Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

if you train the ladybirds well enough with the aphid eating, you might get time to pla on the swings

OK, a quick update.... The brickie is finally here doing his stuff, extending the step...

About 1/3 of the paving is done. Half the plumbing is done and buried... yes I know what people feel about burying pipes...

Once the brickie is done and can really get the ball rolling.

Here is an updated checklist:

1. Bury Sump Tank
2. Sink 1000L Tank
3. Get pumps
4. Get first two growbeds in and plumbed
5. Finish plumbing to rear growbeds and sump + run Cat5
6. Install pressure sensors and fill GB with hydroton
7. Finish paving
8. Fill her up...
9. Turn on...
10. Get fish
11. Get plants
12. PARTY!!!

Here a few pictures of the plumbing.....

What are you going to run over the Cat5 TimC?

There will be a Cat5e cable ran to each growbed (concealed in the stand leg) for the pressure sensors. The pressure sensors only use 2 pairs so I can use the other wires for something else later...

I will then use a Cat6--> USB adapter and have the interface down by the AP system and the computer to run it in the shed....

Each GB and tank will have a pressure sensor in them eventually. The GB are getting done now so I don't have to dig out the hydroton later.

Your patience will pay off TimC..
You will have a first class looking system..
Have you selected pump types yet?

why would people not like you burying pipes? are they afraid your backyard might not look like some hermit lives there, hording everything in sight?
nice looking system though, i like the idea with pressure sensors.

Pumps....

Heres the plan:

- 9-12 KLPH pump in the main tank on a timer
- 4500LPH in the 1000L Tank pumping into the big tank
constantly, with an over flow on the big tank returning
water back to 1000L tank..
- ~6000LPH pump in the sump tank with a float switch

The two GB closest to the main tank are gravity fed back to 1000L tank
The other two GB are returned via the sump/sump pump...

What are your plans for backup Tim?
Last weeks 13.5 hour blackout here started when all my growbeds were full of water...I was hand bailing water from sump to main tank..Would you consider putting all the pumps on battery backup? or just the sump and 1000 tank.

Love to hear your ideas.
LB

How will you be using the Pressure sensors and what type?

To measure the weight of the grow beds/tanks or do you mean water pressure?

your a champ tim, its going to be awesome when its all done

Neat job with the plumbing, it`ll look great when its done.
I don`t envy you all the hard work in 1, 2 and 4 of your to-do list. After those are out the way.. it`ll be plain sailing all the way to the party

LB, the whole system will be ran off Solar Power eventually... that is also on the big list.... Need to build two brackets to hold 4 x 60W panels.

I will use mains power as a backup. I will use the under-voltage alarm on the inverter to trigger a relay to switch the whole lot over to mains power.

The pump in the 1000L tank will be connected via a UPS so in case solar AND mains fail I have about 2-3 hours of water circulation...

Grich, the pressure sensors are Motorola MPX2010 Differential pressure sensors. It compares atmospheric pressure to the submerged pressure to determine the depth of the water and hence the number of litres in the tanks/GB's. The sensors will be mounted inside the tanks right at the bottom.

Hex, there were four things standing in my way... 2 Cocas Palm stumps, a triangle palm and that damn step... Which, however is completed... See Pic! The rest is a piece of cake in comparison...

Nice to see it all coming together Tim

Looking VERY good