Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What pump do you guys recommend for a single IBC rise and fall system on a 15on/45off cycle? Are there any suitable 12v bilge pumps that can handle the solids?

Do you reckon these would be up to the task?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FULLY-AUTOMATIC- ... 45f5b622f9

Also, given it will be a rise and fall system, perhaps a separate float switch like one of these http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Marine-Bilge-Pum ... 3f05d68999 set at he safe cut-off level would be a better idea?

Or for an even cheaper (and perhaps nastier) option, what about this http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TRAC-600-GPH-Bilge-Pump-And-Float-Switch-Combo-/390218463369?pt=AU_Boat_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5adad53889?

Nope, those 12v bilge pumps are good for backup only. Run a 4000lph tornado jebao or similar. You want around 4000lph.

Given I was going to run a 15min on/45min off cycle, would 4000lph be a bit of overkill?

I would have thought that with the top section of the IBC being ~300 litres, minus gravel would end up ~150L of water. Hence all I should need is something that can do ~600lph @ 1m. This would give 150 litres per 15 minutes. Naturally I'd want a bit of leeway on that, so would hope that a pump that could vie 1000lph @ 1m would be plenty. I was thinking something like this should suffice http://www.rockaroundtheblock.com.au/pr ... D=26&cID=7.

What have I missed?

PS - are 12V pumps only good for backup, and not a reliable main pump, or just that brand?

Even if you find it too be overkill you can divert some of the flow to stir ya tank up and will allow you to fill another bed or so

Aquapro make a fair pump at a fair price. Check at bunnings they have a range

Inorder to filter your tank properly you need to pump a minimum of the volume of your ft in a hour, so for a 15/45 cycle you need to move about 1000l of ft in 15 min, so you need about a 4000l a hour pump. More is merrier.

Now I get it! Thanks everyone

Have a look in the B store (rainwater section) they have sump pumps W/float switch for $49, yep $49 (Blue colour)I have one been working for 3 weeks now.
OK 250W ( think 6-8000 L/Hr) but only works 5 mins/Hr. My theory is pump up a head in the IBC and then let gravity do the work. Regulate with a tap.

This heavily depends on aeration. Are you planning on supplying the fish with a dedicated airpump? Total volume 1 x an hour is for a heavily stocked (near max) tank at say 1/4 to 1/2lb per gallon. Ive seen AP systems run on as low as 1 turnover every 8 hours, it just depends on the aeration and stocking density.

More flow wont hurt but will take more power and more up front money.

I've got one of the B blue pumps in the sump. I run it for 15 mins on and 55mins off. Has been running for 6+ months no problems. Once I put in 6 GB outlets it pums at around 4000ltr per hour, even though rated at 6000, with about 50cm head and 5 or so meters combined piping on top of that. I measured the actual time it takes to fill the GB to work it out. Pretty simple in the end but you need to buy the pump first. I havent had any air at all, will wait to see how my levels get through summer but i am turning over 1000 ltr every hour and seems ok. Ammo is always faint ~.25 with zero for nitrites and variable for nitrates depending on whats in or out of the GB.

Are these dirty water pumps? The only dirty water blue Silverstorm pumps I could see were $69.

Also, I would only need to run these for 5 minutes every hour, but can't find a timer to do that sort of cycle. The cheap mechanical ones only have 15 minute increments. Anyone know of a more accurate timer?

Digital Timers from B?? bout 25$

Why not get an $75 Aquapro 4000lph pump and run it 24/7 and auto siphon your bed 77w iv had mine running for over 6-7 months now and im running a 2.1m head and a venturi up until 2 days ago it was pumping through 6mt of pipe as well, but iv just put in another sump under my FT and its now pumping through 2.5m and iv got about 800l of growbed im filling with it. never had an issue with water quality and blockages or anything. just take the filter out and leave the screen on. at my 2.1m head it took 43 mins to fill my 750l tank that was pumping through all that piping aswell.

the do sell an 8000lph version also at b for around $115 i think. this will be my next pump.

Aquapro's are cheap & Indestructible it has even ran dry for a few hours once when my bed overflowed and the siphon wouldnt kick in.emptied my sump

When they state "dirty water pumps" I assume they mean if your in a trench full of muddy water and pump it out. AP I consider as clean water. After all this rain, reckon I could just about drink it

If your using a sump 15 min timer is OK. as the float will cutout. them depends on the rate of drain back (regulated, tap) how long it takes to fill the sump again, is longer than 15 mins wont kick back in again until timer switches on etc etc.

Have alook what "bonsabelly" wrote above, been going for 6 months

Cheap way of getting timing down lower than 15 mins is to piggyback 2 together. NO not 2 mechanical ones.... 1 mechanical and 1 electronic (I use Arlec) Plug mech one into power point and other into that, then stagger the timer settings. For a period (say 7 mins) both are on, then one turns off, by the time it turns back on the other has turned off. BTW my Arlec can only do 1/2 hour steps. But if you want to pay the money there are timers out there that will get down to the minute (or second).

Hi Jamie,

Just read your post. The digital timer from B, did you buy one, what increments can you adjust at?