Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Today we installed our first 4 bed BYAP system. We have installed 2 one bedders and one 2 bed system recently , but thought we would show off this latest instal as it is a bit different to our others.
The system uses 2 x 1000 litre tanks and four growbeds. The tanks are linked together by a 50mm pipe. Each tank has a ball valve and a barrel union so that the pipe can be removed and cleaned out if neccessary. Each tank has it's own pump which comes on for 15 off for 45 mins. The pump cycles are staggered so that the second pump comes on 15 minutes after the first one goes off, so that water is moved from tank to tank by the pump drawing from both tanks via the link pipe. Thereby, not dropping the level in the tanks too far, as both pairs of growbeds are never both full at the same time.
The purpose of the system design is so that silvers can be run in one tank all year, and when they quieten off over winter, trout can be added to the second tank to keep the winter vegies pumping. Slottled and drilled pipes are installed into the drains inside the tank so the fish can't relocate, and they are removable for cleaning. I suppose they could also add barra in the summer, the couryard is flooded with sunshine, and the tanks are nicely shaded by the growbeds.
All in all, we are very happy with the install, we added some urea and bacteria before leaving, and will drop the fish in once it is cycled mid January.

Sound interesting. I like the flexibility of 2 tanks. Solar pump to splash water from one into the other for added o2. No holes overflow to increase flow between tanks. I need another pool.
Has anyone looked at filling new systems with water from another system. Would it cycle faster. I know carrying a few thousand ltrs would be a problem or even just a trailer with an IBC on it.

better add the pics

I don't know the exact numbers, but using aged water would at least halve your cycling times as compared to new water imho

And yep, carting water around is bloody hard work on the car and it's brakes. Last time we took 1000 litres to an expo, my brakes were litterally smoking at the bottom of the freeway

Need a couple of bricks under the x-connect pipe.

obo it is basically sitting on the ground, the barrel unions are touching the ground and there is no more than 10mm under the corner section of the pipe. might flex a tiny bit, but certainly wouldn't cause any issues.

Nice idea Stu... good to see a few BYAP systems in SA ...

Cheers Rupe, got another site inspection on Mon day

Interesting design Stu... And another one on Monday...

brilliant idea stu...........congrats to you and dan......how much difference would it have made if you used just one pump and had all the beds on it?

not much BK... but this way, we can actually split the two system in half if required and run them completely seperately say have one system quarantined, salted etc...

Nice work Stu & Dan, I really like the concept of two separate systems linked together. Great flexibility, particularly with fish stocking.
Have you included an air pump with backup?

the system has an air pump for in between floods and backup power turns on a 12 volt pump via a failover switch

What failover switch are you using ?did you make it yourself or is it one of Murray`s

we make them ourselves Lungy, they are powered by UPS batteries