Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Several weeks ago, my sister asked me to build her an AP system. I obviously jumped at the idea and decided on a start system made with recycled timber, a blue barrel and a bathtub.

Some features:

1. Common rail drainage channel using grey-water hose to allow for flexing of the barrel. I used a 25mm director with barb at the hose end and 25mm BSP thread to a PVC fitting inside the barrel and a 1 1/4inch hole is a perfect fit.

2. The PVC fitting and standpipe have a hole drilled through both so rotating the standpipe within the fitting acts as a valve to regulate the drain rate.

3. The frame supports the side of the blue barrel to reduce distortion.

4. The inlet pipe and drainage channel are designed so I can built another similar frame at a later date and connect the plumbing together.

I personally am very pleased with my design and some of the features I built into it.

cheers
Derek

Here is a close up of the standpipe with the hole in the base to adjust the drainage. It's also an excuse to include my new Stihl 441 Magnum chainsaw with 20" bar in a photo. I should of included my toes in the picture just in case I lose a few over the weekend when I test out the chainsaw.

cheers
Derek

i love the aussie carpentry way. bugger the mitre saw or the circular saw, us a chainsaw. I do it too.
btw nice neat setup. looks sturdy and not to pricey

Nice system so far.

But the saw ............................................................................................................


I must admit I have saw envy. I have a 361 Stihl.

So is the saw as good as I imagine? Tell me after you use it some. Be careful.

I built my own sawmill and couldn't afford the 441.

Very cool!

JD, an Alaskan Small Log Mill is next on the list.

Those barrels are set up real nice dh well done.

Love the saw btw

Not wanting to rain on your parade because the saw does look very nice but arn't stihls a bit over rated? What did it cost you and how much was for the saw and how much for the brand?

When I was checking out saws the Stihls only had a 12month garantee, the Huskis had 24month while the Japaneese brands had 5 year garantees. The Echo that I settled on had more bang (hp) for buck than any off the others.

Stuart.

PS what chain are you running?

/for me it was the Shindawa guts price and warranty, have had for 9 months and it is as sweet as can be

Guys

I don't want to feel like I need to defend my decision to buy a Stihl and I decided to stick with a brand I am familiar with. We often pay for the brand, shoes, cars, computers, etc and we could argue all day on pros and cons. I also spend a lot of time on a woodwork forum because I am interested in chainsaw mills. The shop fitted a standard chain and I didn't ask for the specs, I will eventually get a skip chain when I get the mill. I was also happy with the half hour or more product handover session and have full confidence in them and their service.

Back on track, I'm out west this weekend and have just setup her (Uptowne Aquaponics) system. Apart from a minor leak, things are going well and we put in some seedlings and dosed up with Thrive because the fish won't come for another three weeks. We'll then stop the artificial feeding and rely on the fish.

cheers
Derek

Now thats how you slap down a highjack

Just to throw in a bit for Stihl - we use them everyday of the year and wear them out with usage. They work and best of all, the dealer supports us very well. The others might be just as good - I suspect so.

One thing our dealer did for us was a training class for all our workers on maintence, usage, safety, etc. This was for free.

And yeah, we use chainsaws for rough carpentry too. I guess it makes it VERY rough carpentry!

I actually didn't use the chainsaw for the carpentry, I used my Makita 9 1/4in circular saw. LKB and others are always chipping in about not including toes, dogs and chainsaws in photos so I thought I'd include it in the photo session. Tomorrow, I will tackle some trees that have fallen across the road and create firewood for the wood stove my other sister still uses to cook and heat water with. I have 300 acres that needs to be thinned and milled to make useful timber.

Gezz... does every bugger here on the forum live on 300+ acres with so may trees you can't poke a bloody chainsaw between them.....

I've got three bloody pathetic trees, no chainsaw and about 50+ cockatoos that are doing their damnest to prune them bit by bit.....

300 acres is a hobby farm.... We are approaching 600 now.

This is good - he can take pressure off me. I bet he doesn't have 35+ workers to wash his gravel though.