Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am working on two different ideas, the first is based on Les's car door actuators, the other is based on a circular distributor. I will post more details when I have something working. Basically the sequencer detects the pressure from the auto siphon which moves the pump flow to the next bed, then waits for it to siphon etc. End result is the system pumps continuously and fills each bed in series.

I lost one more trout recently - when I setup the main tank I had to move them from the sump to the main tank but a couple must have hid in the sump, one survived but the other injured itself and got sick and died.

I am afraid this went straight over the top of my head

Ok finally something to update

Second growbed finally running, the auto sequencer is working and the beds fill in series. Most of the trout have survived to date except for the one that lost his tail, he eventually got sick and died.

The system insulation is working OK so far, the water got to 19.5 c recently when the air temp was 32 c. No signs of oxygen stress at this stage. Current temp is 27 c tank is 18 c. Next thing to do is paint the tank, sump and GB's with insulating paint, this will improve the reflective insulation of the tank etc. The paint reflects 93% of radiant heat. And should greatly improve resistance to the effects of sunlight.

Grow bed sump and tank are all insulated R1.5 below and sides, scoria is used as medium and flooded 2-3 cm from top. This has natural insulation properties plus summer plants should shade and cool the GB's.

My main concern is that we may have a run of warm humid nights, preventing sufficient overnight cooling to hold the temp down. So I have in plan a cooling system based on an old fridge, The fridge will have a 30L drum and water coiled around and below the drum when water gets to preset temp (i.e 24c ) the pump starts circulating water through the coil into the drum, overflowing chilled water into the sump. This initial quantity of chilled water should be enough to drop the system at least a degree and over time cool the tank enough. I think cut off should be about 19c.

Emergency protection is by bags of ice from nearby bottle shop

Ok now for some pics

And the sequencer

The sequence sits on the first Gb overflow from the tank goes into the sequencer, car door actuators open or close flap valves to direct the flow. The overflow is set to go into bed one in case any of the controls to the other bed/beds fails.
Each GB uses an auto siphon to empty the bed once filled, as it empties it triggers a tilt sensor which triggers a close of the current bed and open the flow to the next bed.

Temporary cover as we are hoping for rain.

Guts of the sequencer.

The design allows for up to four serial GB's currently only 2 used. Car door actuators open or close the flap valves when they receive a signal from the tilt switch.
Control is by 555 timers and relay.

Just a note the front tilt switch uses wire that is a little too stiff hence incomplete close but it still works.

Tilt switch triggered by auto siphon.

The system is still expanding and everything is started from seed, however the original temporary GB has provided all the lettuce, silverbeet and spinach we need, plus good quantities of pak choy. It is currently growing lettuce, two broccoli, carrots, peas, silverbeet, spinach.

pic's below and an example of dinner tonight, spicy lamb with celtus, lettuce, potato onions, young broad beans, potatoes and carrots. All veges from our ap or earth garden except carrots.

GB one, still a bit sparse, but three broccoli, heaps of parsnips, young pak choy (second crop), ox heart and Mexican midget tomatoes, celtus (leaves are similar to lettuce but the stalks are apparently like asparagus), bush beans, rhubarb and watercress.

GB two has seeds in it for a rare french pumpkin that tastes like chestnuts, rock melon, watermelon and Thai basil.

GB two has my test system for carrots, coco peat pot floods bottom 1-2 inch and I just water the top once or twice a day when I feed the fish.

Since I pinched part of the missus's earth garden for the cold water system I am setting up a bird protection shade tunnel for her. Also have to keep the chooks out.

We find that in the hottest part of our summer full sun is too strong for many of our plants, the tunnel will eventually provide partial shade from about 1pm to 4pm during January-February.

The tunnel is 4.5m x 10m

And finally a preview of my system part 2

The beginnings of my greenhouse hot water fish system. Leveled the land posts in but much still to do

The design is for an 8m x 4.5m, 3000L silver perch system. Coming sooon, maybee

very impressive sequencer
what are the flap valves normally used for?
I have never seen these before

frank

Been doing a bit of work there Novaris.... like the sequencer...

Will definitely be coming back to look at this again...

Credit for the sequencer really goes to Les, he did the basic ground work and helped me get mine going

checkout his system for more info
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=755&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=180

Novaris - I too love the sequencer. I've given up on ever getting a 4 way sequencing flout, so may have to go with a more technological solution afterall. Les' sequenced system is great, but your's suits my situation a bit better.

Are all the parts easilly abtainable? Are any of them prohibitively expensive? How much are the mercury tilt switches?

I'm not familiar with the unit that enables you to rotate through the four in sequence, so can you tell us more about it (ie the 555 timer and relay). Thanks.

Frank - the flap things are not valves as such - they are normally used on drain overflows, for bathroom/laundry floors. The flap is on the outlet pipe that sits outside the house. Stops the vermin getting in when no water is flowing (which should be always ).

thanks, Novaris and Veggie boy for your very enlightening answers
thanks especially to you, Novaris, for not claiming your wonderful sequencer as entirely your own invention
you do deserve the recognition of the application
truly appreciated

Frank

Just had a look at this http://www.jaycar.com.au/images_uploaded/LM555.PDF

Now it's all clear