Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I know you can set up a UPS to email/sms you when it switches over to/from batter power - can we use the same technology to detect a failure in the pump and send us an email? Surely it's just measuring the current on the line and doing an action when it cuts out (using the battery power). Then at least you'd know straight up if your pump goes. Anyone know more about UPS's and what would happen if the UPS backed pump actually fails?


Yeh I think so. I had a similar problem in my first setup (sump pump pumped up to main tank, when pump turned off it siphoned all the water back to the sump) - I just suspended the return above the water so it doesn't siphon back.

I'm certainly thinking of it. My problem is that I'm doing it behind the shed and that I may actually need to raise the beds off the ground just so it gets enough light!

Instead of raising the beds, put light reflective stuff on ur fences, easier, cheaper.

Hey great idea actually. I will see what I can do (may get vitoed (sp?) by the girl).

L O L

Hey Gemmell, don't listen to TT, he's a big loser...or atleast he's gona be....

go the rack...the rack is back....and where its at

the cost in building one is more than compensated with what you'd save buying ONLY ONE PUMP not to mention the saving in running cost and savings in chiropractor cost
:tongue1:

oh yeh, heres what I pulled out of the tank today....do I win yet

that's a pretty big tank Worms

Not as big as mine.... they're only sardines worms.....

Let's see Steve fit THAT in his aquarium. Here kitty kitty.

Technology and cost is increasing here, however I am looking into just such a device with GG atm. You will need a CT ($30 for the cheapest) and a brain of some sort, either a micro or a PC not cheap, with analog inputs (normally another $50 at least). A PC with serial connection to an old nokia works alright. I've built a couple of those for business before.
You wouldn't get away with this for under $100 if you had t build it yourself.


Raising the output pipe is the easiest way yes. If this is not possible, a non-return valve is not expensive... you can get big PVC (50mm) for less than $10 or brass 1" varieties for $15 - $20...
Raising the outlet like you did is certainly the cheapest... Also be aware of non-return valves, as they can get gummed up with plant matter, (or heaven forbid - fish)
Raising the outlet also improves aeration... so it's a win win if possible.

or a $2 relay connected to the DI of your "brain" we're not looking at quantifying the current

In the picture, the guy on the left looks like his about to bloody explode!

think he got the heavy end
definitely showing his immaturity in being caught out like that

You can say that again - the guy on the right is basically holding a the small end of the tail. I've often wondered if there is a shred of truth to that image or whether it's completely doctored.

You can get a decent PC for nothing (check out freecycle, they come up all the time) or next to nothing (in your local paper). So thats little or no cost. Connect it to the UPS and have it send an email when stuff changes (most UPS come with usb connector and software e.g. this one, so no extra cost there).

With 3 (the mobile phone provider) you can pay a few dollars a month and it will forward emails from a nominated email address to your phone. Thus not requiring the expense of another mobile or messages or anything.

So I reckon for the price of the UPS + $3 a month you could do it.

Anyway, this is a hijack. Shall we adjourn to another thread?

well, the broodfish thing looks like it is a goer. Get my milkvat plumbed into the system on Monday, pick up 2fm and 3m on Tuesday.
Looking at some land out of town atm, so poor broodfish might get moved twice in a month. Won't be breeding from them this year, so hopefully things will be ok. Apparently they are ready to pop but female silvers reabsorb their eggs (Lake) if they do not spawn.

I think I will plumb from the base outlet of the milkvat and run up the outside of the big tank and down the inside of same. That means connection pipe between the 2 is at ground height (easy to walk over,) not hip height.

Growth in the gbs is terrific. Will post a series of 3 week pics on Tuesday. Cucumbers were flowering 2 days ago, 15 days after being transplanted out of seedling tray! Everything looks solid, lost a couple lettuce thru heat from the gb rocks.

One of the eight fish from original setup is flashing lazily. These guys are in one of the sump tanks. I will whack some salt in, hope it doesn't affect the babies in the big tank (the ich, not the salt). With broodfish coming online in the same system, need everything nice and clean. Will harvest the original fish if i need to.

Dasall.