Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

heheh , now Im REALLY worried ...

the whole thing goes to a power point on the wall , which I can switch off & unplug if theres a problem , but theres an RCD in the meter box out the front which will flick if theres a real problem I guess

I'd have to pretty much attack the thing with the bore hose to get the inside wet though

240v is just a tickle

As long as you let it go.

yeah, and more fun if from one hand to the other...

yep, makes you go all dizzy

And the large joints along the path to ache, sometimes for days.

sounds like you have been there a few times KP

Finally put the new seedling growbed in place , no gravel yet ( thats tomorrows job ) just testing if it can handle the quick drain from the top GB

more pics , looks like it works fine .
Probably need another smaller drain hole in each drain pipe to make it all drain quicker , though it shouldnt take that long when its filled with gravel as there'd be alot less water

Im worried the acrylic ends on both pipes will bulge and split when filled ( Im using hydroton though so I might get away with it ) , but if that happens I'll just put screws in the pipes on the outside sides of the acrylic to keep it in place

Now to add gravel , then build a greenhouse cover for it out of wood & glass

There is something nice about pipe growbeds.. Perhaps it is because pipes where material of my first hydro system. Looks good.

Boris you are getting stylish with those angled standpipe holes,
I like

Artistic hehehe

I was hoping to see a pic of the sizzles Boris! Please?

still havent got them yet - theyre still cooking at the shop & havent heard anything for 3 weeks now ( maybe they cooked them at the wrong temp and they all turned out roosters not hens ?

gonna try call the guy this week cause the two silkies are getting pretty lonely & the rabbits dont want much to do with them

The angled slots on the outer pipes are pretty dodgy compared to the nice clean straight perfect ones I did on the other GB ( done with a jigsaw & pre-drilled holes ) , these ones were done with a hacksaw and a hangover ( like much of my system )

Those two new black painted pipe GBs are now full of clay ( need to come and get even MORE .... ) , and tomato seedlings courtesy of Duckpond

I may have a lead on used IBCs through an uncle , so I might FINALLY get this system finished ( just in time for trout , Im hoping ) . The big ( 660L ) GB on this system is going to get cut down to 450L , so its about 45cm high . Its way to tall & takes too long to fill , then drains for a whole hour but the problem is that the actual root contact time with the water is a miniscule amount of time compared to the time that the pumps on every hour - means seedlings / small plants / shallow rooted things never get going in this system , or die if I plant them in

Plus I think the weight of 660L of gravel on one steel IBC frame base is a LITTLE too much - I dont like the way its sagging above the one-course thick brick wall that is the front of the pond ...

Hamstrung by lack of IBCs , both systems are kicking along slowly , silvers are starting to really pound the food in both systems now . yabbies have pretty much eaten all of each other though

Just a tip don't cut the grow bed down you may need the extra height some day just fill with media to the height you want and set your drains accordingly the extra sides is no problem