Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

In a little setup like that gravel probley wont hert but in a full bolwn system gravel is deffinatley a no no

Thanks. It's amazing how clean the bottom of the FT stays. The gravel belongs in the GB though.

It's a good idea to read a bunch of member systems to see what people did wrong/had to change. I still made tons of mistakes anyway but half the fun is modifying your system/planning the next one.

I had gravel in my first setup too!

Oh........

But I like the gravel in the FT...

I just finished creating a 3 (or 4) gal GB for all the plants with an ebb/flow system (siphon pump). Thanks for your input, and for the small system, I'll leave the gravel for now, but the larger system (coming soon-ish) will not have gravel in the FT. I got my wires crossed with putting gravel in the tank (probably the fluidity of memory when reading fish books and aquaponics and not keeping them separate). I'm really good at learning new stuff, building confidence, making a mistake, and relentlessly defending that mistake...

A few pics later today (or tomorrow).

Thanks!

Note to self: Gravel is a no-no.

Alright.

Last night, when my girl got back from her flight home, I quick tried to transfer all the plants into the new Ebb/Flow bucket. I didn't think it could take long, even though we were due at my parents for dinner. Cutting the plumbing to the old system, I realized that I would have to complete the task before I could leave, otherwise the plants would face desiccation.

So, racing against time, I finished separating the old system, transfered the plants (while snapping a few quick pictures, of course), and left for dinner.

On the way to dinner, my mind was still focused on the system. Several disturbing scenarios arose while in traffic.

1. If there is a problem with the siphon pump, then the fish tank will be pumped endlessly, possibly overflowing onto the desk and ultimately onto the carpet (and to the floor below us).

2. If the tank does run dry, then the pump will run dry. Electric/Fire hazard...

3. I shouldn't drink so much coffee.

Long story short, all was fine when I returned.

I set the flood/drain cycle to 30 minutes every 4 hours with a slow-drain return line back to the fish tank if the timer cuts off during the middle of the flood stage.

I lost a few little lettuce plants in the transfer, but I dumped a bunch of oregano seed in the empty space, so hopefully that will offset the loss, provided they successfully germinate.

More pictures.

1. You might look into an overflow something or other (hole maybe). My pump did get stuck in the on position just a few days ago and about 10 gallons spilled onto the wood floor, thrilling my husband (see the last page or two of my 20 gal starter system).

2. I'm not sure if running a dry pump is really a fire hazard. I've had them run dry this summer for several hours and they didn't burn out, luckily.

3. I LOL at that one. If I had been drinking coffee, it would have come out my nose.

Best not to rush anything and I try to be around all day after making a big AP change.

Siphon pump:

1 1/2"x7" pipe fitted over 1/2" tubing. It's temporarily capped with a nitrile glove and vulcanizing tape; the "back-up" drain is made out of 1/4" inch tubing to allow for the previously mentioned drainage if the timer cuts out at mid-cycle of the flood stage.

Overflow Drain:

I have another fitting for a 1/2" tube (along with additional tubing) that I was going to install for an overflow drain, but as it is currently setup, it would overflow into a modified "planting tray" that would sloppily poor back into the aquarium. All in all, everything is going pretty well due to my attempt to keep things simple (and mostly on the cheap--when I take time to plan things out).

At the moment, everything continues to run as intended, and the plants looks pretty good.

Future considerations...

I mentioned previously that I wanted to start a much larger system in the Spring after my Antarctic work, but thinking through things in a bit more detail, it may not be as large as originally stated (up to a 1000 gallon system). Plants have been a hobby of mine since I was a boy with a little garden, and to jump into a 1000 gallon system would give me an unprecedented garden project. However, a project of such a magnitude would put me at the limits of my budget, which would put a strain on the entire project if I run into any significant problem which requires a monetary resolution.

Currently at my disposal, I have a 150 gallon stock tank and a green house that would accommodate such a system. A small system will have to do for now.

Like this? All these pictures were taken when the average fish was about 30cm (1ft) long.

Trout will eat anything smaller. I added 30 3" (7cm) trout and five catfish (same size). The trout grew fast in cold water to the point that one had to try eating a catfish....

I do worry about chemicals. Just because animals do not die immediately does not mean there is no lingering problem. I had no problem with miss-shaped fish in my aquarium or in the greenhouse system, just the pool. Then again, I only had ten in the aquarium and any dwarves in the greenhouse system might have made their way to the welcoming big catfish...

Quick update.

I just checked the water of my 10 Gallon: low nitrates/nitrites after the last water change (~3 gallons, which were replaced by 2 gallons DI water and 1 gallon city water + nitrobacteria). Hardness and alkalinity are high, and pH is right at 7.0. See below for photos.

On other matters:

I leave for the Deep South very, very soon, so I've been sculpting a plan for the aquaponics system that will start in the beginning of summer 2011. Here's what I've got so far.

[*]1000-2000 gallon (~7,000 L) swimming pool (most likely catfish, but pa wants bream)
[*]NFT/DFT hydroponic tech with 10 - 10'x3"-6" PVC pipes.
[*]20'x30' (or possibly some variable of about 600 sq ft) homemade greenhouse to enclose the system

Sketch of future plan.

Here are a few up-to-date pictures. Everything's taking off. Very pleasing.

Seedlings (oregano and basil) were simply tossed into the pot, so germination without the tedium of rockwool or soil is feasible for a F&D system.

Cheers.