Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all, just to say hello and that I am still alive and well.

Had minor surgery on my both hands, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, nothing serious.
Four weeks off after each one.

Amazing what you can do with one hand in a fortnight, before the bandaged one can kick in.

The backyard looked like a demolition yard.
Ripped out all the pavers, to use somewhere else,
got new concrete laid yesterday.

Also got ready five new ½ blue barrel GBs connected to 3 BB overhead tank
thru a 50mm DWV “manifold” and a sump.

Were concerned about the flow to individual GBs but once the manifold fills up,
all five outlets flows at full. As in a siphon.
Inlet to the DWV at bottom, outlets from top.

Got space beside for a 1 or 2 k FT or may squeeze 2 IBC.
Wonder if EB will also include 2k FT in his range. 3k will not fit in.

Were hopping to stock with SP in spring but in two or three months
am due for my knees fixup.
Six weeks+ convalescence on each, so may have to wait and see.

Will use the new GBs as a recirculating watering sys for the pots for now
and try to keep alive what have got.

Four happy goldfish to take care of mosquito larvs in a water lily tank
and four Yabbies. Lost the smallest one (One Claw).

Yabbies used to fight for aech morsel but now ignore everything I try to tempt them with.
But they do clean out the algae.
Is it normal (for this season)?

Cheers, Steve S.

thanks for the update Steve S!
Soldering on good to hear.
prolly cold like everyone!
C Tunnel how many times have you had your wrist belted with a bible or solid book Steve?

Yabbies normaly go into hibernation in winter Steve - so I would say it is normal. Mate - you are obviously ambidextrous (sp?)

I barely feed my yabbys now - the food barely gets eaten and was building up... in fact they are getting by happily on what falls down after the guppies have eaten their fill of the fish flakes...

And wow, no stopping you mate! Kep it up!

Welcome back Steve. Glad all went well. Enjoy your winter for time of healing.

Good to see you back on board Steve..

I never feed my yabbies anymore, they just survive on whatever they get in the way of algae..

missed ya, mate.

Hi Steve, sounds like the 100,000k service. Hope you will be good for another hundred thousand when it is all finally sorted. Hope things are well. How bout those Cats!
Oh and don't forget system pics!

either that TT or hes turning intothe bionc man

Cue Lee Majors.......we have the technolgy...

Thanks for the advice re. yabies, that put me at ease.

The picks will have to wait few days until I move lot of stuff off the way
to get a clear shot.
Didn’t want to walk on the new concrete today and tomorrow going back to work.

Some months ago saw at BB a 0 pressure solenoid controller for rain water tanks.
Only about 9 or 10mm ID and not cheep.

If that ID not a problem, maybe a washing/dishwashing machine solenoid would be much cheaper,
BUT IT'S NOT LOW VOLTAGE.

wow i didnt realise they made such thing, but im not suprised its not cheap especialy at the B store (i dont belive the hype)

Those pics, as promised,

Found a Zero Pressure sol. valve local supplier –

http://www.baccara.com.au/data_sheets.shtml
http://www.baccara.com.au/pdf/Baccara%20Geva75-0.pdf

Very prompt answer from Baccara re: ¾, 1” (G75-Z-50161 and G75-Z-60161) valves -

“Yes we do counter sales but the valve you are asking for we only have 1" size in stock at present Price is $70 plus GST”

Will get one to try out on the header tank.

And a pic of a R/A Grinder wood cutting blade I use to cut BB.
Didn’t try the carving blade on them yet.

WATCH THAT WOOD CARVER!!! One of the guys on "Extreme Makeover; Home Edition" used one on a show earlier this season. Sent him to the hospital for stitches; fear of loosing fingers, partial paralysis, and nerve damage.

I thought about getting one of those wood carver attachments for my angle grinder too, but now I think I'll just stick to my chain saw and blackpowder.

Kevin