Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

There ya go! Awesome

My germination success in the media beds is limited. Seed starting on soil is easy.

True that another option is germinating them in moist paper towels. I've had great success doing this with my chilli (pepper) plants.


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Lately I've been toying with the idea of building a RAS for a few reasons. Firstly, because I need to take 15 Silver Perch from my current AP System due to overstocking. Secondly, because I want to maintain a steady supply of mature Fish for my AP System FT when restocking after harvest. Thirdly, because I've run out of sufficient sunlight in my backyard for another AP System. And Fourthly, because I reckon it'd be flippin awesome!!

So here is my design...

I'm open to construction suggestions if it looks as though me design has flaws, I've never built one before and have been looking at a couple of design variations from different Systems. Cheers!

Using the pump with the venturi like that will decrease the efficiency of the (i'm assuming you mean moving bed i.e. mbbf) moving bed filter because the contact time will be decreased due to the recirculation with the pump.

Not saying it won't work.

I'd remove the pump loop, change it so the water enters and exits the mbbf on opposite ends, and put a large membrane diffuser on the bottom.

In RAS-type systems the thing that limits system load is air exchange. You need to strip the CO2, and add O2. Don't skimp on air.

You might want to have a look at Rob's video on using the biofilter as a trickling filter. He used a removeable pipe in the sump to set the water level - I'm still trying to figure this out. It worked great to clarify the water and then he just flushed the solids out of the biofilter. Your system layout looks good, I'm assuming the venturi pipe actually goes higher and is just drawn this way to eliminate clutter. If that's not the case you'll need to lengthen the tube to above the water height or you'll have problems. I'm still looking at my biofilter plumbing so I'm not sure what to tell you on that. I think you need a drain for the solids in the RFF to be pulled off. Rob also had a way to conserve water when cleaning his filter that involved another line to pull off the water above a certain level - you may or may not need this

Probably knew these things already, if not hopefully this helps. Cheers.

Good to know about the pipe needing be longer on the Venturi. I didn't realise it had to be higher than the water level. Makes sense though.

I did see on one of Robs vids how he added a valve outlet at in the RFF to syphon the solids through. I think I'll revisit that and refresh my memory on how he did it.


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More pics



Plant growth




Threw some kale seeds in and thinned them out once sprouted.

It looks good Matthew, I'm just wondering if the pump output would slow the flow from the RFF, maybe you want that?

Thanks mate. The diagram probably doesn't do much justice. The flow from the RFF in the BioF works as a low pressure spray bar (more of a drip bar) above the water (bio ball) surface in the MBBioF. I'm assuming your referring to the pump output back into the BioF via Venturi? If so, that wouldn't effect water flow through the RFF at all. Hope that makes sense?

I only just realized what you meant. Ive been using Tapatalk on my Ipad and could'nt follow the directions you gave regarding embeding vids.... ah but now attempting it on the PC it all makes perfect sense!

Watch this space...

Latest Vid Update... embeded
I also decided to take a tour of my backyard and explain future expansions

I quite literally have egg on my face at the end of the vid
Only noticed it while whatching the vid
the lady i bought the Quail off chucked in a few eggs so we thought we'd give em a try.

Love your work Matthew. Lots going on in your backyard and looks really productive for an urban backyard. Couple of questions for you. What do u do with all those chillies? I have a couple of black soldier fly units at my place too. Can you put up some photos of your design? Apologies if they are on here somewhere.


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LOL gotta watch the breakfast on the Mo.

good work.