Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It was only a matter of time...

Wind was causing a few issues with the ends, so I secured the other end for the winter also.

Tommies have really preked up with the cover, and the fruit has started to ripen again, and more flowers have come out.
I'll have to try Rupes toothbrush method of polinating...

Very nice temp in there at the moment.

Tonights water test results:
Temp 17 deg
pH 7.7
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0.5

That door didn't take long!!

It is amazing how much warmer the water keeps and how little it drops overnight. I could almost camp out there.

Toothbrush or paint brush. Fine soft bristles.

I've used an old electric toothbrush in the greenhouse for the strawberries and tomatoes. I just quickly tap each flower and move to the next. If the conditions are right...you can see a cloud of pollen around it!

Make it easier for you to get in rick
I'm not stressed about the temp thing, was -.5c this morning and 10c most of yesterday water temp was 8c this morning, may make some covers for the GB's though

All the plants are now starting to take off, with the cover finished I could finally get back into planting out some of the bare patches...

Finally got around to putting in the additional backup pump in the sump. Lungy's misfortune got me into action.

My old basil plant flowered, and went to seed, and now I have all these small basil plants coming up in the bed, so all is going pretty well.

I picked some tommy's for lunch today, pretty rapt to be still growing them, the Roma's have taken off so much I have been considering pruning some back a little...

Sweet
Don't forget to plant some other things too soon...
The moon is high

Nice looking system NF

Well I finally found some time to add the CHIFT PIST setup to my system.

It's a 3 Bed system, from a 1500L FT, and 500L sump.

I have setup the system to be a constant flow for now, as I have read all the comments for and against the constant flow versus flood and drain, and thought I would see how it goes. If I decide to go to flood and drain later, I'll likely need a larger sump.

Just to add further complication I had decided to use some different grow media in each of the beds to see how different vegies (especially the ones I have had trouble with) go in this constantly flooded system, and in the different grow media. Lots of variables, but should be fun...

I have used 80mm PVC from the FT to the grow beds, reduced down to 40mm at the beds with ball valves to balance out the flows between the beds. Water from the beds gravity feeds to my old 500L sump from my 6 bed system. A pond pump constantly pumps the water from the sump to the FT, and I have a bypass to feed some water back into the sump if required.

I have started the system on a fishless cycle, and will add the roof over the FT and plants over the next week or so, and some gaurds to keep the little ones out of the in-ground sump.

With all this rain I might need to add an overflow to the sump (currently flowing over).

Pics of the setup below...

Sweet
Now do you have supplies of seeds to plant?
Because it is planting time again
Yes the MOON again Not at you Newy, just the others
Try and get traditionals

That is a nice looking system!

What have you made the growbed stands from? (am a bit concerned about the strength of mine after seeing the collapse of Welsh Dragon's system!)

Wow - Nice again NF
There be no problems with those frames

Thanks C1, got plenty of seeds, and I hope to get some in the beds tomorrow...

Hi Andrew, the stands are made from 50x50mm gal steel angle, 4mm thick.
I made a box frame, and then welded 3 cross braces on the base, I was a bit lazy and just welded straight to the bottom of the box frame, if you want them stronger, you should cut out a section of the bace angles so that the beds would sit flush, as it is, my beds can flex approx 4mm down...
On the bottom of the legs I welded a section of 75mmx4mm flat gal.
Painted all welds with cold gal.

I wanted to have the beds low, both for the CHIFT PIST, and so the kids can be more involved with this system...
I will have to build a fence to keep the chooks out though.

Great to know - thanks NF.

How much fun was it digging the hole for the sump ? I've got a big one of those going in!

I've got a bobcat, so was lots of fun...