Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Not cheap cause of the roundup, their vendor no longer charges them a deposit nor comes back to get the totes... but yes, cleaning well bleach and dawn and much scrubbing then allowing to bake in the sun for a few days.

bk

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Saturday update:
Got more salvage lumber Monday.




Nice heavy duty posts and sleepers...could be good for an earth bag root cellar...

Started some fall seeds Thursday.


Water Chestnuts starting to take off...


Sweet pepper plant and assorted others starting to grow in the small gravel GB.

Finished plumbing the drain. Forgot how difficult it was to drill 4" DWC pipe. Ended up using the dremel tool to finish out the holes.

I am using plastic pallets in the bottom of ibc with bird netting sporadically spaced throughout to save gravel room. Figured the netting would provide material for the bacteria to latch onto. We will see...


Ground is too hard to finish the sump tank holes...no room in the hole to swing the pick axe so I will be adapting n overcoming this week to finish digging the holes, filling the ibc with gravel and even digging the space for the root cellar...

Have a great weekend..
bk

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This works really well in clay soil like you have.
1-1/8 in. 10 Amp Heavy Duty SDS Variable Speed Rotary Hammer

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-18-in-10 ... 21_c3616b2





http://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-In-SD ... 60414.html


Here is mine being dug 5’ deep
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=24884

Sweet! Thank you for the link.
Does the oompa loompa come with it?? [FACE SAVOURING DELICIOUS FOOD]

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We have been having rain every day this week...4" drain popped out and of course filled the sump hole...lol
Fixed it yesterday. Re plumbed and covered 80% of the drain line. (Didn't cover the plumbing because the silicone was curing...built up dirt berms around the tank hole and at the end of the drain line. All good this morning!! Woot! Woot!!

Rain is a good thing...keeping my pea plants growing to prepare the field for the heritage winter wheat!!

Good growing everyone.
bk

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Ft and small gravel bed is almost cycled...contemplating putting one gb online at a time so the water doesn't get too diluted. Will this help speed up acclimatization of new gravel or just slow it down...or should I even worry about it???

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About time for fish...
Going to wait until I get the sumps installed and cycling the other grow beds...
Progress is a good thing...



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So I didn't wait for fish...10 goldfish and one golden butterfly koi...kind of cool looking. Getting blue tilapia next week.
Have a good weekend. bk

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Kicking butt and taking names over there, aren't you? Looks really good so far.

Thank you sir...
Well, I was finally able to cheat n finish the hole for the sump...

Tested the syphon in one of the gb to see about cycle time and plumbing issues...

Idk if you can see it but the drains are leaking. Aquarium silicone didn't seal...should've done it the right way from the get-go...smh

Another trip to Lowe's for wyes and adaptors.
Such a good feeling watching and hearing the sump fill up!!

Seems someone needed my cordless tools more than I did...took them out of my truck while I was inside Lowe's...smh

Needless to say I am taking a break from things and will get back on it in the morning.

Peace brethren.
bk

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Random thoughts...
My heart started hurting this morning.
I got up and finished the hole for the other sump tank and called the company to come pick it up. (I was renting, by the day)

The same thing happened when I was building the washer/dryer platforms for those people. Putting pressure on myself to complete at a certain time to a self-imposed standard of excellence...stress, self-imposed stress...gotta be the worst kind imo... It is entirely within our control.

So, that being said I am taking my day off and having a day off doing what I enjoy. Working with my hands, growing things, creating things, working towards a sustainable future not dependent upon the "system".

Seedlings started for the big beds. (Carrots, radish, beets, water cress and kale)

More seedlings, blueberry plants and water chestnuts taking over the tote.

Beginning of rebuilding the drain line to the sump.

Sitting in my camp chair, listening to some smooth jazz, dinking a cup of coffee and enjoying being alive and able to do...

Peace and joy to you all.
bk

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It is amazing how things can go when your mind is chill and there is no rush...
Set and leveled 2nd sump cage.
Filled one gb with gravel...nice to see some of the pile gone

Re plumbed the drain line.
It is leaking but the biofilm will put a stop to that soon.

Sump tank and new pump working well.

Tall fish tank working as prescribed

Planted out all of the seedlings that were ready.
Hard to see...

Next is to transfer some of the cycled water and gravel from the small system over to this to accelerate the cycling.
That will probably wait until tomorrow.
Daughter has a football game. Marching band...need to clean up, eat some grub and head down there.

Peace
bk

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Shoe,

That looks like a nicely engineered system. Good work!

So the growbeds are complete IBC's filled with gravel?
You've got a possible 2 meter head there, right? What kind of pump are you using and are you happy with its performance?
Is that about a 30 cm drop from Fish Tank to Growbed?

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date with those fine pics!

--
Sam

Hey Sam,
The ibcs are full of gravel with the exception of the two layers of plastic pallets in the bottom of each for filler.

Yes, about 2 meter head.
Current pump is

Active Aqua, AAPW1000 1000-GPH Submersible,Hydroponic, Pond, Aquarium Pump - 10 Foot Cord


It works for the time being. I will be upgrading when I get the other beds set up.

Brian

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Sabbath update:
Finished plumbing the three gb drain lines from the Afghan siphons to the sump tank(s).

Also have all three gb filled with gravel and cycling.

Most of the 11,000 pounds of gravel gone...mostly by trusty Lowe's 2 gallon bucket

Sumps are connected and balancing via 2" PVC and ball valve in case I ever want to separate them.

Covered drain lines. (The end is left open so I can add the 4th gb after the greenhouse wall is built)

Have some watercress in a shallow bowl getting it started.


Sump tanks covered...
Had a dream/thought last night of something falling in and being trapped...

Changed out about 3/4 of goldfish water. Pumped it to each of the three grow beds to assist with cycling.

Think I'm going to call it a day, (for the outside work anyway), still redoing the kitchen, moving cabinets, repairing drywall, ripping down walls etc...

Peace brethren.
bk

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