! I got the rest of the grow beds and the gravel guards cut. All my jobs are getting in the way of me finishing this system. I hope to have my metal project done this weekend then I can start building my stands. From what I calculated they will only be off the ground 45cm and the top should be around 76 cm.

What do you guys in the hot climates wrap your pipes with to keep the heat out? We had over a hundred days straight last year that were over 37c.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Ergh, you can keep that.

Aeroflex is what I've used on the piping but I got it free through work. Are you insulating the rest of your system?

I think I'm going to use foam insulation and plywood around the growbeds with foam and reed fence around the fish tank. Probably paint it a real light color too.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Awesome system

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I'm gonna check my local plumbing supply for the Aeroflex or Aerocel. Hopefully they can get it in white for me.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD