Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Come on share your design already.... I was thinking of building one myself but it is always good to see how others build theirs... and ... copy....

I hope it is less elaborate then my next AP system which was "designed in my head after a few beers"

hey - it was a joke... sorry if i offended.

No worries AJ I have a good sense of humor and no offense taken, sounded heavy from someone I have only known for 71 posts
Scott all the best designs are done in the head after a few beers, I didn't know there was any other way.
Ivan will be finished today, maybe, had a send off for a work mate last night and things a very fuzzy, but just need to cut out 2 holes and stick it together

Voluntary (left himself/herself) or involuntary (got the boot) send-off? We had 3 involuntary send-offs (actually not really much of a send-off, just left the building type) this week, and some had reduced hours...

no voluntary ivan, our company has been going less than a year and we are hiring not firing, we are almost the biggest company in WA with Branches from Perth to Witchiecliff (can't spell it but can it) all is going well in the Machinery game at the moment

The suspence is killing me Nocky
Are we to see the infamous Nockypod today ????

Are we there yet ..... are we there yet

not far away MDP this hangover is killing me I don't know why my mouth is so dry when I drank so much

Yep - that's one of the great paradoxes of the universe Nocky !

Great to hear you are taking one for the AP Team there Nocky

Now deep breath and ........... get it finished !

Well have managed to drill 2 holes so far, was a big effort, so will post pics of the ingredients to keep you all interested, the redish bucket with the tape on it before you ask, the tape serves no purpose, bucket had a hole in the side, is a cheap $5 bucket from Coles (Just used $15 of John Deere Tape to fix it, and yes I paid for the tape, not originally to fix the bucket though) but I don't throw nothing away
Have to use the Oxy to heat things up next so will have a nanny nap for 1/2 hour or so, really in a normal real world it should take less than 2 hours to build, down here isn't the real world, well it was until the 8 hour binge

Well it's finally finished, it was a big effort today I must admit,
Pic 1 shows internal with sponge on a raised mesh floor, sponge to stop food failing to bottom, and allow fluid to drain

Pic 2 shows internals with cardboard for BSF to lay eggs and the strategically angled ramp, the white bucket is screwed to the red bucket plus silastic, holes through both buckets and a fluid collection tray will be place on ground inside red bucket, or the whole setup can be moved around the garden and juice runs straight onto the ground

Pic 3 The Finished Nockypod, hole in lid to allow BSF to get in and out, small vent holws also drilled around the top of main white bucket

40mm pvc was used for the ramp, a hole slightly smaller than PVC drilled on side of the bucket high enough to allow about 30 degree angle with ramp on foam bottom, also cut pvc like in picture, (slice in half but only the bit that will be inside bucket).
Heat the hole you drilled in side of bucket slightly, not so to melt, insert pipe as in picture make sure the inside end is on foam bottom, get someone to pour water around hole, when cooled the pipe should remain on the correct angle, silastic and leave to dry overnight. Drill hole in small collection bucket lid same size as pvc or slightly bigger
Silastic now set on main bucket, place elbow over pvc and work out how long to cut your down tube, I let down tube go through small bucket lid by a couple of inches, cut to length, insert down tube into elbow, heat down tube slightly and bed so it now points straight down, again whilst holding pipe at required angle get someone to pour water over where you heated, now assemble as pic, I didn't silastic the bottom bucket lid to the PVC makes it easier to remove for grub collecting, my pod will be under cover slightly so not worried about moisture getting in. drill about 20mm hole in main bucket lid to allow BSF to get in.
Place some food scraps in the main bucket and 1 peeled banana, it is my info BSF are attracted to Banana fruit, not peel. click on lid and wait to see if it works.
If you copy this wonderful design and it works, don't be afraid to send me beer donations, pm me
Still a bit cold I feel down this way for BSF but will put into operation this weekend anyhow.

Main bucket is 15 litre
Small bucket about half that, both have click on lids
40mm Pvc, about a metre all up, plus one elbow
Small mesh, I used 1/2" bird wire
a Bit of sponge or shade cloth
And something to stand main pod on, I used the red bucket but a milk crate would also do the job
I made mine from left overs and scrap and cost $0, but I reckon $20 would cover it
Hint of the day Don't get on the grog for 8 hours half way through production, this severely slows progress.
If you have all the bits on hand it should take less than 2 hours to build
Again I found 3 failed DYI pods on the net and took the best bits from them and also added a couple of my own idea's
So what do you think
Had a late thought this should probably be at the beginning of another thread or start of another page, so maybe some cane fix

Congrats on battling the Hangover and completeing the NockyPod !

From everythig we've all read on here , it looks like it should work. Looking forward to see how it performs once it's up and running.

Question: Any way you could modify it to have "collection ramps" on the sides of the bucket ? Like the BioPod.

I think not Nigel did think of several plans, but I figure they only walk up the ramps as they stay close to the walls, if they walk around the wall in this setup they eventually would hit the ramp, well the plan anyhow, the main food will go under the ramp not over the ramp

Just a suggestion. Maybe you coould place a slightly smaller dia bucket than the main pod (below the main pod instead of the red bucket). With sufficient holes in the lid this could work both as a stand as well as a collection sump for the liquid.