Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Nice work.

Thanks John, nice to see your happy smiling face back - think you might have taken the record for the number of posts in arrears tho

I hope so would not want that on anyone. Much to catch up on. Well winter is here so I can sit back and watch as you build... lazy me. Are you planning a roll up side or something for air flow on the hot days?

With air flow John, I am going to put shade cloth across the ends between the horizontal bar and the roof permanently - thinking of having all sides with shade cloth and having roll up sides of plastic film for winter nights

Update:

Sunk the sump tanks ( temporary fish tanks) and levelled the floor for a GB to be set and filled.

Got a load of gravel to do the GB this w'end and try to get the cycle started so that I can move the SP into the new system.

Green house cover has been put on hold until GB in cycle mode, will initially connect an auto siphon and experiment with the actuators later.

The 200l tank is too small for the SP, so the priority is to move them out as soon as the white spot cycle has completed (one more week to go and no fish losses as yet)

Phew thats good no losses...
I will be checking in, in the new year!!

This gravel washing is easy peasy - especially on the 2nd time round

Spent a few hours and have the GB half full, 600litres divided by 2 = 300 = another 1/4 metre to go :snorting:

gee this gravel washing is easy peasy

Say it enough times and I'll start to believe it


Kids asked for my xmas wish list:
shade cloth
12vdc 10amp power supply
2 door power lock kit

Interesting to see what I get :sunny: - left off gravel washing cause I want it done (this year)

I have a mate who has a dingo. I can hire it for 100 for a week. I will be using it for gravel for system 2. No more shovelling! Take a small scoop, wash it in the bucket, water drains out, tip it in the growbed. Too easy!

fortunately for you - you did it the aquaponian way 1st up so short cuts are permitted - I'm just doing the basics to get rid of the major crap, then filter later

eah, basically that's what I did. My water was pretty clody at first with all the fines. I put about 8 old socks over the return pipe and with 2 days- crytal clear. There's no need to get it perfect before putting it in the GB's that's for sure.

Are you gonna operate the dingo?
Hint 1 - lift bucket before moving over GB
Hint 2 - move bucket away from GB before lowering

Oops forgot hint 2 - how do you patch large holes in GBs

Ah that's right - ouch! my back, Heather honey.............

nah, i'll let H operate the heavy machinery

Success!!!!!! :blob7:

Thought I would pour water into the new GB and check the temporary auto siphon:
pipes are not glued (so they leak)
BG not full of gravel (so it all gets submerged)
the 2 blue tanks not connected (so it almost drains the one)
using a small pump with 10mm hose (so it takes ages to fill)

BUT IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!

it's now in gravel wash mode (GWM), water is pretty clear and its been running through a few cycles (loose rubbish is collecting on the tank bottom tho )

Now I can start on all the fiddly bits

how much did all that water cost you Les? Is it the right day for you to be using a bucket?


(2)

Funny you should mention that - had sheets of roofing material lined up so every drop around the tanks was diverted into it, the goldies temp tank doesn't have any filtering - so have been putting in their ammonia enriched water straight in.

The full tank has an ammonia reading of 1 and I won't have to do any water changes on it, will start feeding that through the gravel today.