Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well... All my fish are dead! Except one. I can home this evening to find my pump in the sump tank shooting water against the bottom of the growbed above it instead of into the piping which had come loose! I'm very disappointed, 27 fish dead. I'm assuming the drowned because the Venturi (I know right!) that was connected to the main flow was off due to the disconnection. 8 of the fish are too small to eat but the other 18 are good enough, the biggest of which is 23cm at 246grams.

So... Its time to start over, I'm going to use an air stone in the FT this time. And put a zip-tie on the hose going into the pump. Any other suggestions?

Also I'm looking for a different kettle of fish, SP just take too long to grow due to winter. Any suggestions here?

Here are some pics... Would they be ok to eat???






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Sorry for the lose,but i reckon there ok to eat,clear eyes and no bloating..

Good to hear. Waste not. Cheers mate.


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we used to use zipties in my field (wireless Internet field tech) but the consensus lately is never trust a ziptie. I can't speak from experience as aquaponics is still new and I don't know if the metal in a hose clamp is another no no for fist, but I'd try anything else other than a ziptie

Well I could always use an irrigation clamp


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Two possible solutions

1. Make sure the pressure pipe coming from the pump is glued and use a pipe union which allows you to separate the pieces to remove the pump.

2. On non pressure fittings I sometimes use a short stainless steel screw if I don't want to glue the fitting. It's possible you might be able to use a screw in this application if done carefully at a thicker fitting area (maybe making the connection under water where it won't matter if it leaks or using a rubber gasket at the screw head might work.

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You could also work some combination of these.

Sorry you lost them

Connecting my pipe to the pump, I've used these:
http://www.bunnings.com.au/deks-industr ... r_p4730489

The stainless clamps are fine in the system.

I'd also glue up anything that can come loose.

Can you grow out something like Jade Perch with your weather?

Sorry to hear of your loss Mathew, having just lost 46 Jade's I know how you feel. Try Jades for a bit faster growing as they should be ready in 12 months. A bit for subseptable to cold water but will survive down to 9c but not if it is constant. Will not eat during the winter but hit the food hard again at 22c so watch the over feeding.

From my pumps I always reduce to a 1 inch threaded fitting ( nipple ) in either pvc or black irrigation fittings. I then use a 1 inch blue suction line which has slight ripples on the outside, available from irrigation shops. I force a 1 inch bayonet tap fitting in the end and use a stainless hose clamp to hold it in position. May have to heat the hose to get the fitting in.

Will be heading down to the system soon and take a couple of photos. Cheers

This is the hose I make up, just have a 1 inch threaded fitting on the pump and line to the tank.

These are the types of bayonet hose fittings, these are a 20mm and 13mm bayonet just as an example. Both fit on a 1 inch /25 mm thread.


Hope these help. Cheers

Is it okay to have a couple galvanized hose clamps then? Or are those stainless steel?

Fitted hose clamp - Ready to go!
Extensive range
Made to fit Australian pipes
World Class Polymer, flexible compound
Stainless Steel Band

As it states in the last line from the add, only use stainless steel clamps

Awesome guys, cheers for the info and support!

A stainless steel clamp looks like the go!

Thanks for the advice ccBear!

I have ordered 25 Jade Perch fingerlings, they should arrive by Wednesday next week. I'm in Southeast Queensland so the weather should be warm enough year round.


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Where are you getting your fingerlings from?

Tank will go cold for winter but my jades have handled 9c for a couple days at a time and that happens a few times during winter.