Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

There seems to be little reason why here in Sydney i cannot have Barra 10/12 months a years and trout 10 months a year.

Hi,
Well the location that I am intending to install the tank at this moment is previously a garden bed, so digging into the ground, should be relatively simple. If I do end up burying the tank, I may not end up burying the whole tank. A certain height off the ground stops "shit" from being blown in easily, hence less regular maintenance.

I read about the concept of a sump tank in the forum. Is the sump tank usually fully covered? Or does it normally remain open, just like another fish tank except that water is pumped from the sump to the main tank rather than from the main tank directly?

I also read about people putting Crustaceans in sump tanks. Will be a hit with the Mrs., she likes crayfish. Can crayfish be grown in AP?

Any tank should be placed so that stuff won't get washed in for knocked into to during a rain or when people walk near the tank.

Sump tanks are usually meant to 1-provide a place where beds can drain and the water can then be pumped to where it needs to go and/or 2-absorb the water fluctuations of the system so that the fish tank water level can remain more stable. (There are system designs out there where the amount of water needed to flood the grow beds would leave the fish high and dry if there were no sump tank to provide for the extra water needed to run the system.)
Example, I have a 10 gallon aquarium in the house that is hooked up th 5-5 gallon buckets as grow beds. If that system didn't have a sump, the fish tank could not provide enough water to flood the grow beds. I do have a sump for that system so the water in the fish tank only fluctuates about an inch when the pump is on compared to when the pump is off.

Other benefit to having a sump is the option to have the water overflow from the fish tank into the grow beds so the solids go directly from the fish tank to the beds without having to be passed through the pump. Then the water all nice and filtered can drain to the sump tank where the pump is. This reduces the need to clean the pump somewhat so long as there are not also fish being fed in the sump tank (as soon as you add fish and feed to the sump, that water won't be as clean.)

However, sounds like you got your eye on a nice simple system so you need not get too into this other stuff if you don't want to (at least not yet, that can happen when you decide to expand and build your next system.) Do not resist, your yard will be assimilated. Resistance is futile, Aquaponics is an addiction

Hi TCLynx,

Thanks for your reply. Certainly cleared up some questions I had about sump tanks.

Too late to resist. I have not even built my first system at the current proposed location, and I am already looking at other locations around the house I can put AP in. Luckily I don't have a big yard but my Mrs will not be impress. Need those crayfish (lobster) to pacify her.

I have got this "damn" forum and the members to thank for putting all those ideas in my head.

Well I think you also just sold me the idea that this tank I will put in soon, will become my sump tank when I expand the system. I presume a 1000L sump tank will be sufficient? Is there an "official" sump tank to main tank ratio??

Hi there,

Those who has the BYAP kits or those who knows something about them.

It appears that the GB are only rested on top of the galvanised GB stand. Anyone had problems with the GB flipping over with strong winds. Especially the hellish one we had in Perth about 2-3 weeks ago?

Any suggestions on how to secure the GB down?

With 500L of media in the beds... that's about 4-500kg.... during the flood you can add another 3-400kg from the weight of the water...

Trust me.... there's nooooo way those growbeds will move... short of a direct hit from a cyclone...

Great. I hate to set it all up and come a strong windy day, have it all ruined.

I believe Jessi's system took a hit from a cyclone last season Didn't move the beds.
Other than stirring up the sump a little crawfish probably wouldn't get stressed from the fluctuations.

Oooh you are treading sensitive ground Chappo.
Those of us that choose trout for our winters are working with nature, not against it.
They are fun and easy. I for one do not test water. Another personal preference ivansng.
Jaymie doesn't even own a test kit, she has a phobia and does not want one.
You will work out what is right for you.

yep I know it's dangerous ground ..... i was not born to this earth to skulk with the lambs.
The answers are already there ,, it just needs to have an acceptable "usage" rate

Sump sizing is usually based more on how much water is needed to flood all the grow beds.
If you have a 1000 l sump then you should be able to managed about 2000 l of grow beds which could support up to 60 kg of fish which could be living in as little as 1000 l of fish tank.

Hi TCLynx,

I see, so in some ways the sump helps to keep the main tank small as well.

I have learning heaps over the last few days. Can't wait to start the AP infection.

Ivan

Hi guys,

Just some photos of where I intend to put the BYAP kit. The area used to be a vege patch but got overrun by weeds.

Lots of potential, look forward to seeing the progress Ivan.

Yeah, definately good groundwork for a stunning looking system.