Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Bird netting is a popular choice for filter media.

Bird netting or shade cloth/ground cover fabric are good options. If you're in my area, I have some old ground cover cloth you can have. I removed about 10K sq Ft where my old nursery area was. It's a bit dirty, but a quick rinse with a hose will fix that. You can buy it by the roll for about $200.00. wholesale. 12' x 300'. It works better then orchard/bird netting IMO because it's denser and when you remove it from the filter, you get the majority of the crap in the material, instead of a bunch falling back into filter. I guess you could use a smaller piece of finer fabric as a prefilter on the bottom, but have to be careful that it didn't clog and end up overflowing the filter. I have a few rolls of that material as well. I'm sure I could donate a few pieces to your efforts. I had some finer netting in my filter, and replaced them with the GC cloth. It does a good job of getting the fines out prior to the DWC. We're looking like rain here...headed your way.

That would be a big deal if you really don't mind. I'm actually driving from Orlando to Sarasota on the 26th around noon. But being so close to the holiday I don't want to interrupt your family stuff being a new grandpa especially!

I make that trip quite often anyway. I could plan it on a day you're doing some work after the holidays and I can maybe take a peak at the build site. For the cost savings I'll make that trip any time that works for you.

Don't mind at all. The place is still a bit of a mess. IBC's, blue barrels, pipe, fittings, etc. But, when I'm done, I'll get everything cleaned up and looking pretty again. Anytime, just shoot me a text or call 727.919.0172. email is chris@starrecruitingservice.com
I actually threw a bunch away already, but have plenty left...we'll just have to go through it and pull out the fabric from the piles of dirt and crap...no biggie. The newest design for the FH is 6 - 1/2 IBC fingerling tanks, 6 - IBC juvenile tanks, 2- RFF, 1- MBBF, 1- sieve or shade cloth filter(still debating). 1 - hatchery with 4 breeder colonies, and 1 testing lab/record keeping area. Lots of piping, fitting, etc to get together.

Coach,

That's it? No automation hooked to the flux capacitor?

The record keeping area is interesting to me. Someone here had a seed book where they kept notes on where and when stuff was planted and they kepts seed packets inside sleeves. Forgot what member did that but I like the idea a lot.

Pond,

Yeah record keeping is something I better get used to. The more threads I read. The more I see those that do the best keep very good records.

I'm really a low tech guy. I like simple timers, vs. micro switches and circuit boards. Old school small block Chevy 350's over anything with chips, sensors, and CPU's. Mostly because I don't really understand how to work on them and it just seems like everything is headed to where you need computers to be able to service anything. I'm horrible at record keeping, but realize it's important, so grudgingly, I'm getting better. Excel makes things easy. Started with my recruiting business. Tracking recruits success vs, their GPA, timeliness of contacting coaches, SAT/ACT scores, when they start the process, and everything else that we can track. It has proven very good in determining trends and be able to tell recruits exactly what and when they need to do things to maximize their options.

Hopefully, I'll be able to do the same thing with the RAS/AP. Although most of this stuff has already been researched. It's just not always easy to find the information in a readily available form.

I do know a lot about computers however, I'm still intimidated yet very interested in some of the items hitting the market now days like aurdino (a robotic platform) and rasberry pi (a small linux pc) that can be used to control or measure nearly anything.

Several users here have written about using them to gather readings here at BYAP. The boards are a method for entry level programmers to attach sensors that can measure nearly anything.

Most commonly it controls servos and measures with IR and/or cameras but they can determine temperature, moisture, light, sound, contact, proximity, distance, pressure, tilt, gps, voltage and they are only making more and more it seems.

Even for me I have waited to allow these devices to come a little further before attempting to learn them myself. Meanwhile there are huge public code libraries being developed for specific purposes like photography, robotics, or even AP. I believe within a few years we are going to have a device that will do some of these readings for us. And further more I've been really delighted to see that many users here know more about it then I do!

The problem right now is that there is nothing that will measure 3 out of 4 of the parameters we need without reagents. There are quite a few raspberry pi and arduino threads here.

+1

The sensors are starting to catch up slowly.

http://www.au.endress.com/en/Tailor-mad ... sor-cas40d

http://www.vernier.com/products/sensors ... s/no3-bta/

http://www.vernier.com/products/sensors ... es/do-bta/

http://www.nico2000.net/analytical/nitrite.htm

http://www.ysi.com/parametersdetail.php ... mmonium-16

They are happening, but not worth the price for me atm. Maybe when they come down in price a bit.

Awesome links there^^^

I would suggest for interesting research just look at the sensors and know the code will be simplified soon or even prepackaged with integration directly to things like Excel via wifi.

The following behind them is entirely open source which leads to internet communities and sharing. UCF and other Universities are requiring several engineering and computer science related degree students to purchase them just like they would a required book or other class materials. And like anything else the on board memory and price changes like twice a year.

The real concept though is detailed notes and recording are important even if its all by hand. Even keeping track of what bed you tossed a particular seed in can get confusing.

I know we need a seed book at least based on our past with soil mix ups. But I would like to know what type of things someone like Stuart might keep notes on for example.

I'm having some issues with water loss that I'm working on now. Testing each part of the system individually. Basically I've closed the drainage and waiting watching and looking for water in each GB. Also I'm going to shut everything off and going to make sure the sump is not losing water somehow. If I can't find it that way I'm going to need to look into the Ts underground.

We got an air pump and started working on setting up O2. The pump turns out to be pretty quiet after all, and no further muffling will be needed. And we have finished some of the plumbing work around the filters (photo soon) in the front.

But now my focus is the mystery leak. We are almost to a point where we can start cycling water.



I think that is a piece of PVC pipe from an AP system in his hand?

THERE WILL BE FISH!

If you find the leak, and it's a small drip, remember, most of those small drips will disappear after you get bioslime on everything. I had several drip on the drain lines, and they all quit within a week or so. I usually test, (water or air pressure) underground connections before buying. Just a CYA type thing. Once you dig up 100 feet of lateral well lines that you just back filled, you figure that one out.lol