Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

heh - BOTH

That wood does look really good!
So how are you keeping the wood that is on the grow bed across the side above the sump from dripping into the sump? Then again, as you say, it may not be treated with anything as some woods are quite naturally resistant to everything though that kinda begs the question about what might naturally be in them that could be harmful to fish.

the top lot of wood , sitting above the main tank will be sloped downwards / outward so the rain runs off away from the tank .
The bit hanging over the sump , in front of the GB there will have a tin roof made out of the leftover chemical signs from on the ibc's , aint no rain running in off that decking . I'll get the 2 tin sign oieces welded together & make a downward slope either side of the weld so that it sits on top of the exposed sump and runs off to the sides

the only rain that will get in is through the gb or straight into the water

Cool! I like the re-use of stuff in creative ways like that.

pics of the progress

decking done , system in place , little chocks underneath to make it level

still need :
-bluemetal ( tomorrow hopefully )
-make the tin "roof" for the exposed sump part to stop runoff from the -wood going into the water
-Empty the current water with all the dirt & sawdust in and refill
-make a little faceplate to cover the bottom tap on the sump

the pics show the front & side view , the white pipe sticking out of the ground is temporary from the old sprinkler system , sawed it off underground in front of the old solenoid and opened the ball valve that was buried there - convenient mains water

the roof tile is to stop rabbits getting behind and under the whole thing , until I build a wooded fence bit

Until I get the top growbed sorted out , its going to stay like this with the pump on a timer and standpipe in the main gb

but until all thats done , atleast WATER IS FLOWING !! Woohooooo

Ferals or pets Boris, I have two pet ones, but i eat there babies

two pets , both female , I'll be slightly surprised if they have babies

love the wood. how is it attached to the IBC frame?

self tapping screws , two on each length

I was going to be d last night & I heard a strange trickling sound

I'd turned off the pump in the sump , but didnt think straight after a few rums and left the pump in there . Half the water from the tank flowed back donw the pump line and overflowed out the top of the sump .
Doesnt matter , that was just washing water anyway , Ive re-done the pump line & am filling the tank again . Hoping to get gravel tomorrow

oh excellent. what size? I am going to do the same myself.

3cm long , 3mm wide , brass ( I think ) self tapping head sinks in by itself , self tapping point cuts into the frame easy enough , but I pre-drilled with a 1mm bit to make it easier - I didnt want to force the drill and risk missing the ibc frame and going straight through the plastic

My only advice after doing it would be - dont use an extremely hard wood : the ibc frames arent straight, the wood needs to be bent into shape as youre drilling the screws in

todays work :

Duckpond used his truck to bring the washed gravel over after work .

1 shot is the new gravel on top of the old perlite in the old system , to hold the perlite down from floating and give the plants something to finally hold them up

other shot is some of the washed gravel in the new GB

hard at work getting the last of the gravel in , BYAP stuubie holder ( for size reference )

the pumps running now to circulate the water & clean up the last of the dirt from the gravel

last shot - just ripped all the mint out of the old system & put it in the new one to see what happens . goldfish going in tomorrow

Well done boris01, those look very cool with the wood around them

Nice wood man!

Looks like some kind of alcohol-related miracle going on in your grow bed, like it's blessed by beer or something.