Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

G'day

Newcomer here, finished assembling system after reading all tid bits on the forum, addicted before I started, go figure.
My trial system (that is system until wife sees the light) consists of an IBC FT, 2 blue barrels halved lengthways as GBs mounted above FT, media is 1/2 cracked pebble on bottom of GBs with 1/2 expanded clay on top, standpipe flood and drain (standpipe set at approx 30mm below top of media), pump set on timer and airpump on constantly.
I have 25mm pvc from pump to GBs with a bypass and ball valve 'T'eed in.
Pump runs on timer set to 15mins/1hr.
All seems to run well, but only takes 7 or 8 mins to fill then overflowing at standpipe height till pump stops, but once pumping has stopped drain time is about 35/40mins.
I have water coming in at one end of beds and drains at other end but am not sure if I am filtering enough through GBs with the speed of fill plus bypass.
Have planted beds with seedlings of almost everything, and have put in a few small fish.

Just tried putting in some pics but I might be doing something incorrect, hope my system
set up is more successful

Congratulations on your first attempt gtrmosh! Look forward to seeing your pictures, looks like you are hooked like the rest of us

Welcome to the club. Pics really do speak 1000 words.

Welcome Gtrmosh
Sounds like you have done the homework, there is no doubt you're addicted.
Will look forward to seeing pics and watching your progress especially the new system when your wife has seen the light and has acquired the addiction after sampling your produce.
My only comment and of course this is my own opinion I think it is far better to run the pump 24/7, most wear and tear of a pump occurs on the initial start up, which in your case occurs 168 times a week! You would then need to set up an auto siphon.

Hi GTR, all new APers have concerns about what she thinks, I have written many times that you will not have a problem, my Mrs negative has taken almost full control and I have be banished to the dirt garden, Last year she even gutted the trout which amazed the crap out of me, she has regular tourists, I am actually thinking of building myself an AP system but good luck and pics are great

yeah same kind of thing here, Missus didnt like the idea, didnt like the money spenditure, or the time i was spending on it.

Now she is out there looking at things, keeping an eye on things, buying seedlings and planting, and now telling me to hurry up and get a bigger tank and more gb's as we have run out of room to plant things...

and iv got no fish yet she has even been helping me wash gravel and setup the tanks... somthing just clicks in there head i think... female nesting traits or somthing....

she takes photos of the plants every day and compares thing hahaha.... she loves it

Thanks for the replies.
Pics coming once I get some time to figure out how to drive properly, did try first time but too many pixels.
As this is purely experimental at this stage am happy with things as they are at the moment so am comfortable with pump coming on/off all the time cheers for the suggestion though Desertrat.
Still laughing about others experiences with their wives, caught mine staring, watching, listening to system this morning for about 10 mins or so, then when I sided up she said " so this is all you do down here all this time, waste of time", then she stayed with me for another 20 mins counted the little fishies commented on how the veges seem to look quite heathly and asked about pump times and stuff.
I think I could be setting a nice sized hook.

If only I can get her to drink the homebrew.

Nice baiting mate, but keep the homebrew for yourself

GTR download this program http://pixresizer.en.softonic.com/download it's free and make your pictures 800 x 600 and in the select format choose same as original and save, should be fine then to upload
Yes you have your missus hooked, but don't wind her up, just let her play actually managed to get mine to drink HB

Thanks Nocky,
More pics to come

Looks good, I like the cladding on your IBC, looks very swish!
Ha I have to laugh, all you guys talking about your wives interest and not, my husband is exactly the same.
He feigned no interest to begin with, said it had better not look unsightly. Couldn't understand my interest.
He helped me with some hard stuff but 2 months down the track he talks about it to friends and boasts the progress.
So there you go!
Dale

Agreed, my missus hated beer for years finaly got her into it, now if theres only 3 left iv gotta share one..... anoys me to no end, usualy endup having to go get more...

Construction pic

It works

Drains in operation