Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Alright, now we're getting somewhere
F&F, what size and type jabsco pump
Mon, can you be a little more specific - what sort of little contraption???? (and you stick your hose in it - do you )

Mon, just did a google Aus on Jabsco and Murray's web site came up
http://www.boatshop.com.au/category11_1.htm

I know that if EB think the bottom of his tanks are a bit cruddy, he'll wait for an "on" cycle and then care the fish they dart around and stir up all the muck You could just as easily give it a good swirl with a long stick a few times and let the pump do the work. It doesn't have to be immaculate down there guys

Monya-

Glad things weren't worse.

This reminds me of my dad. Anytime we had a problem, (fell down, broke a lamp, or whatever), he would look at us and ask, "well, did you learn anything?"

As a kid we didn't appreciate the significance. Now that we are grown (I hesitate to say more mature), the wisdom comes through. A couple years ago (or was it last year?) my sister in Florida was hit by 3 hurricanes, and after the whole thing was over, she responded (before he asked) about lessons learned, being prepared, etc.

Just another thing to look at when designing the AP system - (let's review my plans again....)

While no system can be idiot proof (idiots are just too ingenious), or Murphy proof (aka murphy's law), there's a lot to learn from each other, and save ourselves a lot of heartache and/or expensive loss.

Heres a picture of the jabsco 1/2 hp all the rest is un readable

Greenedo, Murphy is definately at work at my place.

Rang Muzz yesterday, perplexed that when I put the replacement pump in, it behaved in the same way He couldn't understand it, and rightly so. No other duds, and 2 to me. When I got off the phone, I cancelled the freight back for the old pump, and rang my old man who came over. We took the pump apart, there's nothing that could go wrong really, it's pretty simple stuff. (I'm mechanically useless BTW)
Tried it with and without the non return valve which Muzz suggested may have been the problem. A little less flow with the valve, but that wasn't the problem.

By this point, we're getting a bit frustrated It's 4:30, and I need a pump that will allow me a full night sleep

So we pop it back in, and as per what was happening before, as the level of the sump got low (still heaps of water to pump) the pump made some weird noises and the flow slowed down a bit, but carried on then switched off as it should.

I said to my oldman, Muzz suggested it sounded like an airlock. He goes, of course and we waited for the sump to refill, then we watched as the water draining into the sump caused bubbles that were getting sucked into the pump when the water level dropped. The lights came on, we put an elbow on the drain point, diverting the water off to the side more and bob's your uncle, seems to have fixed the problem

So there's another lesson, don't let bubbles get near your pumps Mind you, most of you guys probably already knew that, now I'm just the one looking like a goose

At least I have a new pump and the old one can do me for system number 2!!!

Les, I'll take a pic of the sucker, as soon as I can find the camera LOL

Thanks for that F&F, this is the type I was looking for but all the pumps I had come across had a ginormous intake (normal pond/fountain pumps) or are rated to pump 10,000 litres in 10 seconds.

Steve, remember EB saying that - but some dirt (now mud) got kicked into the buried tanks and thought to clean it out if possible - also wanted a backup to do a bit of "tank bottom" cleanliness occasionally.

There you go Janet - advise me on how to use "tank daipers" on tank......

Sorry, all knowledge of diapers has been erased from my mind. I have big girls now, "No diapers, Mommy! I a Big Girl!!"

Of course, someone's bed was wet this morning.

Does Reets agree with you on that Steve?

Nova
sorry couldn't let that one pass

ROFL

Interesting - just reviewed my contingency plans:
1) no change
2) ditto
3) don't let air bubbles get near pump intake
4) no change

Thought through my setup and realised that I had tackled it from a different perspective and wouldn't have had your problem (good to know about it tho), my thinking was that if water was returning to the fish tank, I wanted it to mix with the remainder of the tank water and to ensure there was no pockets of stale water - so had naturally pointed the return pipes away from the pump.

Good to know you worked it out quickly and all is resolved

Les , it was the water going into the sump that caused the bubbles that caused the problems. Glad it jogged your memory re: number 3!

Food and Fish,

That transfur (Jabsco) pump is available but you won't like the price.
I can get the Jabsco Pump heads in a couple of days, there are all sorts and sizes, ones for belt drive or direct coupling, or electric clutched, brass gear or rubber impeller, designed for moving salty, dirty water on board boats. There would be impellers available for that pump head, there is usually a number on the pump head somewhere or on the impeller itself

Muzza

Jaaaannnnetttt! Again?


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