Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok

here is my new thread for the small outdoor system....

it will consist of two plastic ponds, with two small waterfalls, several above ground GB's and
one large sump tank

not sure if I'm going to use stand pipes or a closed siphon.... will have to test different things out

the system is going in the back of the house.... ponds on the righ, GB's on the left, ST sunk somewhere in the middle.....

there is a heat pump on the left, I will enclose this in some vertical cedar planking..... have a bench, maybe a little bridge over the sump tank..... some different height raised beds around the ponds......

well thats my winter project....

a few starting pics........

Do be sure you have enough fall from the water level in the fish tank to the high water level in the surface of the grow beds. In the drawing there it looks like you haven't given much clearance between the top rim of the ponds down to the overflow. (I think I'm probably just reminding you of something you already know. But it is one of those things worth repeating for everyone.) Goldfish can jump too.

Ya, I am going to try an equalization setup... water seeks its own level....

will probably be a slow fill with a fast drain....

if tests dont work out then I will just sink the GB's into the ground alittle

been cold and raining like crazy right now... so no progress ....

got a couple jobs for the neighbors and then will dive into the outdoor AP system

been thinking how to set it up and its coming together in my head...now just have to put it into use...

JT, would it be worth considering a fast fill/slow drain setup? I'm not sure, but people might have been talking about something similar in your GH thread when they were talking about using standpipes.

At least you'd have a greater level of certainty about not overflowing the GB's.

Chatty

thanks...

looking at several different techniques.....

going to set up a small bed and test out a few different approches...

jT

Finally got to work on the outside AP system a little today....
all the frame work is treated......
this will be the topmost pond and will waterfall down into the other pond

Started building the framework for the first pond


Finished Frame....

I will be building a cedar fence to hide the air conditoning/heat pump so will put
the cedar boards around the two pond frames to tie the design together...

Pond and frame...

cool - nice work...Are you going to paint or treat the lumber? Any concerns of termites in your area?

Mark

the wood is treated so shoudnt have a problem..... they treat it with copper nowadays...

Looked untreated to me. All the treated stuff around here usually looks wet and or greenish. In the old days they used a copper vaneer over wooden ship hules to discourage various sea born worms and such. Now adays they still use a copper based paint on ships for the same reasons. Most bugs/crustations seem to have an overssion to it.

Anyway - nice work! Looking forward to more pics.
Mark

ya the pics are kinda light..... these do have a slight greenish tint.... I pick the ones that are the dryest ..... alot lighter and much easier to cut...

more pics coming in a few days

jT

got a little work done today....

brought in 1/2 ton of crush and run to level out the area for the two ponds....

raised the pond up 8" so I will have a small waterfall

next is to get the other pond framing done and figure out where I want it situated....

hopefully by the end of the week, I will have the ponds in and will have figured how much water they hold...

still looking for a sump tank... havent found one yet....

barrels in the background are so I can save the existing AP water when I re-do the big system....

jT

Might want to flip the blocks so the openings are up and down, they are stronger that way. But I suspect you would also need more support directly under the "pond" too.

Yes... have 3 more blocks.... for middle of of pond support....

have put the blocks that way for a larger footprint.... the ground gets a little
soggy when it rains... im afraid on edge there wouldnt be enough support to
help keep from sinking a little

got a little more work today.... temp reach a whole 43 F (7.2 c) but the sun was out
and made if feel a lot warmer....

working on the top frame ring for the second pond... its a lot more difficult because it
has a lot more curves....

my first attempt wasnt up to my expectations, so did it again...

hope to have that done tomorrow.....

I found some heavy wall totes... black - 27 gallons each.... 18" deep...

think I am going to gang these together for a nice long GB....

jT