Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone.

I started researching some time back, and having built our new house am putting in a system which incoperates a brick 'L' shaped pond (approx 2500litres as part of our Alfresco/entertaining area at the rear of the house for the fish and piping the water to grow tanks at the side of the house (approx 15 metres of piping. I would love to hear from anyone that has any advice or help in setting this up

Thanks
Steve

Hi steve

sounds like a nice plan! can't wait to see it.

Hi Stephan!

Welcome to the forum, you will find everything you need here. Do lots of reading, takes some pics of your planned AP site and we'll help you out.

Thanks Wolvenstine and Charlie for the welcome, we are constructing the pond now but I am not the worlds fastest bricklayer and I only have weekends to build this, I will post pics when the structure is finished. One of the issues we faced was finding a sealer for the walls and concrete base that was for 'potable' water but that problem has now been solved thanks to a concrete rain water tank manufacturer's advice, having said that can anyone reccomend a brand??. My main concerns are to do with buying the right size pumps. The pond is 700 high with a water depth of 600, 15 metres of pipes (25mm to the grow tanks and 40mm from sump tank back to pond? does that sound right?) with the 15min on and 45 off and using three grow beds. Once again being new to this I appreciate any advice.

Thanks again
Steve

Welcome to the most addictive hobby Just a couple of things to keep in mind Stephen is the amount of water in the pipes at any one time, I guess this would be fine if you are running the system continuously, but if the power goes out where will all that water end up. The head height for pumping is measured from the surface of the water, so in you case if the ground is all level the pumping height may not be that great, mmm lots to consider. Hope this helps a bit.

In selecting a pump, aim to at least turn over one entire tank/pond volume of water each hour. So if you are running 15mins on 45mins off, you need to multiply your pond volume by 4 times. With that number in mind, look for a pump that can move that amount of water at the head height you guesstimated.

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HI Faye and Ivansng, thanks for replying. Faye all I can say is of all the addictions Ive had in my life, and being a flower child of the 60's there have been a few, this is by far the best! I was at your workshop on SAturday afternoon and really enjoyed the presentation, I also enjoyed looking at your home system on line and as I will be buying grow beds, clay and other 'stuff' from you, you will be seeing me quite a bit. I must say I think your passion, dedication and willingness to help dummies like me is amazing.

I had no idea the technical side would be so complicated.....hmmm Faye I would have thought with the grow beds elevated to be above the height of the pond any water in the pipes would flow back into the pond in a power outage and therefore would not be a problem, though now I think of it, we intended to run the pipes under ground so to keep the water cool so wouldnt the water stay in the pipes as the majority of the pipe run would be below the level of the pond? what have I not thought of here? Also the height we are pumping too wouldnt be more than 1200mm or so above the base of the pond which I didnt think would be an issue but was concerned about the length of the pipe run and having sufficient pressure to get the water to the grow beds. Now with you saying head height is from the surface of the water then it seems less of an issue.

Ivan are you suggesting a 10,000litres per hour pump? that is a bit more than I had in mind; I was thinking around 6000, but if that what I need then thank you for that advice.

I really do appreciate all and any help.

Steve