Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I thought you liked charlies idea of the RFF between the FT and the Pump barrel. That way you get a smoother flow into the RFF.

O yeah that too..

So Fishtank >> RFF (buried to height of fishtank) >>> PUMP TANK >> also buried or half buried to overflow height of RFF/fishtank >>> pumped to growbeds with a return to fishtank also for throttling.
Then a few sumps to regulate flow back to fishtank.

Saw the fish tank today

The wall's won't get built on Saturday as they haven't finished the footings

Might be a couple of weeks until its ready.

How would you clean a buried RFF?


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Airlift, geyser pump or PDP (positive displacement pump)

Thanks sleepe - what would you recommend for a barrel RFF?

Here is the tank finally in
Still unsure how to:
cut lid
light for fish
Outlet height for double buried barrel




And also made this with some kids and interested community members



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Okay does this design look better?

Will you need a child proof fence around the ft? I would check regulations on this as you do not want to have anyone accidentally fall in if someone pops off a lock or forgets to lock the lid. BY systems would be fine, but in public is a whole other matter.


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Yeah thanks for the reminder - I will ask the organisers.
Its going to have a stone wall about 40cm high around it and growbeds on top of them.
There will be a gate across one section and the lid will be sturdy and lockable.

Did you fill the tank before back filling?

jayendra how are you going to drain/clean your RFF?

Its not backfilled yet - just lightly sprinkled - but yes have to fill the tank up

Thats what I was wondering - if I do this design how am I going to clean filter>?? Sleepe suggested a pump.

If I put the RFF up higher and after the pump barrel then won't the flow be to much coming in? I guess your idea of increasing pipe size to 100 might work?

My first RFF had a sump pump sitting in it that ran for about 20sec every six hours. In my MKII RFF I have a cement cone at the base with a 32mm pickup pipe in the center that is connected to an external pump. This time it runs for 10 sec once every 24hours.

If you are going to just take the waste for use on the other parts of the garden, you could just have a key switch to run the pump and feed into a bucket.

The key switch is to stop some one emptying your system by turning the pump on.

what sort of pump would you recommend in a Blue barrel 250 litre drum - I wouldn't want to empty the entire barrel, and from my experience the best method is using a hose with a bell end to siphon and move around the surface of the bottom - cleans the whole much out with only about a bucket full of water taken out.

That sounds fine. You cal always add automation at a later date.