Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well, finally got my system going today, at least water flowing. My problem is setting float switches. I have a 600l sump of which I will pump 300l back to the 1000l fish tank. This overflows into a 400L sump which is used purely for pumping to the grow beds ( 6 1/2 barrels = 300l of water 300l hydroton)

I am having a bugger of a time trying to get the float switches to switch on and off at the required level. Has anyone got any ideas or previous experience with them? ie some way of securing them at a given angle?

Tried timers but they only have 15min blocks, pumps do the do in 4 of 5 mins, and even with recycling from the discharge of the pump slowest i can get is 11mins whilst trying to maintain head.

add more growbeds to increase the time you need to flood and then use timers

seriously, I have given up on floats for setting levels other than returning water at a high level and switching off at the low level. Setting them has hair on it. too hard to keep accurate IMHO, and if the water levels change, you are up the creek... have you tried the HOPM timer digital that does 14 cycles a day, or I have seen one in cheap shops that a mate has that does 20 cycles a day. I used the 14 cycles one at my old system and it worked fine, but I had a hour and a bit drain time...

Cable ties.....

Got a picture of things Bazz?

Monya, like to get these working first already planning stage 2, must admit it is a real buzz finally seeing water moving.

EB As would happen I did go to take photos and batteries dead!

When you say cable ties, to "bend" the float switch cable to get the correct alignment of the float?

use cable ties to limit the swing on the floats

will give the cable ties a go