Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This is how I got it setup now,

Nice setup the best part is the farm all row crop tractor

Hey MC, that's all come together nice and neat.....

I am using cut up milk, water and soda bottles for filter media in the IBC.

nice mc, some sort of cover on the tank will stop ur algal build up, but u prolly know that.

I plan to grow water lettice on the surface when it gets warmer.

I added a float valve to keep the tank topped off, and a hose valve to water my dirt garden with water from the fish tank.

I have been staring at the float valve wondering why something has me worried about it, finally I got it, If the water level goes down due to normal usage (e.g. Beds are getting watered) would the float let in more water to keep the tank level stable. If this happens the water returning from the beds would overflow the tank. I'm sure you have figured this out but I would like to know how you manage it.

I placed my refill valve (a hudsen) at the point (under water) where the water is during a cycle while the grow beds are full.

Good thinking DD, I definitely like the idea I just can't make out how this application would work.

I was thinking of using two ball valves with one up side down. If the water level was high then the one up the right way would be closed. If below a certain level they would both be open. If really low due drain cycle then the one up the right way would be open but the one upside down would be closed.

Result is that water only flows when the water level is between two levels.

I can do a picture if that dosn't make sense.

So the water level will reach a level which is above both of the floats and no water would flow in (top up), evaporation, etc would cause the water level to drop below the top top valve and water would flow in.

The only reason I can see for the lower float would be to cut off inflow of water if a lot had been used/lost in a short space of time such as a leak, have I got it right?

This will all be NFT.

Thought there would be an easy answer!!

THats right Les. I had the idea when I was l looking at a design where the level in the FT went down substantially due to the cycle filling the GBs.

Now I'm working towards having the FT level steady so I won't be using it (I think)