Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

If I remember correctly CC is using Scoria... its lighter than gravel so its acceptable ...
It would be interesting yes... but I have to look back at people's experiences with the stuff first before trying it

CC's mouse prevention system is working well... that is until the strawberries try to escape

AM, is that all run off the wheelie bin system?

According to your own estamates now youve seen a 1 bin system working...

How much growbed space do you think it could support?

I was thinking 1 Wheelie bin feeding into 4 * 1/2 Blue barrels..

So 1 Wheelie bin = 240 Ltrs of water...
2 blue barrels cup in half = 480 Ltrs..

I realise a wheelie bin might not be full of water, but neither is the blue barrels....

Thats the system I want to build to start with.... think it possible?

Here is my final design for what I want when I move to Cairns...

1 Wheelie bin 1/2 dug into the ground.. Lid lockable...

4 * 1/2 Barrel growbeds on a frame, all loop syphoned back into wheelie bin...

Timings: 15 min fill cycle, 45 rest - 240v pump... + Timer

Points: Easy straight pump and drain, simple setup, no mucking around with hoses etc, cost... Down here Wheelie bin (2nd hand) $20.00, what can I get barrels for?, pump $50.00, spare wood or Bunnings non-structural pine cheap, use garden hose for hoses...

My question is, compaired to your wheelie bin system, is this fesable? Spec the amount of growbeds...

We retired the wheelie bin system in preparation to install a bathtub (which i still have to do )... the IBC system just seemed to take over this thread... which in essence is CC's system so this would be his thread

4 blue barrels to 1 wheelie bin gotta think about this one...
Lets see, each of my blue barrels is 200L, so cut in half each would hold about 90L (as I would not fill it to the top) of growing medium... that would be roughly 360 L of growing medium...
I would attempt it only with a set-up where the water flows in and out, no real hold up in the barrels - if the water is too low in the wheelie bin it could seriously stress the fish, which is no good
I would do 2 myself as I have watched the space constraints and would not stock anything but small fish such as guppies etc, and it takes a lot of guppies to keep a system ticking over But for the sake of science perhaps we could set up a 4 half blue barrel system to one wheelie bin - when you get here that is

Hey, ill know on Thursday where im going...

Maybe 3 * 1/2 blue barrels... I think it also depends on the growing media. I was hoping to have 1cm Blue stone or pebbles.. Heavy I know (need really strong frame), but will less space needed it wont use as much water to fill the barrels. Also if flood and drain was used instead of loop syphons, water will be flowing back into the bin straight away as they start to drain...

Mc
Fist off, I have found that anything under 19mm is problematic as it clogs up quickly and easily.. as systems are "services" I want to go from 13mm up to 19mm as the algae build-up is costing me a lot of time in maintenance...

Your drawing looks "doable" - just not sure with the amount of water.... it would be easy to knock together and get going.... if you used a medium which retains a lot of moisture then a system where the water flows straight through and back into the tank without being stored in the GB for part of the 15 min might be feasible... you gotta move up here and we could try this out here at the AP experimental centre

got the countdown running mate (need a 'fingers crossed emoticon )

Sept 20th I find out if I transfer, so ill know by the end of the week...

Interestingly, I was thinking of cost. Locally here I can get a 400L round recycled plastic tub (50cm high) for arounf $230.00 While IBC's sound cheaper, not sure they are as mobile etc... but more water is possible, I was just thinking of the limits of a wheelie bin system.. what about 2 different types of media in a growbed... 19mm rock on bottom half, cocunut husk middle and rock again on the top? Would that help for water holding potential?

That is the idea I was attempting to put across

I do a mix with expanded clay balls and gravel and it works well enough... has anybody monitored the effects of coconut husk on Ph etc?... It would hold a good deal of moisture...

I dont know.. I am just so looking foward to being able to start it and "collect data"...

I wonder how many goldfish would be needed in the system.. id go for goldfish...

Most coco husk products are rated 5.5 - 6.5 pH.....

Looking for a lightweight water retaining product.... perlite or vermiculite

Typical hydro mix of 75:25 (perlite:vermiculite)

Much freer draining than husk IMO and pH neutral

Cost?