Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Not that I have anything against 9" angle grinders ( good toys) but it sounds a bit drastic for a poly tank.
Jigsaw and scraper?

Hi everyone,

I'm about ready to purchase a sump pump with a float switch for my chift pist system. Does anyone have a pump that they would like to recommend?

I've had a look at the threads on hardware and still not sure what I should buy.

God bless froggo.

Hi Froggo,

although i am still new at this game from the research i have done a few people are using the 300w Submersible Grey Water Pump which has a floating switch i got my one on e-bay at a really good price ~$35 i have used it for a couple of years and never had it fail.

www.ozintersales.com.au they have a site on e-bay

good luck

What pumping capacity froggo?

Hi ruins,

thanks for that.

I had a look at the site then found the same pump today stocked at our local tool shop. They had the dirty water version with 35mm particle size, 10,000l per hour for $99 with a year warrenty. Might be worth a try.

Hi Outbackozzie,

I'm not sure yet what size my system will grow to. I would rather buy a pump that will handle a large system then some .

I was thinking of something around the 10,000l/p/h when I found the above pump. My sump as it is now holds 1000litres. In time have two pumps running alternate hours.

God bless froggo.

Worth looking at http://practicalstuff.razza.org/night/

If you are interested in power efficiency, this pump is the best for you:

http://www.rockaroundtheblock.com.au/product.asp?pID=451&cID=63

yea i think if i was starting and had to buy everything i would go for that [joel sells them]

Hi Outbackozzie, Food&Fish,

thanks for those links and your knowledge.

It's great being able to ask for advice. Thanks heaps,

God bless froggo.

Hi everyone,

done a bit more to my system.

Trying to get one grow bed up and running so I can get some veg in and growing. I would have my soil beds full of seedlings by now so I've knocked up a grow bed out of scrap laying around the place.

The growbed is steel framed with marine ply forming the base and side walls. There are treated pine posts as stumps/legs and 5 layers of black/white silage cover as the liner.

River pebbles are used in growbed as they are rounded and will not put holes in liner.

The pvc drain is 150mm with 6mm holes. One inch poly siphon.


The chift pist [shift pist] is almost completed. The 90mm pvc pipe is buried with risers at the tank and three for the growbeds.

The 2x 500litre sumps are in and plumbed. There is a 10,000 litre per hour sump pump with a combined float switch to turn off and a timer to turn on. One inch poly is used from pump to tank.


Next up is the 90mm drain from growbeds back to sump.

God bless froggo

You will need to seal the timber on top as well if you want to have live fish.

But looks sweet as otherwise very neat and tidy.

Actually, your 10,000 lph pump needs at least 50mm pipe not the small stuff you have there between the sump and fish tank.

What about these?

http://www.creativepumps.com.au/zpumps/ ... _pumps.htm

Damm that pesky submit button.

For my system the head is around 1.5m the Tornado is quoted at supplying 8400L/hr versus the Laguna 1100's 9120L/hr for this head.

The Tornado is 175w versus the Laguna's 125w.

The Tornado is slightly cheaper but the Laguna has a three year warranty versus the two of the Tornado.

If the Tornado or any other pump is better than the Laguna 11000 please let me know because I'll be buying my pump next week.

I now have a new favourite type of pump, thanks stuart, I would go with the laguna for sure.

Hi Outbackozzie,

that's what I thought also but the pump came with the inch fitting and also a one and half inch fitting.

I had inch poly already so gave it a try. If the pump cannot hack it they should not have supplied the fittings as standard. Maybe that is how they get them to burn out one day after the warrenty runs out

The wood trim is only to keep the sun off the plastic liner. It's not treated wood just plain old pine. I have wiped it over with cooking oil to make it water resistant which should not cause any issues with the fish in the quantity used. The wood is not in contact with the water and when the roof is on will not get wet so there should not be any transfer.

God bless froggo.