Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

One way is to use a siphon pipe, I have connected 2 tanks together using 40mm pipe - check out pic 4 & 5*here*

Just need to lower wheelie bin, there may be other ways

I'll let AussieP explain his method

If i understand you Les, the height of the water in the wheelie bin will be the same as the height of the water in the fish pond, if they are connected by a pipe. As water is pumped out of the fish tank, lowering it, water flows into the fish tank from the wheelie bin. My u shaped pipe needs to extend into each tank, to the depth of the lowest point in the fishtank at the end of the pump cycle just prior to GB siphons kicking in. I know nothing of physics and plumbing so please correct me if this is wrong.

On a related matter, have adjusted my taps so GB's all fill at the same rate. Problem is siphons kick in at different times. The high point of the siphon tube is within 1-2cm across the 4 beds. Any hints?

I also seem to have a leak of 20lts per day from the spa plug i presume. It is 45mm believe it or not and i have had to buy a 40mm plug that flares to 45mm where plug seats into drain pipe. Will a biofilm plug the plug in time? Had a scratch around, soil under the tank is quite damp.

Ran the spa pump for half an hour to speed up water clarification thru spa filter. No pump shops open 2day so haven't got the pump timer yet. Dasall.

Ammo < .6 tonight, nitrite about .2, pH in the mid 7s. Will i get an ammo spike 2moro morning with the addition of secret ingredient "X"?

What can i expect to pay for water heaters and how energy consumptive are they?

Anybody seen those 90m2 modules from Global Aquaponics. 15m by 6m and they want 20 grand. GMAFB. Reckon the bods here could build the same system for less than half that. They talk about gross and net sales (in the same breath) of 100k per module per year. Methinks if it SEEMS too easy, it normally ISN'T.

Hey TT,

they (EcoPlan/Global Aquaponics) only quoted me a $25,000 return on the $20,000 cost ...
and wouldn't give any further breakdown unless they were hired as consultants....

AND that $20,000 doesn't include the cost of accomodation, flights, food and other expenses involved with installation of their "turnkey" system

When pressed further they actually admitted that they couldn't supply any photos of their system... because it was "still undergoing refinement" and when asked for photos of other client installations and references, the only photo they could provide me with was a photo of one of Wilson Lennards systems at about 2/3rds capacity.

They did openly acknowledge that it was one of Wilson Lennards systems and that he was a "developer and consultant" assisting them to develope their systems....

Caveat Emptor.... Let the buyer beware.... they say... so true.

I really hope that AP doesn't go the way that Aquaculture, Olive Tree Plantations and Forestry Plantation schemes have gone in the past.

Yep - better if you could use a more squatter shaped receptacle, but that's how it works

Thanks Les. In a conciliatory gesture, I gave the wife the 1000lt squat tank my new best friend gave me, out the front for her roses. Hooked it up today and all. Could have given HER the wheelie bin hooked up, but now she stays away from my 13600lt water (read AP water) tank in the back yard. Trade off works for me big time.

Rup those lads seemed like deadset school boys to me. There is so much good info on this forum and they want you to cough up 20large plus expenses b4 they lift their skirts. Good luck boys, whilst they develop a bad rap, people here will be getting the job done.

TT, what test kit are you using?

I haven't got mine with me, but i don't remember seeing 0.6 for ammo or 0.2 for nitrites on the scale.........

Mini Master Steve made by Nutrafin.

Quick question, and i hate to sound like a complete dork BUT, is a pump timer the same thing as a tap timer?

Not exactly. The majority of us here use the multiple time on/off timers that sit inline with the power going to the pump. So for example F&D users would have the timer switch the pump on for 10 mins or there abouts and then off for 20 mins, and set multiple times throughout the day.

Ideally you would need a timer that could set off at least a F&D cycle an hour, or more during the day. It can be more or less depending on the size of the grow beds etc.

The one I have used from Jaycar Cat No. MS6110.

Thanks TC

Update. Bought a HPM digital timer. Have organised it to cycle 10 mins/hr at this stage, 14 hours a day. The timer works perfectly, the syphons work perfectly and my flow rate has been adjusted so the GB's are close to full but not overflowing at the end of 10 minutes. Feeling pretty chuffed.
When i get fish, i will prolly get it to cycle twice an hour over the 14 hours. Got my 10 watt bubbler Stevo, to run during the day. If i was really keen, i would put another $15 timer on my $10 bubbler, but not that crazy,yet.
Still getting ammo readings around1.0, nitrite about .2, pH in the mid 7s has dropped very marginally over the week. My nitrate is not yet registering. With my pump cycling regularly now, i expect a build up in bacterial population and guess i will start to get some sort of nitrate reading soon.
A real sense of achievement, even tho the hard stuff is yet to begin.
Priced heaters. You can pay plenty, but will settle for 3 300watt? ones at about 30 bucks each, when i get my fish.

Was surprised how quickly my spa filter cleared the tank the other night. I am thinking of using some remaining 20mm scoria placed in a bag in the filter, to act as a bio filter. This will remove the fish poo waste at the bottom of the tank. Every now and then i will empty the thing and wash the sludge onto the compst heap. Thoughts?

good progress

Expect the complete nitrogen cycel to take about 4 weeks and probably not finish properly till say two weeks after you add the fish.

ammonia dropping and nitrite peaking (up to 4+ sometimes) is the sign that you're about half way.

Keep in mind that Salt can reduce the toxicity of nitrite to fish so when you get your fish dose the tank to say 3ppt (can't remember the amounts for inhibiting nitrite tox. but as we know that 3ppt staves off ich and the SP don't mind it at all then i think its a good one to go with

Are you having fun yet?

Having a ball. Feel like i am ticking a few boxes.
Reckon i will dose the fish in a 100lt garbage bin for a few days when i get them. Throw in the bubbler and 1 heater. If the nitrite reading is not too high in the fish tank, then don't have to worry about plants/salt. If it is a little hexy i could add a bit if required.
Given i only have 400lts of GB's at the mo, i think 30 SP will do me. Kick off nice and easy.

what was your tank size again?