Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello Folks,

I've been gleaning information from this site (and others) for a year or so now and am back home in West Central Thailand, my wife new daughter and I plus a few clan members, live on this 7 hectare site, we moved in on 1st of October but I've been away for 80% of the time.

Now I am back I am impatiently waiting for the purchase of the land to be completed, now the last (of three) payment will be made in late March.
A dispute between the (former) owner and the farmer renting the land behind the house where he is growing tapioca/cassava has dropped the brakes on him clearing it unfortunately.

It's all a bit frustrating to say the least. I needed to something so I attempted to make a pool filter, I'm the only one who swims in it apart from the 5000 or so fish in it!

I quickly found out that these blue barrels are VERY sensitive to pressure and had to make a few adjustments, 40mm to 25 mm on the fountain created far too much back pressure.

the gravel is about 22 in size, it wasn't cleaning as well as I thought I've filled it up with filter/sponge material, but it's so slow the 10 cubic m/hr pump seems a bit puny, but the two barrels in parallel are at max capacity.
I guess the pool volume is about 1200 cubic metres.

I can use the pump in the future for my AP system and maybe beef up the pool pump.

Here's what I have in mind and the land I'm itching to be let loose on!

Looking forward to your project Tang Mo,were you trying to clear the dirt pond with those two barrel filters ?
but I would love to have one about the same size, i would have Tilapia coming out of my ears..

In your plan you have two swirl/radial flow filters,you will also need a system to remineralise the solids collected,or don’t bother and let your beds do it for you..
For my system i have taken it out and in a short time in my opinion growth is better,this was down to my poor reuse of the solids its just something i still have to learn and on top of everything else i decided to let the system do it,its something i will do later.

The pond is full of dead and falling leaves unfortunately DB, it's been neglected for years. I'm in there a couple of hours a day and raking up as much as I can, I'm the oxygen levels can't be too clever at this time of year.
I'll chop the 12 big eucalyptus down later as they are the culprits. Don't fret I've at least 50 fruit and non-fruit trees to stick in their place!
I've just been looking at SeaSun aquarium in BKK at the test kits, I thought I'd treat myself to an 6000ltr/hr air pump. (provided they can answer my question about hoses and airstones.)

I might skip the filters on the AP as you suggest.

It's noticeably hotter today!

ATB

Ive been hanging for this project to get under way too. Everything Ive seen come out of Thailand has been pure class so I hold high hopes for this one too.

Love the dam too!

Just going over the pics again can you explain the plumbing on the drum filters as it doesn't make sense to me. Sorry in advance if sometimes my questions seem abrupt but I type as I think and just want to help.

For my airlines I’m using the small black irrigation pipe available,its a nice push fit over the air taps available and with the manifold that will come with that air pump,the beauty of it is the price i paid 175 baht for a huge coil. I bought it originally for the feed lines for the tubes.
Charlie i looks like the three fish tanks into the two swirls,with the option to bypass through the third line,with the valves it looks like you could turn one or both off for cleaning etc etc.

I'll tell you what was in my mind Charlie, it may have been wrong and I think I am going to miss them out.
Fish tanks are to have SLO and then they were to flow into the top of the barrel filters, I was going to use a mix of gravel and synthetics inside - water leaves out the bottom.
The valve on the right hand side was for flow control if there was ever a problem with either filter.

Please don't hold your breathe mate!
I think I'll be back to work before the land issue is cleared up, the pond/pool will be my project this time off methinks.
No pressure to make it work eh? haha

I just want to make sure I get enough hose or find out what size it is, hopefully I'll get an answer tomorrow.

It took me 2 hours to water all the vegies and some trees this evening, I was thinking how much easier things will be when the AP is up and running.

What a difference 2 months and lots of rain makes!

The flooded area is where I had planned to build the AP shed.

I need to think of a plan B!

Now those are quite dramatic pictures Tang Mo,living here i have discovered the merits of plan b and occasionally plan c and we have yet to get into the rainy season….

I'm delighted to report that work has started on the AP home!
As seen from the kitchen window.
12 x 6 metres should do it.

Great to see you started Tang Mo!

Thanks Charlie, it's been a test of patience at times.
Unfortunately it's only 21 days before I'm off to work again, I'd hope to get the shed done and the sumps sunk at the very least.