Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Have you measured the pH of the water coming out of the trough and the sink seperately?

Chatty

Is weird. The metal not giving off something? Like how aluminium poisoning from aluminium pots....

Did a test (ph) from f/t and one from each bed.Each was identical colour, all 7.6.

Quick update. In regards to the plants in the sink gb not growing, it was just 3 spring onions, but as you saw from the photo's, the ones in the concrete tank thrived. We have since added a pac choy seedling into both gb's and both seem to be growing well. Maybe the system hadn't cycled properly therefore stunted the spring onions in the sink (they still haven't moved). Anyway time will tell as we eventually add more seedlings, it's too dam hot to plant anything just yet. Couple more photos.

All going well with the system, Banana plant has been moved outside for clearance and going well. This photo taken at the end of a 44 deg day ( today).

dbird in Narrogin is growing bananas. His thread is Going bananas in Narrogin.

Looking good!!
got a pic of the solar panels???

regards

Matt

Sorry mate no photo's of panels. You can just see one of them on the roof in that last shot.Nothing special just 2 x 60 watt panels.It'd take a fair bit of convincing to get me on the roof at the moment as we are having 40 deg plus days.We did have the system running off 2 x 40 watt panels but made a second system and added another pump, therefore had to change them with the 60 watters ( mainly cause I had them and wasn't using them) Batteries stay at 13 volts even first thing in the morning

Still ticking along nicely

Hi All,

I bought an arlec digital timer mains operated one and converted it to operate on 12 volts and switching 24 volts via a relay.
Taking it apart removing the three brass pins , then wire it 12v +ve in, 12v+ve out and common -ve in/out.
Tried to post photos but couldn't, don't really know how to paste them onto this forum, tried the way I have done in the past with standard emails.
Converting a digital timer isn't too hard.I have only converted the arlec digital timers.

Peter

HI Kelly
Great to see recycling in action being a bathtub user myself I appreciate the effort that goes into setting up such a system, always more of a challenge than setting up an off the shelf version!
Our power went out yesterday and it reinforced my aim to develop a more closed system that doesn't rely on too many outside inputs such as fish feed, fish stocks and particularly Power so I will be looking into setting up our system with solar in the near future
In regards to the growth differences I would be guessing that the SS troughs are not as stable with the temperatures and secondly that beneficial bacteria may establish quicker in the concrete trough because of porous surface. Have you tested the temp difference between the two troughs?
Once again well done on a great system

I found this Arlec PC697, digital timer at K Mart (I think) 20 on/off times, it is great.

Hi Peter ( capt),
My old man has told me that 240v timers with battery backup ( just 1.5v for memory on power outages) can be used on 12v systems easily just as you say.I haven't had the time to try and he told me that AFTER we bought the 12v timers.If we had to do it again I would definately try that as it's a lot cheaper.

Hi desertrat,
We haven't checked any temps coming from the grow beds. When we first started this system nothing seemed to grow in the sink gb's. Since then the tide has turned. We seem to be able to grow plenty in the sink beds but it's hard to get things started in the concrete troughs. Haven't been too concerned as this could be any of quite a big number of things.We are only growing from seed in this system and although things seem slow at first, one day it's like turning on a switch and WOW.You can see things grow on a dayley basis.

Wow thats a great setup you have there quite an inspiration thanks for all the pics