Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good to hear that all went well... and great idea with using the kid's noodles for a float...

Used a tyre tube for the other one, ran out of daylights to take photos with

OBO, would the last two siphons in your run work better if you used a breather pipe at the end of the line? So adding a 50mm T in the line that connected to a vent that came up beside the end IBC. Bit like the vented sewer system in a house which allows for pressures to equalise etcetera due to the use of s bends and traps. Most of the siphons will be acting like airlocks and traps whilst filling, and maybe creating a partial airlock whilst draining. Anyway just a thought.

Heya OBO what were those "fish holding nets" actually made of? They look like washing baskets or something. I want one....

OBO, Just got finished reading this whole thread, what a great learning resource for newbie! Something to strive for!

Happy growing!

+1.

I fabricated something similar, but apparently my sewing skills are lacking as I lost more than a few fry into the system and finally just released them all...

CB

Good stuff Col, all seems to be going well

100% survival rate... well done!!

hahahaha.... Was just reading this thread when Gavin poked his head in the door here at the shop. The trout madness is beginning.

The siphons would mcfarm, and I had considered doing it. You are correct in what is happening. However I have decided to just leave all the beds as flood and drain.

Hey gemmel, they are collapsible camping washing baskets More photo's later today

The funniest thing at the moment, it is raining lightly, and the Trout are trying to eat the raindrops, I guess they are a bit hungry

cheap way of feeding them

The mesh baby fish tanks are:



Even with the new bigger pump, I still was not happy with the flow rate to the growbeds. Heaps of pressure was available before the spider, but not much beyond it. I thought I'd have a go at fixing it




Much, much better. I'll probably open it up even more tomorrow. Still heaps of room left.



Started to mesh up around the IBC's, as a growing frame.






Setup the secondary air system, it's a 4500 lph pump with a small venturi, pumping from the bottom of the tank, up to the surface. Seems to do ok.




VIDEO of Trout feeding



CLICK the above picture to watch the video.

Everything is going pretty well. Water tests have all come back to reasonable levels. Except pH which is around 8.4! Perch and Trout do not seem to bothered, but it is affecting some of the plants badly. Both punnets of celery have died, and the beans are not really happy. It will come good in time.

Lookin' good Col.
Have you got a big dog for the yard?? Our blue healer kept the fence hoppers out when we lived in town (Narrogin)

Good to see you have experimented with the spider's "hole". I was of the opinion that the hole was too small, but wasn't prepared to put up with the TA's response if it didn't work! I now have got confidence. Geez, whats got into me over the years.

Yeah, looking great OBO - how the plants coming along ?

While not exactly a perfectly engineered modification... it's not ultimately an unsupported approach....

By default, the valves are fitted with a low flow valve stem... to suit most systems/applications...

There is a "higher" flow valve stem available... which essentially just has a bigger outlet "hole"...

It also has a slightly higher spring tension to ensure correct cam rotation...

Has the extra flow resolved the back pressure leak problem Colin??