Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello,
Well I did it!
I made a functioning system, the hardest bit was working out the logistics, my purchased grow beds were too big for my tank I think.
And then buying the clay balls was very frustrating. Not at Bummers (I mean Bunnings), I then tried the local landscape suppliers and fountain makers, all of them didn't know what I was talking about. But one lot put me onto a hydroponics supplier in Boronia. I paid $40 for a 50 litre bag. Is that good value?
I wanted to find some one local, I like to use local services where possible.

Anyway my system.
Pond pump that I found on the hard rubbish chuck out, works beaut.
On continous flow as I don't have a timer. So far 'on' during the day and 'off' at night so the splashy splashy doesn't keep my hubby awake all night.

Silverbeet seedlings dug up from self seeding in the garden.
Planted into washed clay balls. Which are in plastic plant trays lined with old potting mix bags. A few holes poked through to let the water trickle down into the bath.

I used some water from out of another old pond I have with one large goldfish in it. I figure the water, rather black, will feed the plants and add some bacteria to the clay balls to get the system going.

Irrigation from some found black pipe, joined with found T junction and other fittings.
Split into 2 with one line going straight back to the fish for aeration and the other curling around on top of the beds.
The beauty of the hose nozzle on the end means I can regulate how much water sprays onto the beds.

Actually I think all of the components except the clay balls were found.
So $40 is the cost of my system so far!

Hope it works!

Dale


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Dale,

Great progress What would we do without the humble silverbeet?

Cheers

Hi all,
just thought I would post a progress photo of my small system.
The difference in growth is really good.
I added a tall pot with an artichoke in it and have successfully made a syphon, a loop syphon. You can see it working and coming out of the hose with the rose on the end.

I have added worm farm water, water from a small pond with 1 goldfish in it and some urine since I set it up back in May.
I also put in some worms today and am awaiting the delivery of a master test kit.
I will be very interested to find out the readings.

There are no fish in the system yet. Thought I'd wait for test results before I do that.
Dale

I received my master test kit today and thought I should do a test on this system.
Not good I'm afraid.
pH was 8
Ammonia 8
nitrite 0
nitrate 0-5

The plants are looking good though.
No fish as yet, they wouldn't be alive even if I had put them in.

So I have been dosing the bath with the water that comes out of the worm farm.
A few jugs from a garden pond with 1 goldfish and a few doses of fresh humonia (I had not realised until recently it needed to age).
I didn't keep any records of amounts of those, just a bit here and there.
Will take more notice from now on.

So the water is a brown colour but not cloudy.

I dumped about 25% and refilled with rainwater so will check again tomorrow.

Dale

Your plants don't seem to mind it.

Hi dale for a system with no fish they aren't that bad
so no more worm juice no more pee till the ammonia drops

1 week later and the results are a little changed.
pH was 7.6
Ammonia 8 very dark almost black
nitrite 0
nitrate 20

I can see that the nitrite level has coincided with the plant growth, the silverbeet are really taking off.

I know it is a dead end system because the grow beds are really shallow, but I will let it go along and see how it does.

Dale

Hello again,
here is an update picture of this system.
It is doing well although the tree next door is in leaf again and it is rather sheaded. Will plant some lettuce soon as that doesn't mind the shade.
cheers
Dale

Good stuff Dale, it;s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it and have a budget