Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What about using one of rupes spider valves, means your sump would be plenty big enough?

So, if I am pumping X amount of water from a sump into a fishtank and then overflowing into one bed via a sequencing valve then that bed fills up quickly and starts to overflow back to the sump.

I can see how this could work if you had a smaller sump, however you wouldn't want it to be too small as you would still have water in previously filled beds as the system sequences to the next bed.

I suppose you would just be carefull on how quickly you sequenced, and how quickly your beds drained, to allow time for the water to make its way back to the sump from the previously filled beds.

Would this allow the use of a much smaller pump? I am thinking that a smaller pump would be more efficient power wise and would fill each bed more slowly. Would this allow more time for the bacteria to work in each bed and allow more time for water to drain back to the sump

Well progress is slow but it is happening.
Today I painted the cladding that has been put around my sump tank cage.
It is old weather boards on 2 sides and plywood on the other 2 that won't be seen. Didn't have enough old weather boards lying around.

Just need to scrub out the liner which now has its top cut off.
Make a lid for the sump, we thought out of marine ply cut into thrids and the centre panel being a hinged door for access.
Then start on the fish tanks and grow beds.

Dale

Cut an IBC in half today, it was scary using the angle grinder but I did it anyway. Sparks flying out from the metal cage.
I cut it perfectly in half, meaning exactly in half so one actual grow bed is smaller than the other because of the metal base on one.
So they are both the same size the delivery of the water from FT will be easier.
heres a picture.
Starting to look like an Aquaponics system now.

Will be trying to get a bench made for the GBs.
The other 2 IBCs are the FTS and they will be roughly where they are. And of course the sump is under the tarp, all cut and cleaned and ready to go when we make a lid for it.
I will only bring 1 FT on line first, then the other when I get more grow beds.

Dale

Looking good Dale.

Really like the cladding around the IBC.

Taking shape there Dale
Congrats on cutting the IBC you should receive your "AP angle grinders certificate" in the mail.
Looking forward to seeing the next stage of your system

Hi Dale,

Just thought I would let you know that one of the taps on my IBC had a leak...since we purchased these form the same person, would be wise to test the taps prior to doing something permanent.

Thanks VLT,
I did a special check of the tap on the sump before I dropped it back into its cage.
Put water in, squirted water into the fitting both ways and it was fine.
I am sorry you had trouble with yours.
I have decided I need to buy 1 more for more grow beds but am reluctant now to go back to that guy. Will have to find another source.

Dale

IBC scum and what to do about it!
My IBC insides are coated with a white residue which wouldn't hose off, I had to get into the sump tank and scrape the inside out.
But what could I scrape it with mmmm........!
Aha! I have it!
The perfect thing, great to grip in hand, no points to make holes and different sized curves to get into all the bendy bits of an IBC.
This is the scum I had to deal with.
Thcum thcum thcum thcum thcum!
Dale

Hi Dale,

Thanks for that....

On the point of the IBC's I am currently replanning. Actually thinking of ditching the IBC's and purchasing a 2000 litre tank from Growfresh, Sirius tanks or ebay troughs.

Several reasons...

1. Dont trust the IBC from Simon as too many lies from the guy. BTW, I cleaned the residue with sandpaper and bleach...took about 2 hours per IBC.

2. Costing more and more stuffing around with fittings and such and seems easier to just buy a proper tank.

3. Will look nicer.

Will leave the IBC's in the sun for a few months and think about what I can do them then. Thinking of self contained strawberry and herb towers.

I have 20 IBC's in the ground at the moment, and I have only 1 tap leaking, unortunatley it is a 3" tap, not the usual 2" tap, so it's gonna stay leaking lol. It will self seal eventually I hope.

I suppose VLT, that if the contents of the IBC were toxic, any fish that went in would die. Canary in a coal mine scenario.
Sad for the fish but lucky for us.
I haven't looked at the plumbing side of them much. Milne gave me a drain fitting that sits in a bath, it would go into an IBC for a drain okay. The standpipe has a plug stuck to it with the centre taken out. It then sits into the drain hole snuggly with its surround and acts as a slow drain standpipe thingy (terminology not good yet). Not a syphon.
Not really looking forward tothe plumbing side of it. Stepping into the unknown and all that.
I guess for me its the asking over the counter for 'a bit that goes onto this bit' and I get that look from the young fellow who wishes he was elsewhere and then I wish I was elsewhere too!
Dale

Yeah...exploring options...

Sometimes things dont work out...luckily I have other options and all is not lost.

If you can afford it buy a dedicated fish tank otherwise stick with ibc/s they are a cheap alternative and i would say i know of at least 150 running in ap and serving well
Granted you have to dress them up [like you did ]
Plumbing it costs just as much to plum an ibc as any other grow bed
Cleaning well common sense prevails

Hi F&F,

Its not so much affordable or not. It is thinking about it more and more several factors have made me question wether or not to use the IBC's.

I have to say though. The ones I got are COMPLETELY different to Dale's.