Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

We have the excess water that is pumped out of pool/FT and going back into pool on a 45 that pushes the water down the side of the pool (Yes, we did notice that it was cleaning that side of the pool); it's an oval pool so can't get the complete effect as we would with a circular though. But it works. Right now we just have the pool pump pulling from the top of the water through the skimmer. Hubby thought we should wait to pull the solids off the bottom until we get the gravel in the GB's. We only put in like 50 or so goldfish and 10 koi (all really small -- feeder size)---so not much emulsion for 15,000 gallons of water. The fish have devoured all of the brown floating stuff and have started to clean the top walls of the pool --- we haven't started feeding them yet just letting them clean the pool (only one floatie so far and one skimmer casualty this morning. Do you think we should wait on the gravel or start pulling from the bottom now? You are very appreciated

That depends. Are to running through your sand filter, or did you bypass it? If you are trying to run through it did you remove the sand that was in it and replace it with something courser? Like beads. I ask because if you are running through it and you have replaced the sand, it wouldn't hurt to start colonizing the bacteria in it now. Other wise I would wait till you put the rock in the GBs. How are you planning to clean the solids off the bottom of the FT, once you are up and running?

By the way on the appreciation comment. That's what we are here for. To help one another succeed. Later on it will be your turn to mentor someone new.

floridafishin

We are running through the clean and empty sand filter. We are going to run a pvc pipe out of the skimmer (like you would the vacuum hose) and install a screen on the end (so we don't suck up little fish) and suck straight from the bottom

I love the idea of pools for AP in the off season or upcycling Good to see your drawing is coming into fruition

Thanks jayendra,

It's spring here and trying to get it going and planted within the next three weeks. Yes, coming into fruition! Looking back through the my posts I couldn't believe it has only been like 10 days since we started building---seems like a lot longer.

USPS finally delivered my pond plants yesterday. Got them weighted and into the pool/FT. A friend of ours who owns his own pool company helped us design a way to get the solids off the bottom of the pool/FT. Here's pics of plants and the design that he suggested.

It could work. My only worry is that since your GBs and ST are lower than the pool there is a risk of pumping the pool dry if the pump in the ST failed. If you choose to go this route I would suggest that you also put a couple of holes 2 inches below the normal waterline. To act as a vacuum break if pump failure happens. Saving your fish.

Thanks floridafishin,

Hubby said, "I didn't think about that. Yeah, they are right; that's a great idea!" Consider it implemented

Glad to help

Yeah Shelly, it gets so intense building a new project that I suspect it distorts the space-time continuum . I thought my system took forever to cycle and checking back on dates it was less than 3 weeks! It is great looking back through your system thread occasionally to see how much you have achieved and learned in your AP journey. Enjoy

And later on remembering the things you have already forgot.

Joc and floridafishin

Been going through a lot of members systems threads also from beginning to end. Some very great reads for the newbies.

Ok so yesterday we got the river pea gravel delivered and our oldest daughter and I put it into the bb gb's. When hubby got home he installed the perforated pipe down the center of each gb (I think his holes are too small because they are shooting streams of water out the sides). I don't think we did a very good job at washing the gravel because the water is cloudy in the pool/ft and when I tested water today ph is 9. Anyways heres pics of progress. I had to prune a couple of my rb tomatoe plants so I decided to just stick them in the first gb to see if something will happen.

The PH spike is probably lime in the gravel. The dust seems to be the "problem" .. if your ph was in the 7's or low 8's the ph change could kill fish but at this point there's not much you can do and it's not worth worrying about.


your grow beds will "set" and act as a filter to filter out any sand that doesnt settle on the bottom of the pool. Once things settle you can leave it or vacuum your pool.