Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, patch is holding and new hole seals well. Flush tank and siphons running. I think I got it balanced so that the in ground tank is just barely big enough to handle the fluctuations. The fluctuations are big enough that fish would not like it in such a small tank. I set up the "fish tank" barrel so that it doesn't drain more than half way so it could probably be a fish tank in such a system.

Definitely, after talking to the guy at Aquatic eco systems, My main fish tanks are going to be in ground ponds to take advantage of the thermal mass of the earth for helping to maintain water temp.

Ok, now I just need some gravel so I can start cycling.

Grin...Washie washie that gravel.
Seems you are concerned with the comfort of your fish. I smile when seeing those comments, guess it reminds me where I want to be. Being the highest on the food chain we should be concerned with treatment of other animals.

Hi Inge, I wish the Alabama Hydro forum was still out there, lots of good resources there. Good to see you here.

KP, here are some pictures of the operation of the flush valve though I don't know how clear it will be from these pictures.

Next few pictures showing the end of the flush.

Look'n good TCL, I like the way you have your drains set up from the growbeds.

Never thought of it, the fish on your patch. Was that planned? Neat how that worked out.

Only planned in that I decided to use that corner of the trashed cutting board because it had the fish on it.

Perhaps, perhaps someone placed the whole mishap in your path for that outcome. Life is full of stuff like that..

Dang the site is moving slow today. We will see how far I get putting up more pictures.

Anyway, got some 1/2 inch brown river rock. 8, 1/2 Cu Ft bags about 40 lb each. Will pick up another 8 bags at least soon.
The stuff is pretty clean. My washing went really quick and now there is at least a little media to start cycling with.

I used a couple plant baskets and a recycling bin to wash. Just put the tow baskets into the bin of water and dump about half the bag into them, shake/swish. Pull baskets out and give a quick splash or spray and dump in to clean bucket.

It was quite handy that we got a good rain last night, all my 5 gallon buckets were full of water. (My rain water collection is a line of bins/buckets under the eaves at the back of the house, really high tech.)

Ok only took a few hours to get the last three pics up.

It's a pest when the site runs slow (but it's good to know it wasn't just us )

The project is looking very good.

Its taken me 4.5 hours to get everything read. Its been slow!

Nice to see the barrelponics in the flesh as it were.

I can't seem to find a supplier for net pots that big at the moment. All the hydro places only have the little ones.

Those big net pots probably came with some big pond plants

What size are you after Sleep.... this seller often lists them on eBay...

Currently 75mm x 75mm, but has listed 100mm and 150mm before ....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0189598175

Often used for water lillies, so maybe some nurseries as well