Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

1)
I have a fiend at work with a large aquarium.
Is it worth giving him a 1/2 bucket of expanded clay to put his filter sludge on?
Will it need an aerator?

2)
Also, wrt the pipe that keeps the gravel out of the dian in GBs, I have a .9x2.2 oval bed, is 100mm pipe too small (I was thinking i might have to get 150mm pipe)

Getting closer, so I've got questions!

Go the 150mm pipe UY - this was one of the best things I did with my drain cover,very easy to shove the hand down inside it

As long as the sludge remains wet, there would be no need for aeration (might get on the nose if it sits around for a few days in the sun tho :phew: )

+1 for 150mm, 100mm is a bit of a squeeze, my 90mm even more so

I've now started washing some expanded clay. What I've found is that the balls are migrating towards the holes in the drain and blocking them, is this less of an issue once plants are in or should I enlarge them (+10mm) and put some mesh over them?

P.S. did you know that 150mm PVC pipe fits neatly over the bottom of an Ebara pump?
(makes a great stand for them, better then bricks IMO)

I use a grider to cut slots in my standpipe covers. (90mm DWV)

Funny; I was thinking the same thing last night after I'd turned the computer off.
Good to know someone has tried it - thanks.

Hey that set up is looking good! Have you been posting your progress somewhere, I haven't been able to find it???

nah, following the NON-George Lucas scholl of narrative - will post when ALL the story is there...

OBO,
150mm DWV with 40mm pressure pipe into 50mm drain.

Drill some more holes mate, i know there are a few there already, but you really want to turn it into cheese Especially with 40mm drain pipe. Another 4 or 5 rows of drill holes should do it - you really only get 1 chance at it, once its installed, its a bit of a major job to pull out and redo

Just randomly space them all over - tending towards more at the bottom.

Yea especially around the bottom

Where did you get the grow beds from? how much?

See PM.

Hey Uncle, had a bit going on and missed this, looking good.
Couple things:
Has the rooster finally met his maker?
Is that return line to the fish tank 90 mm with all 4 gbs feeding into it?
Did you finish up using 25 or 32 mm for your inner stand pipe?

Also, rotate the elbow return in the fish tank an eighth of a turn left or right. It will get the water circling in ur tank easier upon return from gb, which in turn will help move fish poop to the middle and make it easier to pump out. You will also find that fish love swimming into this return water it aids their O2 uptake and helps to produce a more streamlined fillet on the plate.

Hey UY, good to see it moving along. I remember there was some concern on these forums about the "crushed foam" found in the middle of some 150mm pipe, did you find some without, or do you just not care?

I'm also interested in where/how much for the beds & tank.