Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

G'day all. I've been a long time lurker on the forums and thought i should stick my 2 bobs worth on here for all to see and see if I can get some therapy for my "issues".

I've currently got 1 small system running and a much larger IBC based system cycling.

System 1 started off as a way of cleaning the water in my goldfish tank especially once jaws (aka pansize) grew.
The system is an old BBQ frame, an old kitchen sink, 1 90cm sump outside, 1 90cm tank inside and 3 small growbeds.

It's been awesome but gets no sun during winter so its very very slow but still keeps the water clean for the fish. Thankfully the fish and the plants go into cold stasis at the same time. During summer it explodes with life. I even have baby yabbies hatched in the sump

I get the waste water outside via a 20mm home made overflow and it always starts and stops as needed. I just have to suck the air out every now and again. I had problems initially but worked them out.
1. Make sure it's all sealed with no possible air ingress. Once I sealed the suck hose with silicon it rarely needs clearing.
2. Make sure the outflow pipe is level. It makes a massive difference for the ability of the overflow to stop and start on command. Never fails any more.
3. Watch your water flows. 20mm cant handle a full flow from a 15mm pumped supply so make sure there is a tap/valve to be able to regulate it.

Inside tank.

Not the best shot as the fish kept moving and I haven't cleaned the glass in about a year. There are also about 10 freshwater mussels helping to keep the water clean.

Overflow.


Summer beans.


The beans are doing double duty in that they are also sheltering the sump from the sun.

This system is going to be decommissioned in the near future as the frame is giving way under the weight of the growbeds and Jo is getting sick of my fishtanks inside....


Queue system 2.

Looking good!

What's the plan for Pete's Aquaponics Mach 2!

So system 2 is well underway and is currently cycling.

It's currently 1200 litres with 1 ibc a 200litre sump and 2 100l kids shell growbeds. I've also plumbed for 2 more IBC's to increase the thermal mass.




Cleaned and cut fishtank

SLO put in place whilst the tank was out of the shed



Had to clear some room to get it in

IBC in place

Was taking ages to gravity fill from the slightly downhill main watertank so added a 2kph pump which helped immensely.


Still had to wait 24hrs for the glue to cure and couldn't wait for it to finish. The following day I pulled the 5kph pump from system 1 and replaced it with the 2kph as the 2k just didn't have the capacity needed to run the new system.



Output from the SLO


I'm glad I used a 50mm drain as the 5kph pumps out like mad!
I also found that there was a lot of splashing from spraybar so I created a hinged lid out of the waste lid from the IBC.

Does the trick beautifully.

This pic shows the closed splash cover and the plumbing ready for the second IBC.


Not much else to tell until the system has cycled for a couple of weeks and I can transfer the goldfish in. I'll be getting trout from Ballarat when the system is cycled and ready to go but that may still be next season. Planning on 50 trout so 'll have to add some additional grow beds to filter wastes.

I so hope that my goldfish are happy in the new system as it will give them much more room to move. Jaws/pansize is 25cm long and I have had my 4 largest for 6 years.

You know there is dedication when you drill a hole through a wall in your house!

Looks good though.

Only recommendations I'd make are to paint the clam shells, it'll get a little more life out of them.

And it looks like you've got a chop 2 design (pumping water from sump to fish tank & grow beds), it's not the most efficient of designs, in both electricity use, and water turn over (water with ammonia gets pumped back into the fish tank). If you could gravity feed the grow beds direct from the fish tank, then you'd solve that problem.

I saw the cycling only sign above the ibc and thought it funny.... Then I saw the cycles and now I'm not sure if it is...

Nice system, well done.
You're going to need a cover on the ft if you're getting trout.

I used to be a delivery driver and found the sign ripped off the post next to the bike lane so snaffled it for my bike shed.