Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

F0r those who might be interested, this system evolved out of my first system which can be found here

I was able to break ground on what will be my new and improved system today. I decided to get organised first this time so I cleared a good path through the pot-plants for the wheel barrow to pass through, then sharpened the mattock and the blade of the shovel (as the area where I was to dig has/had MANY roots in it)..

the intention was to get down to at least 30 cm for the full 2m square, and all was going well until I hit a water pipe! My newly sharpened mattock sliced through the soil and into it with ease!... in no time flat I had a big muddy river where my future hole for my IBC's was... and there was not a hope in hell that I would be able to stop the flow of water myself either!!!
So I had to phone our business manager so as to make contact with the plumber who was on retainer, and explain how I had sliced into the water pipe... As you might be able to imagine I was not popular, but I did get laughed at too .
The plumber arrived within 20 minutes and had it patched up in about 10 minutes flat! I took the opportunity to pick his brains as to places to purchase PVC and he referred me to Trade link (said I should mention his name so as to get his trade discounts too )...
Well, by the time he left the sun was long gone and it was totally dark, so no further digging for today (in all I moved 7 barrow loads of dirt, a far cry from the 15 I was aiming at for the first day) - but I dare say that it will be easy digging tomorrow what with the good soaking it got today!

With this system I will try keep a record of the costs involved - will post them from time to time with a running total...

ouch, i imagine that was an expensive and unwanted set back.

Will that be in the records of costs involved too?

Did you get the pipe diverted around where you were going to burry the IBC's or do you need to find a new spot for them?

it will be interesting to see how the costs add up

No, lucky for me the school absorbs that cost as I do this as much for me as a extra curricular activity for students



No, I will have to move the system about 20cm over to the right (in the pic that would be 20cm away from the shed...

damn HDPE pipes! it a conspiracy by the plumbers association. LOL

Would have loved to see a facial expresion when you sliceed that baby

Was the plumber "tripping out" when he saw your setups?

did not seem to notice - but did mention he was late for dinner - guess he did not have time to chat or look around (and it was dark too )

To quote a great Australian movie: "Dad, I dug a hole, It's filling with water!"

mmm... easy to go around corners though! and quick to.
AM- at least you know where the pipe is!!!

Whoops was heard to ecco the school grounds.

so are you making the students do any work on this? child labour is a marvellous invention!

Alas, the holidays have started which means that I have to do it myself

Made a little headway today... got down to just on one meter...
The way I dig is that I start with a trench then work my way across, collapsing the wall in one direction until I have the size hole I am after...
I was making good headway until I got past the (extensive) topsoil layer(s) - about 60cm down the soft, somewhat clayish soil became VERY rocky indeed - at which point progress slowed down to a crawl... My son had a ball hopping in the hole and "helping dad"... What can you do, so I just would sit back, let him play a bit, get him out, dig for a while, then in he would come again saying "Me help daddy, daddy dig hole"
The trench is about half a meter wide and just on one meter deep. It has taken 14 wheel barrow loads to move the dirt away, so there is going to be a LOT more barrow work coming up (never mind the digging )

Looks like you're workin up a sweat thereAM, or did you just spray your t shirt to make it look like you were working hard LOL

So you are 1/4 of the way there AM - I take it you are burying 2 IBC's. If only I was closer to Cairns I'd come over and give you a hand

As I was digging I could not help thinking that this soil was soooo cool, and that the REAL summer heat would take a while to get to my tanks once they are burried in it - today was warm, and the area where I was working was somewhat humid (thanks to the VERY wet soil ...)
If If you look in the top pic you can see the repair work done on the water line

Almost - the hole has to be bigger due to the cage which I am leaving on ...

I have found from my experience to date that the real heat comes into the water through the return from the grow-bed. The gravel can get pretty hot, particularly when it is in full sunlight like mine is currently. If in a shadehouse it wouldn't be as extreme. My ponds are coverred with panda plastic so are not heating up from the direct sun, but the water is increasing in temperature by 5+ degrees by midday. Luckily at the moment the water is quite cold in the morning due to cold nights, so the final temperature at the end of the day is still well under 30 degrees.