Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I made an appearance some months ago with my small system in Sandton, South Africa, I then decided to build a larger system and found that with a full time job, studying and building a new system, my online time diminished to nothing. I had a great deal of fun putting it all together but I must say that I was exhausted after the whole project. As it goes in SA these projects seem to attract a lot of interest and I already have a couple of queries for systems to build at clinical trial centres to feed their disadvantaged trial members.

The system has a 3400l tank, around 2000 litres of grow beds (including 6x160mmx1.6m upright tubes), the tank has 28 goldfish - used to start off the system while building and then another 100 tilapia were added to the mix. I have a custom built timer that runs a .75kw pump every 15 minutes for 2 minutes, this drains into a sump and then gets pumped back into the tank. The sump was added as a poor fix to a flawed system - the design was to have the fish tank sunk to ground level and the returns to drain directly into it. What I didn’t realize is that the site had bedrock just below the surface and at around 75cm we gave up and put in a sump tank.

the project took around 3 months and I have photos tracking the whole process, we installed an insulated concrete floor as the temperatures in this area of SA drop below freezing (not to much below and generally only at night), I build brick / concrete stands for the growbeds - 100l tool totes - out of recycled bricks and then put a greenhouse cover over the whole lot. The green house frame was made from 63mm UPVC pipe which worked really well in terms of a dome shape but unfortunately they do not have much structural integrity and thus the whole thing leans over a bit on windy days - one lives and learns.

I will post more photo's as time progresses, any comments would be appreciated - I do have an aphid problem on my cabbages if any one can give me feedback there - I have looked through the forums and all the products that seem to be used are not available in SA - perhaps someone has a home remedy?

Spraying them with water always seems to disrupt their colonies. When I have trouble I hit them once a day for a few days, then once a week or so. Seems to keep them manageable. Not elegant, but it works and is non-toxic.

Aphids ,, OH YEH ..... they are soft skinned and HATE chillie ,, a few cloves of garlic , several chopped chillies ..... hot water ..... blend well , leave a day or two ..... then strain through a stocking or similiar and get them bastards. It also pays to attack the ants ..... ants herd Aphids like we do to cattle , in order to collect "milk".Stop the ants and Aphids are also in trouble.

I my dirt garden I also have clumps of GOOD bug attracting flowers ,, flowers known to attract hover flies and other bugs that eat the pesky aphids etc,,, not sure what available over there , but we have seed sellers that supply packets of seeds specifically for this pourpose.

Good one Axle. Looks GREAT. Mesh tank from Hydrex of Hydrotek?

Chappo,I need to buy some of these can you point me in the right direction? What flowers should I be looking for? Marigolds?

skygazer, have a look over here
http://www.greenharvest.com.au/seeds/good_bug_mix.html

I got the tank from Hydrex, - thought the price was fairly reasonable (R3500).

I'll amuse my neighbors by running around with the hosepipe and a bottle of homemade chili sauce - but what the hell - if it kills the bugs I'm all in.

Chappo what are you using for companion planting for aphids - I know nasturtiums for caterpillars, but not sure what to use for these guys.

Here are a couple more photos - completed system with homemade solar panel - this proved to be a little small but it does make a slight difference, once I got the cover on all got hot really fast anyway.

second pic is of pumpkins in 160mm pipe - anyone tried this?

Howzit Axle - excellent system - I'm a suburb away from you in Northrinding.

What are using for GB's - looks like those ToughStuff containers from Pick'nPay or is it a feeding trough from JoJo. Did you ever consider using a JoJo rainwater tank with the top cut off for a fish tank? I'm mulling over the JoJo tanks at the mo for my system.

The growbeds are from a company called Rand Plastic, they are realtively expensive but they are made from very thick plastic and thus should have a really long lifespan. I am also contemplating a new system with a JoJo tank, I am a little concerned that the container will not retain its round shape or the sides at the top will start to fold in if the top is removed - possible if one left a small lip when removing the top this could be prevented??? I have a number of projects coming up so if you would like to come along, give me shout on PM and we can exchange details.

Yep also thought about the JoJo's bending but I think if its cut with one of the ribs on top it will hold - think I might try it - I saw a JoJo the other day with the top off and it looked fine - might be a different story with water in it. Also thought about using the cut-off top as a GB - so if I take 2 JoJo's one will end-up with 1 fish tank and 3 GB's. But round beds are hard to organise in a limited floor space. JoJo makes these sheep feeding troughs and they look exactly like your 3 GB's together.
When you say expensive GB's how much was it if I may ask?
Cool will PM - thanks.

The pumpkins are going to give your grief - the pipe will get blocked up with roots.

Also, the water going to the towers really needs to be filtered - or sludge blocks up the pipe.

Nice looking system

Is your solar heater feeding the underfloor coil? Looks like a lot of work involved in that, nice set up. More pic's!

Nice and neat Alex...

I origanally had water from the tank cycling through it - now attached to the floor to create a little thermal heat, as said before it isn't really big enough but coupled with the greehouse cover (pics coming soon) the cement has zero chill on it and makes for very fast growing plants - even on a new setup.

I agree. Pre-filtering is vital. I like the size of the pipes though, but pumpkins are a b*tch with their roots. Go strawberries, they're a lot neater. Also could you open up the slots a bit, you've got a nice big pipe but small slots. Attached two images of 110mm pipe and a jig that we made to make the slots.

Great job though, I'd like to pop in and see some time when I'm in Jozi again.