Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

grow bed number one framed out and thanks to the advice I received here leveled out instead of a slight slant. I am assuming that gravel media is going to be very heavy so it is framed out very well using treated 2x4s. I did build it to 2x8 and 1 ft high rather than a length of 6 ft. As soon as I get the other one framed I'll install the standpipe and put on the pond liner over a carpet base. This is a boatload of work and expense and I figure even if it does well it's going to be a long time for it to earn out.

Grow beds done - FT in - ready to do standpipe and pond liner. I went ahead and made the beds the full 8 ft of the greenhouse on both sides

Have the grow beds lined, have the bags of clay pellet media ready to go in then will do the plumbing from the pump. I should be ready to give it a try after that. I figure if I telegraph my moves on here if I am about to do something stupid somebody will tell me. I've avoided a couple of problems that way so far. I did put some shade cloth in the peak of the greenhouse to cut the heat during the hottest part of the day but I think should get enough hours of good sunlight the rest of the day. The house shades it in the late afternoon. When it gets cooler ( 100 degree days stop) the shade cloth can come down. I hope to get the plumbing done tomorrow.

Have the media in place and rinsed. Have the parts I need to plumb it but will probably have to wait until it cools to continue. Lemme see if I can post a progress photo.

Wow! Looking great!

Thanks, it's getting there. Still have so much to learn but this forum has been very helpful. I had a leak show up around the standpipe and thought I was going to have to remove media and go into it but a liberal application of plumbers putty between the standpipe and the outer pipe resolved it and sealed the pond liner. Didn't have time today to get the pvc plumbed to distribute to the beds before it got too hot to work and I don't work on Sunday so hopefully can get that done Monday morning and can then start figuring this cycling stuff out.

Posted a note on Craigs List asking about any other aquaponic or hydroponic gardeners in town. I keep hearing at the greenhouses that there are a number of them but have never made contact with one.

RATS! Got the lines plumbed around the top of the grow beds but the 750 gph pump is not pushing water all the way around and only keeping the GB about half full on constant Flood. The next size they have is 2400 which they said was too large for me but I'm thinkiing I may have to go back and get that. I found a garden in town that is running a AP system, not a great deal larger than mine so I got to see one running. They also have a big container of worm tea that they will sell so I have that available. I'm sitting here thinking I need to go get that 2400 pump. I'm getting a collection of pumps, they can't be returned.

I think I'm talking to myself here but I went to the Fish Pro place for another pump. I was looking at a 1900 but he said that was too much pump and suggested a 1000 but one that had a stronger head pressure and he said it would deliver 900 gph picking it up four feet. I put it on and there was marginal improvement but it's still not flowing all the way around the system. At least this time he said he would take it back. I also got a master kit for starting testing when I get it working.

Too much flow... That is a new one. There is no reason to think a pump has too much flow, just divert the excess back to the sump. It will improve DO.

+1

I'm staying with the 1000 - I reduced the number of holes in the standpipe and took out part of the pvc where it was getting all of the water and now the water level in the beds is ok and the distribution of the water is just a trickle in most of the beds but I guess as long as that water level is ok it doesn't matter. The water has been running for two days now so the chlorine should be dissapated. I'll start testing and see about trying to bring it up. I keep hearing about a bunch of people here doing ap but not having any luck making contact with them.

You did not mention if you checked, with your water company, but make sure they treat with Chlorine and not Cloramine. There is a difference and a different way to get rid of the Chloramine. I lost 20 catfish when I started my system and I blame the Cloramine - everything else seemed ok. My water company treated with Chloramine so I had to treat with absorbic acid and still not sure its gone - my ammonia levels never rised and I do not have Nitrates - been running for a few months so I figured I would get some readings.

I figured the Fish Pro guy would know about the water and he did. Amarillo only does chlorine. He said as long as I have been running the system and with the six inch fall that I have going back into the FT that it should not require separate aeration and running that long should have de-gassed all the chlorine. I have a few plants to start with and one place is expecting some fall seedlings in a couple of weeks. My wife is starting to grow some from seed we can plant as well.

My personal opinion (and I have 0 facts to back this up) is that chlorine or chloramine in tap water is very very insignificant in aquaponics.

Fill your tank up, then spray the water from a spray bar for a day and the levels should be negligible... Basically once you can't smell it anymore it should be just fine to use.

All of my, and many many other peoples topups are made using chlorinated water straight from the tap. Just top up a little and often rather than doing 100% water changes.

I've recently had leaks and done 30%(1200L) water topups within 7 days of each other and noticed no effect whatsoever on fish, plants or bacteria.