Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have put black river yabbies and brown muddy dam yabbies in the sump of my system and they have all turned blueish. Rain water in my system as well

Hi Mantis - been wondering how youve been faring with the floods...was it you guys that had a dam try to burst on you?

Maybe the rainwater is the trigger then - we have the same - some blackies from the creek, and browns from a dam all turning pale grey/blue.

Bagged a heater for $80 - delivered yesterday. Its a Helios 3000w quartz immersion heater, but the quartz bit has been smashed. Called them up yesterday to price out a replacement $350. If the element has also been damaged that will be another $200, but hopefully the rest is ok - has a thermostat attached too. All up they reckon with all the bits it has its worth about $1100 so if I can get away with it for under $500 with shipping it will be a good buy hopefully. Im wondering how much water 3000w would heat - and where the best place would be to place it in the system? Thoughts welcome.

BUMP....how are you guy's getting on?

Just noticed the heater every hr it runns it uses 60 c power

A 3000w heater should be able to raise the water temperature in a 3000L tank...

By one degree.....

Hi there - jelous of the space you have - looking awesome! Did you get anywhere with the molases IBCs? I got some barrels used to hold glucose and could not clean - took the kettle out and used hot water - might be the go?
Ben

Hi everyone! Thanks for the bump Gnash!! Have had the internet disconnected since mid Dec, and after about 20 hours and speaking to over 30 people the problem has FINALLY been sorted out....

Hadn't done much between hubby's knee op (doing brilliantly BTW), and about a week ago. Valencia season has started too so thats slowed us down as well. But things are moving quickly ATM which is awesome

I have a query about this statement tho Rupe - and forgive me if it seems dumb, but if thats so, how does a spa pump work so well? They are only a few hundred watts arent they? and some of the ones Ive been in work too well...(ie: joke about adding veggies to the water usually occuring )

bugger...hit submit instead of preview - hoping it made sense...


Thanks bonsaibelly
Yup, was using a 3 phase spitwater with a diesel water heater built in - got REALLY hot! (actually blew out the wand).
Did not move it...ended up using a paint scraper and sandpaper on a couple...hubby finally gave in on the last one and just cut up a new one. Actually I think the worst ones werent the molasses but hydrolised tuna in oil that had probably been sitting for a couple of years so had hardened nicely...smelt good too - especially when hit with the hot water

Yay...lotsa catchup pics...We have GRAVEL!!!!!!!
We also now have all our two tier tanks in too
AND note the black IBC which has a downpipe installed from the guttering for our top-up water supply
And BTW, the GB closest to the sump that doesnt look too sturdy is only sitting there until the electrician comes to wire up the sump pump, then we can finish the sump pipework and surround, and eventually fit a lid. (just in case anyones wondering )

Also apologies for the darkness of these pics - not sure why apart from the fact it was a bit overcast at the time - hope they are still alright.

pics... This is Son posing next to our first bank completed - and with pipework... And Daughter getting in on the act too...

MORE PICS

OMG so big! What an awesome sight - great work netab32 and family!

Thanks Dave - feel like we are getting somewhere now

Weve worked out that for each bank of 7 GBs on the ground, weve used 4 1/2 tonne of gravel. Weve had 5 tonne loads x 2 so far, so for now just going to get 1 more load to fill the last bank, and whatever is left can go into the tops of the two tier beds - should end up with 3 or 4 of the top GBs hopefully - the remainder of the 16 top beds can then be used for breeding yabbies and duckweed.

Looking great Naz
How is the water situation there? We are sending plenty your way! Could be interesting when all that water comes down the Darling to join the already flooded Murray.