Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all, here is my chemical free pool with seperate biofilter. There are 60 goldfish and 3 golden perch in the system, not really a high enough fish load I don't think for aquaponics as nitrates are very low.
It took me 18 months to get it to this stage and there is still a lot of planting to do around the pool.
I am still working on ways to filter as much nitrate out as possible, however most plants trialled show signs of nutrient deficiencies, which is really what I want as it is a swimming pool and algae is not wanted.
My family and friends have used the pool heaps over the past summer with no signs of illness, which is really good as the pool is not sanitised in any way, not even U.V.
Jeff

i dub thee SCF.................


SCF, a few questions for you

have you measured the nitrates? what are they?

what is the PH of the pool?

what plants have you trialled?

what were the deficiency signs?

nice pool BTW!

What Steve asked and:

• How big is the pool
• How big is the biofilter
• How/what is the biofilter using
• I don't see any plants in the water - are there any
• What sort of water turnover do you have (i.e. pool volume(s) in a day)
• I'm sure I've seen you pool somewhere else...

Quoting mylesau -- I'm sure I've seen you pool somewhere else...

Well I know I have... In my dreams!!!!!
Plenty of space too!

Here it is, knew I'd seen it before:

YouTube:

• Natural swimming pool swimming pond Australia
• And here
• And here

Neat, how does it work?

Wow! you guys are quick!
Well, the last water test was about a month ago, using aquaspex test kit.
Nitrates- 1 mg/L
Nitrite- 0
Ph- always approx 7.5
Ammonium-0
Phosphate- less than .2 mg/L
Alkalinity- approx 30 mg/L
Hardness- approx 170 mg/L
It would appear that the biofilter is working very well.
The plants used so far are common rush, found around many dams, rushes, willow tree!, water couch, Ti tree, cut grass-found along many mountain streamsides, Godess lilies, and some others.
Interestingly, the willow and ti-tree have done reasonably well.
Deficiencies are in the form of tip dieback firstly, followed by general yellowing and on from there.
Some of the lily types have survived longer with smaller growth.
All plants have been used bare rooted so as to not introduce nutrients.
The general idea of these pools, is that plants consume nitrates generated in the biofilter.
There are few plants visible in the photo as there are few at any time, however the pool has remained very clear ( can tell which way up 5 cent piece is at 3 metre deep) and nitrates very low.
Many of the pools shown in European websites show growth ranging from sparse to lush. I think the lush growth must be supplemented either by design of biofilter or nutrients in pots.
The pool is about 19.5 metres long by 7 metres by 3 metres at the deep end.
The biofilter contains 15 tonnes of clean quartz river gravel in sizes of 14, 10, and 7mm layers.
The biofilter survives on fish poo and whatever swimmers put in. Aaarghh!
The pool and biofilter capacity combined turns over about one and a half times per day.
The pump is a hurlcon 4 pole low rev motor of 460 watts. delivering approx 260 lpm.
Head height is 700mm plus loss to pipe work. The pump is rated at 300 lpm at 3 metre head.
The pools heart is the biofilter. I also have mechanical filtration, cleaned weekly in the blue drums.
There is no backwash on this pool so no water is wasted.

what test kit for nitrates are you using that gives you 1ppm resolution?

Gulp!! Um... Aquaspex colorimetric 0-20 mg/L.
The test kit is a stream survey kit.
I would like to have the water professionally tested but they cost heaps!
The water E.C. measures .4 mS

Love the setup can we see it on google what area are you in

I love it ..

But I wouldn't swim in it.

I am way too scared of waterbourne bacteria and viruses. (especially any type of meningitis!)

how much more professional than that do you want!

The pool is in Albury NSW. Google only shows me a picture before the pool was built.

Truely is a credit to you CFS.

With the biofilter, are you pumping water up through the gravel or drawing it down or something else?

Is the mechanical fitration just sand? How do you clean it?

Yes, I always ask lots of questions

What is your main purpose with this pool? Is it cheap/cool filtration for a swimming pool, or do you want to really grow fish & plants?