Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yep, the skunk never knew....

Dogs are very helpfulwith skunks and others. But thank goodness for hydrogen peroxide after they get sprayed....

Ah, the joys of country living!

It's snowing outside. My husband built me a proper stand that looks great:



I've discovered why the plants nearest the drain kept dying:

I've drilled a hole lower but it still clogging up. Hmm.

Once I figure out the drainage problem I'll add another 20 gallon tank & a 3rd GB (and start a new thread).


I've drilled a hole below the standing water but it still seems to get clogged every 24 hours with "gunk."

Do I drill a bigger hole?
Anyone tilt their GBs so water is just at the drain end?
How much standing water is OK?
I know that gravel is too small but that's not the problem ATM.

Thoughts?

hey

if you put a rock guard around the stand pipe, say a length of 3" PVC with lots of holes in it,
it will serve two purpose.... keep the rock and junk from clogging up the pipe and give you a way to clear out the roots as they work their way into the drain..

jT

The top of the pipe should also be able to allow water to drain from the growbed.

As above, put a 90mm pipe with alot of 3mm holes in it to gaurd against the media.

The drainage problem is fixed. Will post a pic in a few.

Question:
Does anyone pump water in to the GB through the same hole it drains out of? I think I've read that but can't figure out how to do a search that doesn't get a bazillion hits.

I've thought of doing something like that, but there are issues:

>How to allow water free flow one direction, but get it to filter in the other direction is the main one.
>You would lose all the aeration that splashing back into the tank gives you.
>You probably could not use a sequencing valve.

One nice thing is that the back flow would really help clear the pump of debris.
Haven't seen anyone actually try it.

Aquamad had a little system that did this a long time ago, an aquarium pumping up to a bed with the same drain as the pump line. Can't find a picture that shows it though.

Here's aquamad's pic:


Hydrophilia has a good point about losing aeration. The flow is really good right now & I think it is putting in lots of air.

Before I expand this system I thought I'd see if I can increase my efficiency and I have. Before any changes it took 7:45 to reach this black line:

I took 13" off the pipe filling the GB (by removing slack in the line) and that cut 2 minutes off. Then I added one of these valves:

That took off 3 more minutes (total time to fill now 2:40).

Now that I've saved all that power (remember I'm off grid) I get to spend it by doubling the system and adding a 2nd pump. Hmm. Is it an aquaponics thing or female thing?

Was it Kunstler who said efficiency is the straightest path to hell?

I decide to make sure the GB wouldn't overflow & let the pump run longer than normal. I took a quick peak and thought I had plenty of time because I had 1 1/2" to the top of the GB. I forgot all about the holes I drilled this summer to keep the lines secured to the GB (See holes in top middle of pic):

I came back a few minutes later and water was gushing out 4 sets of holes.

Back to the drawing board!

Hi CJ,
Not sure if you have a hot glue gun, but they are a great way to fill up unwanted holes in in AP systems and should be water tight too.

Love what you have set-up, please keep the photos and posts coming.

Nope, not a female thing. Welcome to the obsession.

That's a great save on the pumping time, don't be disheartened by the overflow, you'll get through all the hiccups soon enough and it'll only bring you and your AP closer together. Be it a woman thing or an AP thing, either way's its a great thing

so did you get any GB's for Christmas, CJ? Or a new pump, or hydroton, or GH plastic, or...