Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I used some zip ties for now, I was a bit worried that the hose clamp might puncture something while moving rocks around, will bang on the hose clamp last I think.

Signing up to the forum and all to answer! Good service!

You've got some beautiful ponds in the gallery section of your website. Gives me idea about how to have a very nicely landscaped, natural looking AP system!

Progress is looking good dogdoor, and I would leave the zip ties in place - they are only there to stop the rubber from rolling over with movement, they don't actually form a critical part of the seal with such low head pressure.

I'd love to take credit for the ponds on our gallery Colum, but alas my garden design skills are negligible. If you look at the websites for Phillip Johnson Landscapes and Full Potential Landscapes you will see some other great ideas for AP systems. Those designers use natural filtration systems to create swimming pools emulating the natural processes of billabongs.

Chris

Thanks Chris, good advice. Will do.

I have rocked in the pond about half way and underestimated how many rocks I needed. More today, hopefully my back survives!

1/2 rocked in

this rock = good

Skimmer Test = Excellent

Big Day!

Nearly there.

*clapping*
Looks fantastic!


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Thanks Katmac.
Pretty happy with the results, just need to pretty it up with some coping stones, river pebbles and some plants. I think the brick wall behind is screaming for a vertical garden recirculated from the pond.

Big shout out to Chris from BeutyLiner - for not only helping me load and unload extra rocks but providing home delivery and for doing so on a Saturday!
Cheers mate.

Rocks IN the pond ? no no, do not do that ! I thought the rocks were for landscaping around the pond, I can see a few potential problems having them in the pond. First up if any of them are limestone you'll have high PH. Secondly if the fish waste collects in and around the rocks it will create an anaerobic environment, unless you already thought of a way to clean in an around them ? I have no experience with ponds but thats my first thoughts anyway.
cheers.

Here's as example of limestone in water. I used some rocks to keep my redclaw crate/house things in place. They happened to be limestone. After reading this thread I thought I better check the ph in tanks with and without the limestone.

Yikes!

The rocks are mostly Cold Stream Rocks. I phoned the quarry just now to ask what type of stone composition this is and they advised that it is Rhyolite: according to Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyolite

"Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic (silica-rich) composition (typically > 69% SiO2—see the TAS classification). It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic. The mineral assemblage is usually quartz, sanidine and plagioclase (in a ratio > 2:1—see the QAPF diagram). Biotite and hornblende are common accessory minerals.... Rhyolite can be considered as the extrusive equivalent to the plutonic granite rock, and consequently, outcrops of rhyolite may bear a resemblance to granite. Due to their high content of silica and low iron and magnesium contents, rhyolite melts are highly polymerized and form highly viscous lavas."

it's All Greek to me - no mention of Limestone though!

There is also some mudstone (which I think is compressed clay).

I can live with some anaerobic spots behind the rocks. I plan to have good aeration and 50ltrs of K1 plus a solids filter plus some plants in the pond in some of the gaps.

I picked up a test kit so will find out tonight. Fingers crossed