Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, so I'm working on my main system and will start a thread for it soon enough. But, as I wait for more materials, more time, etc, I've spent what little spare time I've had working on a little mini, in-home system. I recently got two kittens and the kitty litter comes in these neat little containers that look kinda like IBCs. So I couldn't help myself...

So, I made some sketches, gathered up some parts, and tried my best to use components that I've found here on BYAP. First off I cut the bottom out of two of the containers and then started to work on the standpipe setup. You'll notice some plumbing PVC and some electrical PVC. That's because I needed straight threads instead of the tapered threads of plumbing PVC since I was using them as bulkhead connections and needed to be able to tighten them all the way down.

By the way, I know none of this is anything new, but I wanted to make as concise of a log of this as possible, and what better place to store that info than here.

So here we have the original container with the bottom removed, and the completed base of the standpipe installed temporarily (without the grommet). Next is the overflow standpipe, the protective cover, and all the other pieces of that assembly. You can see one of the two drainholes in the base of the standpipe connector. These holes allow for drainage of half of the volume of the unfilled container in about 5 minutes(7/64ths inches). The holes in the cover are 3/8ths inches.

I realize this system isn't really big enough to merit a full sized spray bar, but heck, I was in full mimic mode and had the materials so I went ahead and did it. The first pic shows the spray bar prior to drilling or glueing and the second shows it in place w/ the standpipe and everything. I learned that centering the standpipe assembly placed it too close to the sidewall of the container, so the second one I spaced more to the interior of the container.

To commerate where you got the containers from, maybe you should grow catnip.
It's cute, not really practicle- although you could donate it to a kindergarten to teach them about nature, science, food, you know the rest.
Have fun anyway, you seem to be enjoying yourself.

I had honestly thought about doing so.

The most difficult part of this system was getting the bulkhead fitting between the fishtank and the sump to not leak. After four tries I finally got it (without having to glue it) with 3 pondliner grommets and a good deal of teflon tape.

Finally the stand. I designed it with at least SOME semblance of being....efficient. hehe. It has the capacity of a 4 container system while only taking up the footprint of 2. I had some nice untreated pine boards around so I whipped up this stand one evening. Here is the completed system, fully plumbed. If I can find a window with enough sun I'll park this there, otherwise I'll use a hydro light system. A heater and 2 pumps will go on the sump side. Due to the low water volume and the size of the pumps, it won't be possible for me to fill 2 growbeds with water at the same time so each pump will be on a separate timer and the floods will be about 30 min apart. I had considered using a pump to draw the water out and then up to the growbeds, but this was a simpler solution. A bar style airstone and pump will go on the fishtank side, with the pump suspended behind the system on a hook to lessen noise.

Enjoy.... and fire away.

Once filled with media, you probably could flood both beds at once but you would be cutting it close and the pump would have to be able to draw the water in the sump tank almost down to nothing and you would probably have the fish/sump tanks filled to the brim when the beds drained.

Very cute anyway. nice self watering house plant system