Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

There be filters, and there be filters.

It allows all the other stuff too! Its water it carries everything with it that’s in the water, I just said nitrogen as an example! If you want a full chemical analysis then go ask a chemist? So you are saying you need fish solids rather than just the nutrients from that fish poo in your system? A filter that separates the solids and keeps in the good stuff , I thought was a good idea, if you don’t like filters don’t use one! I will be using one everyday forever and ever! As I an not taking my system apart to clean the water pipes or grow media anytime soon just because some off you don’t like filters? A professional of the shelf filter to do the same job, $260-$450, my filter you work out what you need and have got on hand, I paid $40, for mine! How to build it is on here, no charge? Its free! Two people on here have already used it! And have made comments on how it works for them, its an idea, it works for me, others have used what they have on hand to make their own, that’s a good thing I think! I am not selling anything? I just gave an idea so others can use, I thought when someone asks or wants to clean their water a bit better, its up to the members to give them some advice on how to do it cheep! My setup is for my system! Two IBC totes! If you want more you use bigger pipes bigger drums! Its then becomes your filter! Not mine! If you don’t like filters fine but you don’t run my system I do! its my system and I will do as I want!

Yep, there is a gazillion benificial bacteria and micro nutrients bound up in solid wastes that if filtered out and discarded is not only robbing the plants but limiting the over all system performance. There are also studies outlining the benifits of anaerobic nutrients and bacteria in AP, all of which has been discussed and studied many years ago. Hopefully in time you can read some of these studies and get up to speed.

By all means use additional filtering if that's what floats your boat, no ones knocking that, but at least understand it without making unrealistic claims. I've used additional filtering so don't categorise me but I used it for a purpose, a purpose you don't understand. There are a multitude of members using addition filtration, it's not new and there are a thousand daffrrent ways to do this.

To be honest I skim through most of your posts because I feel your talking and not listening. It's a shame.

Blizzard I really don't know what to say to you or how to say it.

The majority of Nitrogen from fish is released in a soluble form, ie ammonia. A small amount is contained locked in solid wastes. All the other nutrients, P, K, Ca, Fe, Mg and all the others are also almost all locked in the solid fraction of the wastes from the fish. A proportion of these nutrients are released relatively quickly from the solid wastes but most take some time (days, weeks, months) to be turned from insoluble organic compounds to soluble inorganic ions. It is only after these nutrients are released as soluble inorganic ions that they are available to the plants. A disadvantage that systems where solids are removed operate under is a reduced nutrient volume and a restricted nutrient profile.

In your case this might not matter because you have said that you only want plants to process the TAN but for many, many other people removing all solids including the fines will likely give all but the most light feeding plants nutrient deficiencies and reduced growth.

This is the last time I can foresee me trying to help you. If this attempt is not received in the spirit with which I intend it I shall label you a troll and move on.

Have you watched my clip? Its not filtered out and thrown away, its broken down! The only stuff I have removed after cleaning is some of the stuff from the IBCs mixed with a little poo,

Maybe you should stop skimming an watch the clip? it’s a paint bag filter! Not a water purifier! If others add extra filters its up to them, as to what they want out off it,

As for listening? I don’t hear anyone that says I cant do this or that, my ideas are mine, if you don’t like them then don’t use them, simple really, I am not a child?

Hoping not to start anymore arguments on my first ever post in this forum.....

......a Ford.

Sorry for bringing it back on topic.

I think you'll soon realise that an IBC is bigger than you realise. It could cause issues on your roof.

Do you have a towbar? Can you borrow one of the bunnings trailers? Or one of their utes?

Where's your sense of adventure Colum? If he has an old falcon station wagon he could probably get two on the roof, couple of ratchet straps and the front and back windows slightly open then climb in through the back door, a breeze. (oops possibly off topic)

Should be able to sort it out. Might call on a mate with a ute. From that above pic we should be able to cram a few onto the tray. That is un-bloody-believable!

Or of course take Sleepe's advise. Some good knots should hold them down. Might even take them for a run over the West Gate for a laugh.

Photos or it didn't happen

You can but cheap "roof racks" that are just put thru window with a sponge pad.... I've done worse things then we are talking about ahaha


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I just love that photo!
Reminds me of mum dad and 2.4 kids you see on mopeds in North Africa. Happy days.
However,... Back on topic
I run 4mtrs of 5cm square pipes with 2in net pot at 10 cm intervals. This is a trial for possible expansion as space very limited.
Other issues have put this down the list and growth has been stunted and disappointing.Dirty roots, High Ph ,leaks etc
However have today constructed what I call a 3 stage filter. Plastic box and kitchen scourers.
Water runs; sump>filter>NFT>growbed>FT>RFF>sump and also sump>GB>FT>RFF>sump, say 50/50
3.5k ltr pump on 15/45. Vanilla IBC set up with 220 ltr ( nominal) RFF and sump.
The eventual plan is to have 42 mtrs of tube in a ‘U’ shape each tube 3*1*3 (7) mtrs in length so stacked in 6 terraces. This is on a kitchen roof 3 ish mtrs above the sump tank.
This would run on an additional independent dedicated pump CF ( from the sump) returning to GB? or FT?
So questions? Do I want to discourage bacteria in the filter? So clean replace scourers? Or encourage it?
Will an enlarged version of my DIY filter work for 42 mtr or should I be looking at another type?
Do I need to add an air pump?
The crop would be watercress. No shade or plastic cover so open to the weather.
I realise it will probably not be 12 months continuos.
The 90* bends are actually 91.5* so building a support structure for 42 mtrs will be challenging. I can work in wood but not metal. Any ideas suggestions welcome.
Is it best practice to have one water inlet for 42 mtrs or several?
In summer heat I could run an alternative flow from my well at a constant 10C but not sure how watercress would react to fast changes in temperature.
Titus

Will it work? Yes it most likely will but...

I would avoid this style of filter because of the maintenance they require.

If you are seriously space limited then your best bet is a RFF to remove the bulk of the solids and then a secondary filter to remove the rest.

In order to maintain plant growth I'd make the second filter a small media filter. It still has to be relatively large or you will need to clean it regularly. If you don't want to make it relatively large then make it an up flow filter and whenever you need to "clean" it just backwash it.

Just remember that the more waste you remove the less nutrients you have. If you want to keep the nutrients then add a mineralisation tank.

If that sounds a bit complicated well it is which is why GBs are often such a good idea for backyard systems.