Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Nice work

Thats what I like to see... shows how a system can be neat and functional

AWESOME Tony!! That's really something. Congrats on a job well done.

So I have YOU to blame for it all then..! Kind of ironic I ended up purchasing one of your systems..
I'm in Perth from 3-16th Jan and was hoping to drop by the BYAP HQ. I'll give you a buzz in the next few days.
Cheers
T

Hey Rupert. Thanks. And from the TA
My aim was to build something that was as Embi said "neat and functional". But also maybe a bit of a 'show and tell' for anyone in Tas thinking of setting something up and learning about AP. When I saw AP for the very first time, I was really taken in and like "wow. that is something I really want to do". It looked so simple, neat, clean, and was so good for the environment, but it also looked like something any of us could do.
If just one person sees any BYAP member system and says "I am going to do AP", then that small bit of contributing to a better place to live is "job done".

Well the plumbing saga went ok. Sort of. It leaked. Twice.!

I'm amazed at how many fittings (and trips to the plumbing store) you need to make a pipe "I just want it to go around that corner and down to there".

A single 25mm pressure pipe T'd off to the 3 beds distributes the water from a 9000lt / hour Maxflo pump.
2 x 40mm DWV pipes return the water back to the tank without the need for a sump. A single 40mm was not large enough to get a good return as the T piece from the outside tank caused a back-flow and hold up of the water return. It was also easier to get the right falls from 2 pipes instead of the one.

Well at least at the end of it all, no more leaks and low and behold, the beds were filling up with water and draining just like they should.

Until I turned the pump off to connect the timer...!

Two pipes better than one anyway, at least if you can't easily use really really large pipes!!!!
Great work!

Nicely done! I like the greenhouse. What brand is it?

Hi Tony, got your SMS mate.

Sorry for the late reply we just got back from a Tam o'shanter - Bridport - Bellingham camping roadtrip.

So thought I'd get back to you on here instead of sms'ing, looks like your visiting here quite a bit too .

Your system is awsome , can't wait to see it. We had planned to come to Hobart for new years like we do most years but the Wifey has to work so giving it a miss this year.

But the next time I'm down I'll give you a call and will definatly drop in for a look. Keep the pics coming, we all love pics.

Tony,

I was really impressed with each picture, each better than the next. Thought I had finally met superman. But then you got to the greenhouse and admitted you read the manual. Sigh....

All honesty that is a knock out job!! Congrats.

They originate from the UK.. Mate you can find the glass house here..

In the UK
http://www.elitegreenhouses.net/
For Oz
http://www.redpathaghort.com/structures ... ries.html#

I know, sad isn't it.... But I thought I'd do the right thing and get the manual out.. But trust me, if its one thing the manufacturer could improve it is their manual..

So, we begin to cycle the system...
The pump turns on, the water starts to flow and the beds begin to fill up, and drain. Just like they should.
But a trap for young players is that the clay pebbles float when they first get put into water.. And where do they float to..?
Well to the top surface of the grow bed. And what is right there if you pump water to a 'hockey stick' outlet..? Well, that would be the 25mm opening of the outlet pipe...
As soon as I turned the pump off it sucked a stack of clay pebbles back down the pipe to the pump..
I then tried to turn the pump on again a few minutes later, and nothing happened.
I couldn't work out what was going on, so back into the tank I get and remove the pump. Pull it apart and 'low and behold' its full of clay pebbles..
Connect it back up again and the pump works
Except..... The elbows are also jammed with clay pebbles.. A plumbers snake and a pair of pliers tapping the outside of the pipe all along it and out shoots another handful of pebbles. Then, water flows as normal..

Its all good now and the system has been cycling for a total of 15 days now (give or take).
The beds were planted out straight away and Seasol has been added to the system at a rate of 4 capfuls mixed with 18 litres/water every day..
We've only lost a couple of transplanted seedlings due to the heat , but as of 4 days ago, the readings were:
pH - 7.8 (down from 8.0)
Ammonia 0.25 ppm
Nitrites 0.1
Nitrates 0.0

The ammonia has been slow to build but that is ok. The RB trout fingerlings aren't arriving for another 4-5 weeks anyway.
Next step is to complete the battery back up / alarm (and hopefully wireless / internet notification ability) and then install the air-pump ready for the fish.

Wow, what a mission! What caused the GB to flood so high? Did a drain get blocked somewhere?