Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yeah I realised that my pump is 350watts thats all and the one I was going to get
http://thereefshop.com.au/index.php?mai ... 423f1d9f51

is only 65watts.

Looks like things are coming together for ya

Looking forward to more progress and pics

yeap its sweet because it looks good (pleases the wife)

The other growbed is now full and I didn't bother washing the scoria.

I have this wierd thing going on with the top 10mm of the growbed - I've created an autosiphon effect with the top 15mm of the water level. Seems fine. Caused from the pipe cap having lower holes than the overflow standpipe.

Everything is working great!

Do you think I should ask the local pet stores for some aqua bacteria from their tanks:?

With this warm weather it wont take long for the bacteria to build up

I've got some more questions.

1. The time it takes to drain.

I did a test this morning and it took about 50mins from pump off (allowing for around 5mins of overflow) for the beds to drain completely.

They are different sizes.

Should I make the holes bigger ?


2. When to add more charlie carp
I've added a splurg from the bottle 3 days ago. The gentle fish smell has now gone. Should I add more?

Have you got a test kit to test ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/ph yet. The API test kits are best
When cycling you should be testing daily so when the ammonia drops add more Charlie carp to get it back up to about 1ppm

When you get it to the stage that adding CC to get to 1ppm ammonia and 24hrs later ammonia is zero, you are cycled. Then wait till nitrites reach zero and add fish

Added 2 buckets of donated aquarium water from the local pet shop.

Thinking of making a filter like vk3laj system (teddy stuffing and blue barrel), while I've got the time in the holidays.

Ordered my test kit and its getting processed.

If I was going to incorporate a filter - does it need to go on the Fish tank overflow pipe before the growbeds?

Can I make a venturi to push the water down into the fishtank from the pump into the fishtank - like vk3laj system? will this work?

I think the brown silty water is going to be hard to clear as its clay based from the pebbles

Water will clear its a matter of time. Seems like an age ago when I was asking the same question. You can try throwing some egg whites in there as they coagulate the fines so they get trapped by the growbeds

Hello brother in law,

Looks great, you did a great job with the panels and the wood.

regarding the water clearing i would be looking at around 2 weeks for any sediment to completely fall and increase visibility, keep an eye on the cycle and test daily till you cycle. Then, just test daily for the fun of it.. Your enthusiasm reminds me of what mine once was, perhaps I might have more time to dedicate spare time to my AP kit.

Love your kang kong dont you?

yay! Its my favourite fish buddy!
but I don't have a test kit yet its on its way

Hey those trout we caught (and I buried) are amazing under the garden - creating heat and heaps of worms in the compost and mulch above them. *Note to self DO NOT DIG to have a look at rotting fish - gag.

I've got another question about the return to sump pipe - what can be done with this? it's basically so my pump doesn't pump too quickly and the water just returns to the sump - can I make it go somewhere to clean something, aerate, duckweed pont etc?

had a quick read..

- don't bother washing the scoria.. I cleaned half of my scoria and the got tired of doing so, I just dumped the rest of the scoria in the growbeds and filled the system..

- To kick start the cycle I used a "Generic" Brand Cloudy ammonia, NO fragrances No Additives at all..

If you plan to run trout you need to make sure that you have a Cover over your tank opening as they do tend to jump..


Juergen

Juergen - what is cloudy ammonia - I'm cycling with charlie carp.

I've already put rocks in - one bed I washed and like yourself gave up and did the other one without washing.

Yes I'm going to work on the fish tank when I get fish. I want to insulate it and have a proper standable lid which is a little soundproof. I'm thinking a wood paling surrounding with fridge panels on the inside would look cool. Kind of like Icemandudes parents system.

one question about the IBC. Mine had a lower section where the lid was. I lined the top of the 90mm SLO outlet with just below this. When the pump is on the tank fills to about 2cm below this line at peak. Obviously a lid will stop fish jumping out but they also might jump out the sides and into the gap between tank and cage. ideas?

I'd be extremely wary about using any brand/type of "cloudy ammonia"... you might get lucky and get one without "fragrances or additives"... but you're more likely to get one that at least contains surfactants...

There are just so many other proven safe ammonia kick-staters;

Urea
Urine
Charlie Carp
Ammonia Chloride
Pure Ammonia

To name a few...

although I want to try peeponics, I keep forgetting to rush outside and fill a container. Well my backyard is open to neighbors also

Charlie Carp it is atm.

Just bought the s3000 pump from BYAP - thanks Joel.

350w down to 60w - should save some dosh.

Then my Dad can have his sump pump back

Question:
Will this be able to run more beds than the 2 I have atm?