Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The Lumber and liner should definitely do you for a year (and longer if there isn't a good termite path.) Even mine that are still in service are ok if not perfect. Hopefully by the time you need to upgrade, there will be something for you to buy!!!!!!

A little of all of that... I plan to put two outside each corner as rain barrels catching from the guttering (yet to be installed). That should keep about 400 gal. in ready reserve. I have placed several under GBs that will store thermal energy in the Winter and sit empty in the Summer. A little late to employ my original plan of an external solar water heater piped to a network of internal barrels. Some may wind up as GBs, but that remains to be seen... I have access to 6-10 barrels per month or so. All free, so I'll put them to use. Currently I have about 16 or 20. May eventually roll over the GBs into barrels, though I hate the round shape as it wastes so much space and there is a LOT of plumbing involved, though I am watching JT's outdoor setup thread with interest as he daisy chained 10 27 gallon totes... May try to design my own auto watering system with some for a couple dwarf trees, etc.

On the auto pot idea... anyone out there tried a DIY auto pot? A small valve on the side with a sealing float seems like a possible idea... Hmmmm.... Maybe a small raised reservoir for low pressure refill when the water level in the pot drops... Thoughts?

CB

As to the thermal mass barrels, probably no need to empty them for summer. Thermal mass can be handy in whatever season. In winter you might pump solar heated water through the barrels (when you have time to set that up) and in summer, if it's too hot, you could always pump the water through the solar heating system at night and take advantage of radiant chilling.

Interesting thought. I had considered burying a long run of 3/4" black pipe about 24" deep to cycle water through as a cooling means...

Because the sides on the GH roll up, I'm guessing I can keep the temp at plant level around 85º during the day and 65º at night. Shading the tank will produce similar results with an average water temp of mid-70s to low 80s. I'll adjust cooling to keep the fish happy.

CB

Making good headway. Have the four main GBs nearing completion. Ran out of the right size scr4ew to finish the corners, but that will be quick work.

Next step is drilling for drainage and fitting the liners.



Sump was completed today, too. Still have to line it and place a cap around the top as well as a guard to prevent animals and children from taking a dip.... The six posts will hold cross-members for an NFT system above the tank.



Also, picked up a nice heavy duty digital timer from Home Depot for $16. Has two outlets and can run up to 19 cycles a day with exact minute on/off. A number of options for alternate day timing, etc... I thought it a good deal and will be testing it out.

Getting excited!!

CB

Nicely done countryboy.... great work...

Some days it seems like you get nothing done... others produce a pile of results. Today was the latter!

Got home from work early and had a good three hour block of time to invest in my system...

Finished and posted the eight rain barrels for topping up the system and other watering...



Also finished prepping all four GBs for liner. Hopefully tomorrow is the big day!

I also began to plumb the FT. Assembled the piping for drawing water off the bottom of the tank and brought it up to the Tee where it will exit high on the side. Fit that passage through the tank wall and layed out all pipe for getting water to the GBs. Need ball valves to regulate flow...

More next post...

Also, managed to solve a little problem with my FT.

I scored this 1400 gallon tank (about 5600 ltrs) for 200USD. The only real problem was a 3.5" hole way down low as a drain hole in the original use (potable water). I pondered several solutions but decided on a drain valve that I hope to NEVER have to use... Still, with it in place I had visions of some enthusiastic child or adult using it as a boost to see into the top of the tank... HORRORS!

So, today I fixed that...








Now, if all goes well tomorrow, the liners will be going in and I can do some test filling with scoria to go in on Thursday!! Getting excited! Could begin peeponics by the weekend!


CB

Very nice

coming along great......

More good progress today in a six hour block of work...

Installed liner and began internal plumbing. Also installed top rail to GBs and sump. Pics follow.

Keep up the good work and I see gravel washing in your very near future!!!!!!

We found that using some pond plat baskets to swish the gravel in a few bins of water (moving progressively cleaner) was a pretty good and water saving method of gravel washing. Just make sure to set up the work area so you don't have to bend while swishing or your back will protest very much. Some extra effort to make sure the process is reasonably comfortable is really important.

Good thoughts there...

I am trying hard to find a local source for lava rock (scoria?) for the mineral content as well as porosity... Not having much luck. May have to resort to a 50/50 mix of bagged lava rock from Lowe's (more expensive) and granite rock from the pile in the middle of my GH floor... Either way, filling those huge beds is gonna be a lot of work!

System is filling with water right now... 1000 gallons in the sump and another 1400 in the FT... I want the chlorine to dissipate so I can add some pond water before the weekend to begin culturing something. The fat goldies in my watergarden will be moved into the system in a few days to be the guinea pigs. Haven't killed them in five years including a pond that was nearly frozen over this Winter. Guessing they'll appreciate the warmer clearer water.

CB

Go CB Go!

It's very exciting to see such a nice setup coming together! Sooo much space in that greenhouse (drool)...

Does the timer maintain its programming if the power goes out, like with a little battery or something?