Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just one so far how many dollars!

Oh ... and forgot to mention... while the test unit is a 24 tube unit...

The kit will be offered in two versions... a 20 tube and a 30 tube...

Still to be finalised....

Kit will include.... evac tubes, reflectors, controller, stand, non-return valve, ball valve, relief valve, silicon grease, and pump.... and instruction booklet(s)...

Expected to be in the range of $1200 - $1500....

Plus delivery.... and that's a problematical area at the moment...

Finding a freight company... or method of packing/shipping that will ensure the units get there undamaged.... obviously the evac tubes are extremely fragile...

Whereas many of the freight handlers seem to lack any sensitivity at all ...

All very interesting.
Well done ....
Have you got any good links describing the principle of operation of the vacuum tubes?
Does the "local manufacturer" actually make the tubes or just the header tank, plumbing etc.
Keep up the good work

Big thanks for putting all this info together Rup, I'm sure everyone will benefit in some way.

I would have thought those tubes would have performed a bit better, but it is a fair lump of water.

Issues I can think of:

1. using plastic piping could be an issue if the pump fails or if you reach a max. water temperature - is there a way to dump heat?
2. I guess this is probably best solved with some insulation but temperature fluctuations are the killer - if you get a few days of bad weather your still going to have to have a backup heating source or bye bye fishies.

Good stuff Rup - I love environmentally friendly heating - where do get the time and $ to play with such good toys?

Typical evac tube water heaters do perform much better... but do so with large header tanks and copper heat exchangers... to raise the temperatures to a higher temperature

These units have no copper components... and no internal heat exchanger... they rely solely on heat absorption from the stainless header... and the energy absorption (light) of the evac tubes....

I intend to standardise on a thirty tube system... as opposed to the 24 tube test unit... a 25% additional capacity....

Coupled with the addition of "back" reflectors that have tested by the manufacturer and found to give a further 10-15% efficiency...

So that's a potential 35-40% increase in efficiency... plus a few other tweaks I have in m ind...



Not completely sure what you mean Myles...

If the pump fails the unit will merely thermocycle through the header and tubes.... and they're rated beyond boiling point... and there's a relief valve incorporated..

The controller also has both a tank high temp protection (setable)... so that if exceeded the solar controller will not pump to the tank...

The controller also has an anit-freeze protection ability... if incorporated with the electric/gas heater ability... and the tubes themselves are rated to about -20 degrees...

Controller can be manually over-ridden to activate or shut off the pump at any time...

And the temperature differential setting that controls the pump cycle can be adjusted at any time...



As noted Myles... the unit has the capability to interface to any heat source... and switch it on/off via controller set points... are for programmable timer periods...

The actual heat devices can/will control themselves according to any thermostat settings... or can be controlled by similar set points on the solar controller...

So you could quite happily wire in a 300w aquarium heater... or activate a gas heater etc..

They're settings/thermostats are mutually exclusive...[/quote]

And yep... it is a fair lump of water... 1500ltr.... and deliberately exposed, uninsulated...

Although covering the tank has proven to be definitely advantageous...

P.S... it is possible to daisy chain units together...

Good work Rupe. It looks very good.
How would it go if it hailed.

Only mention it because the manual for my newly installed SHWS makes a special note about not using plastic piping. Plastic piping in contact with header tank my be an issue if the heat gets up - not sure what PVC can take t'is all.

Hail resistant Gilly... think up to the size of a golf ball??.....will check...

Or was it a grape.... will check...

Bravo, well done,!!! The price is SO reasonable !!! If i needed one I would buy one from you in a heart beat. My Saturday turned to joy this morning when i read your first post, your onto something thats is way cool.

congratulations again

Hi Rupe
Thats a very good price (£600-£750), over here a 22 tube panel system costs around £2000. We get overcharged for pretty much everything though
What do you plan to do with the hot water it generates in the summer?

I have been trying to work out some way to have a solar heater for my system but keep stumbling along, must have a more critical look at this now Rope.

I have been monitoring the water temps of my system for some months now, taking readings in the morning and afternoon - admittedly I am in sunny Qld but my water fluctuations on a daily basis has been less than 3 degrees (temp has dropped to 12C tho )

Once the temps have been raised, it should be easy to maintain them during winter

What is the pump size you are going to supply...seems to be going through the system quite rapidly