Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yes.

Hi Jim,

I have been looking at the Autopot system for a while now and considering adding it to my system to give more Nitrate removal.

I see you have used the double pot product - have you used any of the single 12" pots?

I am particularly interested in these to grow larger or more invasive plants that might take over a growbed.

My thoughts were to tap into the existing pump that is filling my growbeds as it runs constantly. How are you feeding your Autopots?

My only concern with Autopots is that the small feed lines and valves in the autopot might get blocked due to fish tank waste or biofilm.

Have you experienced any issues with blockage - and do you filter the water entering the autopot system?

Cheers,
Hamish

No problem's ,filter fitted to pickup in tank and an inline garden filter fitted after pump.
Pump is low pressure diaphram type battery operated and only pumps when one or more of the autopot's is emty.
Jim.

Im guessing the pump is something like this (used in boat and caravan pressure systems) with a built in pressure switch. Pressure drops in line - pump switches on and viseversa...

http://whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetai ... lutePage=1

or

http://whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetai ... lutePage=1

The inline filter before the pump I am guessing is something like this?

http://www.berryhilldrip.com/images/AntFilter.jpg

But not sure what sort of filter you have on the pickup line in the tank?

Are you having to clean the filters often?

Hi Hamish.
Same type of pump but only 10psi with accumlator you can make, 90mm pipe 300 long with end caps and fitting top and bottom.
Filter is waterwerks filter cube 10x10 cm with pickup pushed in .
The filter on the pressure side of the pump is the one on the web site.
No i havent needed to clean them yet.
Good luck Jim,

Hi Jim, Hamish, if I may jump in

Have few of the double smart pots, water for them I’m pinching from a sump pump pipe
through a reduced T, it goes to a B/Barrel fitted with a float valve, on a stand,
and from there fed to the smart pots by gravity.
Am using the same garden filters.

Hi Steve s,
I also gravity fed smart pots in my first hydroponic system with great success.
regards Jim,

Thanks for the replies - Jim im sorry to clog up your thread with Autopot chatter. Perhaps I should start an Autopot thread?

Here is a question - could I just use a gravity feed from the top of the tank? the water level at the top of my tank will be about 700 or 800mm off the ground. I was thinking of just putting a through tank fitting near the top of the tank (BUT BELOW THE WATER LEVEL) and into running this into a filter something like this http://www.berryhilldrip.com/images/AntFilter.jpg and let gravity feed the autopots. Do you think that would be enough height/pressure? All the autopots would be on the ground so there would be atleast a 600 or 700mm difference in height between tank outlet and the autopots.

Hamish i dont think it would work,you need a head of water to create a enough pressure to operate the smart valve,I have used 20 litre plastic drums as a supply with the filter you are refering to 500mm above autopots and it works fine.
Good luck .Jim

New grow bed [bath tub] outside filled with hydtron,will plant next week end, extended grow bed drain plumbing to maintain the same water level in all 3 fish tanks while pump is on.Plants looking good to date.

More of the same.
Jim.

Looking good mate [what have you been doing in your spare time ]

The ever faithful string lines waiting for the next batch of tommies - like the work you have done there Jim

Interesting and very rewarding and a challenge some times.
Thanks Les .
Regards jim.

hi jim mizzie in bendigo where did you get your black tubs, are they recycle ones that the council use, haw did you plumb them, ie did you drill a hole in the bottom, what size 50-40 mil
kindest regards
mizzie