Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,

I cheated and purchased a ready made system from Joel last year, and have been tinkering ever since.

I have already cut up and reconfigured the system (to my wifes horror), and are experimenting with various add-ons which I will discuss at some later point.

One question I do have is mechanical seals on pumps.

I note that most people seem to just use the "o-ring" type seal, and don't like the oil bath type of seal (double mechanical seals).

Is there an issue with this type of seal with oil contamination, or is it just the additional pump cost issue?

I don't want to open the can of worms on which pump is best to use, just wondering if there is an issue with that type of pump seal, as the pump life on those pumps is generally much higher, as the motor is better protected...

Some photos of my original system and the first addition below.

Probably enough of a rant for my first post.


Cheers,
Graeme

I like your cascading yab tanks

The yabbies got a bit stressed in the middle of our summer, I think I need to put up a shade bock at the front of the shed for summer.

If I can get it right I want to give marron a go, but yabbies are a cheaper and more tolerant experimental subject.

Welcome Newfarmer.... I ran my yabbies in tubs similar... but found it really hard to control the water temp during the really hot periods through summer... lost a lot when water temps were running around 30 degrees for three or four days...

Running them back to a big tank like yours (3000L)... might have helped... but IMO... despite whats been published... 30 degress is about the upper limit for yabbies in tanks/tubs... and even then ... only for short periods.

My yabbie tank was piped into the larger system so the water was very stable. So the yabbies were happy and had more time to kill each other for sport. I'm going to try Marron next time.

I like your cascading yab tanks too!

I must agree. IMO yabbies can live in a dam where you can't see the damage they do to each other.
Looks like your AP system treated you well, nice pictures.

My yabbies enjoy eating silver perch more than themselves

Yeah that was what I was afraid of, my silver perch are only approx 4cm at the moment, so I don't think the yabs (or marron for that matter) would need feeding if I put them in the main tank.

I'm experimenting with another system at the moment, and plan to possibly use this for the marron.

My plan was to use the cascading tubs as the breeding boxes, and a larger tank as the grow out tank.

At least thats the plan...

On the killing each other point, yabs are very territorial and that was my idea of the small tubs, I had one male to 3 females, worked quite well until I decided to move things around and put them all in together for a while, then the killing fields began!