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PostPosted: Dec 5th, '07, 06:45 
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twintragics wrote:
Hey gemmell.
Bathtubs are fab. We plumbed in a straight line under each tub with 90mm stormie and t-pieces. Bit of a pain bc you have to cut, join, site under bath drain hole, then do it over for the 8 tubs in my case. On the ground is great. Plants are already sitting 30cm above conventional garden bed height and drain plumbing is hidden from view. Also no need to build a support structure for the bathtubs. Things like tommies and corn can grow to their full height in this system bc you are not starting your plant a metre above the ground, if tubs are on a support structure.

My system as you see it, has cost 3 and a half grand. Big gal tank, 400 fish, gh, bathtubs, plumbing, sump, pumps, the lot. Realistically 200-300 man hours to do bc dad and I were kinda learning on the job, but I reckon it is pretty bulletproof but for pump failures which we cannot control. Just need to have spares on hand.


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?

twintragics wrote:
In my case I have a return tap from the fish pump line,in line in the fishtank. The reason I have this is my gbs sit below the height of my fishtank. Having this tap slightly opened gives a clean siphon break at the end of the pump cycle and prevents the fishtank siphoning into the (lower)gb's 24/7. It's no drama with a sump that can handle the same volume as ur fishtank, but what happens if ur sump pump fails? Do you understand?

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.
twintragics wrote:
We levelled the ground pretty well flat, didn't worry about a slope towards the drain pipe. There is buggerall water in the bathtubs at the end of the drain cycle. For my 7m by 5m gh it was about 2metres of 10mm scoria with a metre of crusher dust on top.

Look at what you pay for fibreglass gbs. Big money. Bathtubs are preplumbed, a convenient size, long lasting and cheap as buggery. Don't tell anyone else cause the price for 2nd hand tubs would skyrocket!

Join the bathtub revolution! I will need some competition once I whoop worms candyass in the bathtub/silver perch derby.

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!


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PostPosted: Dec 5th, '07, 18:07 
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Instead of raising the beds, put light reflective stuff on ur fences, easier, cheaper.


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PostPosted: Dec 6th, '07, 10:53 
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Hey great idea actually. I will see what I can do (may get vitoed (sp?) by the girl).


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PostPosted: Dec 6th, '07, 14:34 
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I will need some competition once I whoop worms candyass in the bathtub/silver perch derby.


L O L


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 Post subject: Re: A Tragic Greenhouse
PostPosted: Dec 6th, '07, 15:05 
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Hey Gemmell, don't listen to TT, he's a big loser...or atleast he's gona be.... :evil4:

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

the cost in building one is more than compensated with what you'd save buying ONLY ONE PUMP :bootyshake: not to mention the saving in running cost :glasses7: and savings in chiropractor cost
:tongue1:

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


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PostPosted: Dec 6th, '07, 15:07 
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that's a pretty big tank Worms ;)


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 Post subject: Re: A Tragic Greenhouse
PostPosted: Dec 6th, '07, 16:01 
Not as big as mine.... they're only sardines worms..... :mrgreen:


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PostPosted: Dec 6th, '07, 17:35 
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Let's see Steve fit THAT in his aquarium. Here kitty kitty.


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PostPosted: Dec 6th, '07, 20:23 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
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gemmell wrote:
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?

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.

gemmell wrote:
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.

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.


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PostPosted: Dec 6th, '07, 23:16 
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You will need a CT


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


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 Post subject: Re: A Tragic Greenhouse
PostPosted: Dec 7th, '07, 15:09 
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RupertofOZ wrote:
Not as big as mine.... they're only sardines worms..... :mrgreen:


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


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PostPosted: Dec 7th, '07, 17:54 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
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:lol: think he got the heavy end :wink:
definitely showing his immaturity in being caught out like that


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PostPosted: Dec 7th, '07, 18:45 
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EllKayBee wrote:
:lol: think he got the heavy end :wink:


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.


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PostPosted: Dec 7th, '07, 18:54 
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KudaPucat wrote:
Technology and cost is increasing here, however I am looking into just such a device with GG atm.



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?


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PostPosted: Dec 7th, '07, 19:00 
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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.


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