Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Have started system about 3 weeks ago and am noticing dust and fish poo, maybe a little food breakdown on the bottom of my tanks. What is the most effecient way to get this out or on the grow beds?
Can i use a sucking fish or snail?

I use a pump that I can connect into my supply line to my grow beds. I have fitted a length of 1" PVC pipe and a piece of flexible hose to the suction side of the pump. The inlet end of the PVC pipe has a couple of pieces of stainless steel wire cris crossed across it to stop fish being sucked up the pipe. The difficult part for me is priming the pump as the tank is above ground 1.8 meters high. I have a FM hose tail on the flexible hose so that I can fill the hose and pump with water then join it on to thr PCV pipe which is already mostly sumerged in the FT then start the pump. This usually works in getting the pump primed. I then simply move it slowly around the bottom of the FT sucking up the goodies and sending them to the GB's.
The pump that I use is a cheap open impellar type that can cope with particulate.

i thought about that but thought the pump maybe to strong. i do have a spare pump but mayhave to do some modifications. Nice to know there are other on the same wave lenght. Cheers

Well I left the gunk in there mostly...
though when the system was new I did use a piece of 50mm pvc... x 4 mtrs
Placed my hand over one end and pushed the other end to the bottom of the FT,
then allowed the water to rush in for a second or 2 then replaced my hand and upended the pipe...
emptying it into the GBs...
That way I don't waste any gunk

i do understand how important the gunk is as i am a landscaper, seasol has always been my friend but now have the real stuff

what about snails or sucker fish?

I have a few of these

how do the yabbies go with trout fingerlings? Do yabbies eat trout fingerlings or vise versa?

Nice with garlic and ginger
...they are Marron not yabbies

difference being?

Where is this gunk building up and how is the system set up?

As in is it CHIFT PIST and the gunk building up in fish tank?
Or is it simple pump in fish tank and gunk building up in fish tank?

Simple answer in either case is big powerful air pump/stone in whatever tank has the gunk build it. This helps suspend the gunk and allow it to be sucked out by the SLO drain or pump.