Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Guru’s

I have a couple of questions around my little test system. I have a very basic IBC system where one IBC is cut in half, one part is a grow bed filled with 13mm stone (well about 70% filled at this stage) the other half acts as a sump beneath this grow bed. A second elevated IBC is the fish tank.

Currently I have a pump in the sump which pumps to the FT which overflows to the GB, no rocket science there. The pump takes about 8mins to flood the bed and the drain takes about 70 mins to drain about 98% of the water. I plan on setting this up with a digital timer, however I am concerned that the there is perhaps a right and a wrong way to flood the GB.... to that end am I flooding it too quickly and draining it too slowly or am I in the right ball park. When I add the second grow bed I will change the timing to 16 mins flood and about 70 mins drain as the GB’s will be connected.

I currently have 2 small koi (7cm each) in the 1000L IBC, they have been in for about 2 weeks and I am feeding them relatively heavily.... the timer should be up and running this time tomorrow, I am hoping that the bacteria has already got a hold in the IBC and will colonize the gravel fairly rapidly.... as what point should I begin ramping up the fish numbers ?

Hi Niel, i too have a IBC system, theyre great for setting up the first time

dont feed your fish heavily for the first 2 months or so. this is how long it will take for your system to get up and running (roughly). the only way to be sure is to buy a test kit and test your water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and PH

flood / drain times are fine. everyone has different opinions, tha most common setting is 15 on 45 off. i personally have a 15/15 cycle. it all depends on how fast your gb drains, and how your system seems to be handling the bioload. if the levels arnt dropping, increase your cycle.

good luck with it all, youll find heaps of info and helpful people on the forum. the search function is particulalry uselfull for sifting through mountains of sh$t

cheers
Ben

Pictures!
Pictures!!
Pictures!!!

with the cycle times the thing to remember is that you have to turn over the water in the fish tank at least once an hour (more is better), my mistake was to get the right size pump for the water but then only have it on for 15 mis out of every hour resulting in only 1/4th of the water in my tank being turned over every hour

good luck though
Cheers
pete