Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Les, that autosyphon looks great. One day I'll get my head around it LOL and build one here!

Hey Les, what material is that on the ground under your big growbed? Makes a good ground cover...

Tim,
its 5mm sumth'n or other - cheap as, so I got a 1/4 metre and levelled it off, sprinkled cement on top and watered it in and its very solid underfoot - will be getting another load soon so will get the proper name for you

EKB, u rock

Wow! It's looking beautiful, Les!

Thanks all, yep its amazing what those holesaws can do to extract a bit of dirt out of a hole - used the chainsaw to trim up the edges

and I must admit to using the......apple corer ..... to do the intricate corners

How's the greenhouse construction coming Les?

Hi mf, got put on hold when priorities changed (read that as panic on nitrate explosion), this is where it stands - piece of shadecloth over framework

Too many fish - not enough GB space so in panic mode :silent:

I'm in the same dillema with not enough grow bed space..... I need a greenhouse badly. Love the frame and simplicity Les... hope it comes along soon for you.

Tim, the ground cover is called "5mm deco", its just cheap stuff ($38/m) but it packs down well and sprinkle some cement over it and it provides a nice firm footing - colour nice too.

MF, goona put in a bit of an effort this w'end and finish off the flooring and setup for another GB to be fitted - look at covering the frame in the new year

Thanks Les, I'll have to keep an eye out for it over here!

Update:
Filled GB1 with 10mm gravel and having it running, smooth as silk.

Goldies in a 60litre container so have been putting their water into the sump tanks on regular water changes, beginning of week ammonia reading 1, both blue tanks coupled together and servicing to GB1.

Readings today:
Ammonia zero – have been continually putting in water from goldies tank
Nitrites – 2
PH - 7.6

Nitrate levels in SP tank is rising towards 160, so:

Taking water from new system (nitrite rich) and pouring on dirt garden
Taking water from SP tank (nitrate rich) and pouring on new system GB1 gravel)
Topping up SP tank from rain water – hope to get this new system cycled real soon to move SP into it (then panic getting plants in GB1)

Purchased another trough to use as GB2 (more gravel washing to do as per all true aquaponians)

Need 2 GBs to test series fill project :profileleft:

Oh boy! - just spent many interesting hours trying to catch up on unread posts (probably missed a lot) - now have 2 days to work on system before new year celebrations kick in :sunny:

Got some good pressies so will be able to work on the power door locks now

Just need to dig, mow, cultivate, plant, mulch.........and all those other little things the wife thinks are prioritised above AP

Let the fun begin

Tested the new system:
Ammonia - 0
nitrites - 0
PH - 7.6 (Old system PH - 6.4)

New tank now cycled, have put in seeds before xmas and now sprouting - now to move the SP

Step 1. doing gradual water changes between both systems to balance the PH on a daily basis

Step 2. catch the little mongrels and grade them (pics required).

There is a big size differential, so will put all the larger ones in the new system (these can eat full sized pellets) and mix the small ones with the goldfish to keep the old system going.

Step3. commission the 2nd grow bed so that I can start testing the serial growbed door actuator thingy

Cool, so Les, can you visibly notice your fish growing?