Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all...

I've been away for a while and decided I couldn't come back without having something interesting to share with you all, so here it is , my fourth aqua system.

Systems I, II, and III have come and gone (I will update those threads shortly and summarise them) but I have incorporated the growbeds from my Marron system (II) in this one, with a view to upgrading later on. For the tanks I have two IBCs which I picked up for an absolute steal. The system is a bit light on the growbed volume side of things, so I will keep it lightly stocked with a few goldfish in one tank, and my baby marron (85 of them) in the other until I can upgrade to some nicer beds.

Some pics for you...



One IBC has been half-buried, the other is raised up on a course of large limestone blocks. The pump lifts water from the low IBC to the high one, and there is an overflow at the top of the high IBC which feeds the growbeds.



The growbeds are configured much like my old system with simple looped siphons. These were installed and worked perfectly first time, basically because I'm using the same pump and number of beds (hence same fill rate). The only difference being the siphons drain into one 90mm return pipe which is plumbed back into the lower tank.



When I do decide to upgrade my growbeds, I will look to incorporate a larger siphon (like one of LKB's beauties) to provide more aeration as the water returns. At the moment it isn't too bad though, this pic shows the water flow with only 1 bed draining, when all 4 drain simultaneously there is a lot more agitation/aeration of the water in the lower tank.



The total volume of the system is around 1800-1900 litres, at rest the bottom tank is almost full and the top tank is full to the level of the overflow.



Growbeds are filled with the same pea-gravel/hydroton mix as last time, I moved the whole lot by hand and so I hope I don't have to move it again for a loooooonnng time.

After cleaning the IBC's repeatedly and thoroughly (I think they had motor oil in them beforehand) I filled the new system with rainwater/old system water, and introduced the goldfish (bottom) and marron (top) to their new homes.

I started holidays on Monday and got the whole system put together over the past 3 days, not a bad effort. Now, I just have to wait for it to cycle some more before I plant some stuff...

Wow simmo, yo're going to have more systems than there a re rocky movies!

on ya!

Hey Simmo. The thing i am most proud of in my system is the simmo patented 13mm autosiphons! I love 'em. Welcome back.
Guessing that the lil marron came from inhouse stock you had. Look fwd to catching up on those threads.

Its my only system that is running at the moment, but hopefully this one will be around for a bit longer. All of it's predecessors were hampered by lack of sunlight and water volume, so I fixed both of those issues in one go.

Is that 13mm tubing and not 19mm???

Any particular reason one way or another??

Sure were TT, the largest of the marron was around 50mm, the smallest was tiny, barely 5mm. These siphons have been really reliably for me, so for the moment I'm happy to use them, and I'm glad to have helped you out too.

Let me know -cough- if the marron present an overstocking issue down the track -cough-.

Cause you asked about the Marron, heres a pic of them...



Rupert I found the 13mm flexi tube first so I went with it, I bought 20m of the stuff and used lots of it mucking around with siphons. 19mm would work just as well.

You look way overstocked there already man. I am always happy to selflessly offer to take excess off your hand. Just thinking bout the well being of the marron of course.
Seriously tho, do they drop eggs that are fertilised or give birth to live young?

The eggs stay with the female (stuck to the underside of her tail) until they hatch. Females clutching eggs are said to be 'berried'.

Thx

hey do you have anything in the lower tank? A while back I had a breeding tank which received water from my main tank and then it drained into the grow bed. I found that with this configuration I got a LOT of solids build up in my breeding tank and it would settle there an not move on to the grow beds.

If the lower tank is just a sump with nothing in it you may not have a problem, but with it stocked, you may run into problems.

Hi Simmo,

Love your work have enjoyed and been informed by your other threads.

I've heard that the IBC's are made from non UV stabilised plastic. Alot of people around me that use them cover them up so that they last longer.

STuart

Do the Marron cannabalize each other during molting?

DTHawk - The top tank has Marron, with a gravel substrate for them to forage in. The bottom tank has no substrate and has around 25 smallish goldfish (varying from 15cm-5cm in size). I will make sure to let you guys know if I start to get issues with the pump clogging due to solids buildup, but I reckon it will be able to handle the goldfish poo no problems...

Stuart- Cheers mate, I'll keep an eye on the IBC's but hopefully they will be OK for a few years. I plan to put up either lattice or shadecloth (hence the pine poles) which will protect them from the morning sun. They are directly South of my shed which provides shade from direct sunlight most of the afternoon, another reason for choosing this location.

MF - They are very vulnerable during and after moulting as their new shell takes a few days to harden. It is common for them to stay inside their hide for the entire duration of moult and hardening - which can be a few days.