Backyard Aquaponics
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Hello! I'm a long time lurker on this forum, but first time builder and poster. I did not intend to post the progress of my system build at this time, but I have hit a snag in locating "cheap" plumbing supplies. Thus, I'm turning to the forum hoping for some assistance.

Here is my system thus far:

4x 1000L IBC FTs
1x 1000L IBC ST
5x 55gal blue barrels cut in half GB = 10x half barrels
1x 55gal blue barrel RFF
1x 55gal blue barrel biofilter



The soil is sandy, so the frame for the ST are blocks

Aligning the FTs



All 4 FTs in place.



Tanks with external SLO connected through IBC valve

Nice work lazdoggy can't wait to see up and running

SLO connected to RFF




Rack lined with metal shelves and topped with acrylic (?) sheets. Wood frame for GBs.



GBs lined and screwed in place

In picture 6313 are you going to put a few s/s nut and bolt to the blue barrels stop the sides from curling in?

rough config of how water will flow from filters to sump and sump to FTs/GBs. Flow from pump will change once the GBs are in place.



GB with bunghole towards the bottom



I'm using the bungholes as the outlet for the siphon. I tapped the cap so I can screw in a 3/4" MPT. I then use a put a T to allow me to make it a siphon or as let the bed continuously flood by removing the cap on top of the T. My hope is that the 3/4" is good enough to quickly siphon out the volume in the GB.

Hey RocketRod - Yes I have bolted adjacent beds together and caulked. I will get some pictures with the plumbing I ran up there.


My current issue is I can't find "cheap" 4" PVC DWV pipes for the GB drains. The local plumbing supply stores want ~$60 for a 20ft section. Is that reasonable? If not, are there any cheaper alternatives?

Would something like a 3" solid smoothwall poly pipe work? It's sold at Home Depot for ~$8 for a 10ft section.

Thanks.

I'm not all that clued up when it comes to pipe work but you will get an answer on this forum

My layout is different from you but i use multiple returns,i have 3/4 standpipes dropping into 2inch pipe,running on then to a 3inch manifold with 3 inch to the sump,i have the same capacity as you and in my situation it works well.I have 8 half barrels and two bins the same capacity as 4 half barrels,these use 1 inch standpipes dropping into 2inch pipe.There is a 16 metre run from the front beds to the sump,10 metres of 2inch x3 the remaining 3inch,not sure if this helps but might be food for thought....

Cheers buddy

Dasboot - Thanks for that idea; makes perfect sense to me. I will drain 5 beds into one 2"x10ft section which will drain into the FT. Hopefully I'll get to that today. Will keep all posted.

Fantastic system

+1 Fantastic system

May I suggest that if you have not glued the SLO pipes together a small change. That is to put a bend on the SLO where you have the "T". So the SLO comes up from the tank then around the bend into your drain pipe that will be lower than the bend. The way it is now solids a such need to be carried past each of the other "T"s

You may isolate a tank at some point and some solids will settle down the SLO for that tank.

If it is all glued then possible consider it for a future update.

Good point,with this configuration all four Tanks are connected together by this SLO,if you had uneven flow to the tanks it would tend to flow into that tank to equalise the levels...I think..

Thanks Charlie and Johny5.


Johny5 - fortunately, I learned from this forum that changes are inevitable with plumbing, and so I haven't glued any of the joints. Thanks for that idea; I had not thought about potentially settling in an "isolated" tank's SLO. Is the tee below what you're referring to? Or connecting a 90 to the SLO, then to the tee I have?




DB - there is a bit of a slope going from the tank on the left down to the last tank on the right and into the RFF, so I don't foresee water flowing back. I haven't noticed any pooling of solids on the tanks toward the left.