Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

G'day everyone,

New to this site & new to the practical side of aquaponics, have been doing a fair bit of reading & research as I am in the middle of setting up my own backyard system using 2 IBC's. I have cut the tops off each IBC & am using them as the GB's, sitting on top of the FT's. I plan on using a length of pipe with tank fittings to join the two FT's together & using a single pump to pump water up to both GB's & a auto siphon in each.

What brand/size pump would be best recommended for this size system? Also a recommended aerator please? I plan on using 15-20mm river rock in GB's & white 25mm PVC piping. Am hoping to grow red-claw & barramundi with a mix of salad vegies, herbs & strawberries. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Will be taking pics along the process of putting my system together & will keep everyone updated. Looking forward to learning as much as I can! Thanks in advance for any suggestions & helpful hints.

Phil.

Hi Phil
Welcome from a fellow Central Queenslander. Some tips,{1} use the search function and read lots, {2} gravel is heavier than you think and you will need good support for the growbeds or just bite the bullet and get hydroton straight away,{3} jade perch have just become available from Ausyfish,{4} most people that have joined FT's together with a pipe have had drama's. Other people will post in their thoughts. Cheers JORGY

Hey Phil....

Probably don't need anything bigger than a 3000L/h pump for a system that size. And for an aerator, think about one with an internal battery so that it acts as your backup at the same time..

Hi Earthbound, I am waiting on my new pump & aerator to arrive. I have bought a 4500ltr pump (likely to expand at some stage no doubt). Have added a link to the pump, hopefully I have done it right.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/220850187463 ... 2630wt_689

Also the aerator I bought is an AC/DC unit making sure I have 10hrs battery life in case the power goes out.
http://www.boyu-australia.com/index.php ... cts_id=282

I have got all the 25mm pipe, connectors & ball valves that I need to get the water from the FT's up into the grow beds & to make a couple of standpipes. I have also got a timer for the pump, planning on flood & drain. Hoping to find out where I can get bags of hydroton, am thinking I will half fill GB's with clean 20mm river rock & top up with hydroton.

The only thing I haven't quite worked out yet is exactly how I'm going to connect the 2 FT's. I will have the pump in 1 FT & it has been suggested that I have the returns from both GB's drain into the other FT which makes sense but I want both of the FT's water level to be equal when I'm pumping & draining back. So, should I use a SLO from drainage FT into pumped FT or should I join both tanks by plumbing at base using 110mm PVC & tank fittings or uniseals or should I use the existing valves on the IBC's & connect them that way????? Would really appreciate some advice on this, it's been doing my head in for days & I think I have gone a bit cuckoo reading this forum nonstop haha.