Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

so would i be better to put the barrel plugs back in and fill the GB's from the top?

That's what I'd be doing.

Root invasion is the reason that people fill their grow beds from the top. If you fill from the bottom roots will clog the pipe work. That is also why we have media guards around our drains. So we can do routine maintenance.
BTW, what part of Washington?

ok so got the trail water flows yesterday the problem i came across was my grow beds were draining way too fast, i never got more then a few inches of water, and thats using a 1650 GPH pump . does that mean the drain holes in the bottom of my standpipes are too big? too many?

I HAVE WON!!


SHE PUMPS, SHE FLOWS


SHE IS ALL TOGETHER!!


SHE FILLS AND DRAINS PERFECT!!


OMG I'M SO EXCITED!! At first I had the 2 inner beds filling and not the outers, then I found I can adjust the T's and elbows to an angle to even things out

The pump ran 6 minutes and shut off, 2 more minutes of water flowing and the beds were up to the top of the standpipe and draining well.

anyone? well this stinks, at least i like it

Haha, well done, RobD. Don't you love the satisfaction you get from coming up with solutions to practical problems like these plumbing ones? When the water eventually flows just the way you envisaged it, the joy is almost palpable!

one 6mm hole in the base of the standpipe is usually sufficient, although a slightly smaller or slightly larger hole can be used, but rarely are more holes required, the one hole.

i fear your inlets to the GBs are going to interfere with the plants and as you've seen, you have issues with balancing the flows to each GB, whereas had you plumbed like shown in my sketch, you'd have much more equal flow without any tuning, and the pipe work would be appearing over the ends of the barrels thus minimising the impact on the growing space.

Good job Rob! You put it together great! Now for washing some gravel

bunson, I removed the lower inlet fills for the GB's and moved the fills above, and also got rid of the fill from the very end so I could even out the nutrients and water i made my fill line enter between the two middle beds so its an even split. its working great so far, the beds fill even end to end

Nice neat pipework!

ok so, next phase, is there a FAQ or thread on getting my PH and stuff in check so I can get me some fishies ? also would i get a better "poop swirl" on the bottom if i directed my inlet over and down the the bottom of the tank?

Pick up an API freshwater master test kit. When it comes to ph, don't spend too much time fiddling with it. If it is too low, put some shell grit in a sock in your sump. If it is waaaay too low, you might have to add some lye. I doubt that that will be an issue for you. When cycling, patience is the key. The test kit is just to let you know where you are in the cycling process. If you are cycling with fish, it will let you know when you need to stop feeding and salt up. If you are cycling without fish, it will let you know when you are ready for fish.

i have no idea what any of the levels are yet i been looking for a tutorial

Bunson has a tutorial that he usually drops in as you get just a tad further. You never said what part of Washington you are from. I grew up in South Kitsap county.