Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I got mine from Joel, and the fact I got it for 1/2 the retail, I would not worry about returning it unless it failed on delivery. Buy a quality branded pump at 1/2 price, cant go wrong.

I mean, seriously, how many pumps get returned after 6 months??? If it works from first time, it will keep working unless you run it dry.

Newbie question relating to pumps etc.

I am looking at a 1000 litre tank for my fish and the appropriate number of grow beds that should accompany such a tank size.

I am also thinking I should go a 100 - 200 litre sump. Is that correct??

My main question is what size pump should I go for and what little details should I be aware of when purchasing a pump for the tank to grow beds and the sump to tank?

I live in Townsville QLD and have ready access to either shops or internet.

Do you have any suggestions about brands that I should avoid at all costs or brands that I should seek out??

Cheers,

SPanner

Hi Spanner, the sump tank size relates to the amount of water that can be dispersed throughout the GBs at any one time and how you have the system setup...read through some of the systems already working to get an idea and wait until Jamie & Axl return from the "swan" around Aus...they will be able to sit down with you and go through the pros and cons of each point

I am waiting but I am also keen to ask and dream adn have some basic idea before I suck them dry for information .... Bwaaa hahahah

Systems have a habit of expanding and expanding,,,crunch the numbers then double things that cost or are hardwork to up-size.
1,000 litreFT,,4 M2 (30cm deep) grow bed ( water and rock say (50%-50%).

So 600 litres of water to flood beds,.....,you maybe planning on 15 minutes on 45 off,,,so pump needs to push 600 litres in 15minutes,,or 2,400 per hour. (Go for a 5,000 lpm pump to allow for enivitable expansion. Sump can be near any size,,but most use a largish one,,,,say 250-300 litre for this system.

Dream ,dream,,but read/read/read and plan. Don't be scared to think"outside of the square".

And do some research on efficient pumps, will cost slightly more to buy, but are quieter, and cheaper to run.

depending on how you set up, you don't need to have a sump at all

I have been doing nothing else but dreaming ...... my wife is getting scared I think. ..... and I am reading as much as I can between work ( where I am now and being a little naughty) and being at home with two under 5 year olds.

I am really thinking out side my square and I think .. " hey! I am brilliant ... I could do this" ... and then I read some ones post and see it has been done twenty times before in a much better way than I was even thinking........ all though I am getting excited about the possibilities of roof top systems for the vegies but have to work out the weight, hight logistics etc.

My mind is like it always is with a new project ... scatterd and racing!


Cheers.

Hijack alert! I was hoping my question would start more discussion!

Definitely true, don't naively buy a huge pump because it's cheap(like me). You'll be disappointed. Find a good energy efficient pump appropriately sized for your system. Rough rule of thumb is you want to be able to turn over your fishwater once an hour, minimum. And if you take Chappo's (et al) advise, double that estimate.
On a side note, I GOT MY PUMP! Yay! Well, I bought a 1/6 hp utility pump off Ebay, will put in a float switch and timer as well.
Then more growbeds, another fishtank...where does the madness end?

Whn you start to run out of space, or start thinking 'do we really need that bed room near the ap system?'

IT doesn't end!!!! I'm already working on plans for my 5 acres in thailand,.....,AHHHH and looking at buying another 15acres

I am in permaculture and I have actually hijacked my neighbours yard.

I "ajist " my chooks over there and have planted a number of fruit trees in her garden as well as "utalise" her 'spare' vegi gardens.

I just give her eggs, fruit and vegies in return for useing her space.

....sooooo I am thinking I will just naturally expand and "ajist" either more grow beds or more fish tanks as I grow my own system in time.

A great way to make REAL freinds with your neighbours.

Neighbours on the other 3 sides???Neighbours of the neighbours,.....,,I can see this growing really fast

BWAAaaahahahahaha .. the city is mine .... bwahahahaha

Rename Townsville to "Spanner county".