Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Gday all,

For starters thanks to everyone for the information and resources I have already absorbed. Have began building an IBC system based on Tristrins system from the IBC download. Will have two GB sitting on top of sumps. Will then have one FT in a complete IBC.
Having some teething issues with finding myself around this site. Are there any sort of moderator/site posts that compile all the basics needs of water timings, plumbing ect. Finding it time consuming clicking on every post I think is relative to my questions. Alternatively are there any books recommended?
I have finished all the work of cleaning painting and assembling the IBCs, now stuck on how I will plumb and pump water for the system.

Cheers,

Redders

There is some info here http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6646

Probably the best way to get this done is just to start a system thread and ask questions.

hey mate this is just a point of interest for you maybe, not really related to your question but thought i would stick it in in case you havnt heard of this place yet

http://cookabarra.com.au/

there close to you and have a great setup, also they do tours

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Will no doubt try the trial and error method, its the best way to learn lol. Stutter, funny you mention that place that's what inspired me. Their system is not a recirculating system they just use the waste water. They said they loose to much heat and are afraid of introducing disease. Setting up a greenhouse next week so when I become a seasoned aquapologist might give the old barra a go.

Cheers.

Neat looking place to visit.

Redders,

Part of your teething pains are that the IBC of Aquaponics shows all three of Tristrins systems. Which one are you looking at doing?

I'm not going to bother with his first system right now but if you want to build it let me know.

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Plumbing (for Tristrin's system style 2 or similar) - Basically a CHIFT PIST system but with linked sumps.

Growbeds - media guard around standpipe. Standpipe is one pipe size larger than the pipe bringing water into the growbed. Standpipe usually has a 1/8 inch hole near the bottom to let the water drain from the growbed when the pump stops. Standpipe is removeable.

Sump Tanks - Some people link the sumps with uniseals and pipe but it doesn't always work very well. It looks like Tristrin did his with through hull fittings of some sort and 50mm pipe. If you don't link them and you are planning to pump from the sump you'll have to have two pumps.

The Fish Tank will need to have a higher water level than the growbeds and you can put a Solids Lifting Overflow in to send the water to the growbeds. This is a gravity feed, basically if the pump in the sump should fail for whatever reason the fish would still have a full tank. SLO should be at least 50mm pipe. Tristrin did his as an overflow but I couldn't find what kind. A SLO will help keep the fishtank fairly clean.

The fourth and fifth pictures on this page are how I envision you want your system although it doesn't look like it has a SLO (this is Tristrins system number 2) - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=6875

There's also a closeup of the sump tank links further down the page. He probably uses the same method in his third system to link his tanks - see below.

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If your looking for Tristrins system 3 then it works like this -

All tanks lower than growbeds. All tanks including sump at same level and linked below ground. Pump in sump tank pumps to growbeds and growbeds drain to fish tanks. Probably 50 mm pipe between all tanks.

Cheers.

Hey Scotty,

Cheers for that reply, it has hit the nail on the head for what was ticking in my head. Going with Tristrin system 2 except I intend for only two sumps and two growbeds. I do agree the overflow is not the best option and SLO would work better. One question you may be able to help me with, is a bell siphon a better option then just a standpipe? The two pumps I previously owned are water bore pumps so will be a little over-bored in L/h. Along with this I am not entirely sure how long and how frequently the GB should be full of water in a system like this. Also from reading different posts people seem to regret not incorporating a solids filter in line, do you think its feasible with this system?

Thanks.

A very small margin of people do.

Usually those that have overstocked a new system...

Nice, I will keep it simple then and go without one. Also checked a fish traps in a nearby creek before dinner and didnt catch any gudgeons that I was after, but instead a decent sized long finned eel. How do you think that would go in a sump tank??

Thanks.

Probably fine... until the sun went down....

Forums are great!
If you need some immediate help, use skype or google docs and get another seasoned person to have an instant chat.
The advantage over a phone call is you can post links

Oh, and its aquaponicist..

And it's definitely NOT an "aquapon"....

You may want to look at how efficient your pumps are. Getting an efficient pump can save enough to pay for the pump over the long haul. As far as the siphons are concerned, you don't need them, all you really need is a standpipe and gravel guard. If you want to switch to siphons later all you have to do is drop them over the standpipe. With these large pumps I'm thinking timed flood and drain (to save on electricity costs). I think the usual timing for Timed Flood and Drain is Flood 15 minutes, Drain 45 minutes. You'll have to adjust the timing if you pipes can't handle the speed that the pumps fill the tank from the sump/s.

You should be able to hook in a solids filter if you want but even without one it will be a long time before you need to do any cleaning of the growbeds (years - Unless like Rupe stated, you overstock). The solids filter would fill from the fishtank and drain to the growbeds. Given the way Tristran set his up, I'd just plop it down near the fish tank so that it's level was above the growbed height and either even with or below the fish tank level(keeping everything gravity fed so you only need one pump).