Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good day all my fellow crazy people..
I have been lurking around the forums for a while, and this is my first post, introducing my system.. I call it 1-of-X, because from reading the forums, I need to accept that this will definitely not be my last system, and I have no idea how many will be coming. So we will call my total number of systems X, and this is the first.. Lets hope I don't kill anything.

I would love to hear some thoughts on my design..


The idea for me is to one day do this commercially, but until then, I need to gain experience with a backyard system.

I am doing a DWC system. I have an IBC FT, with a large swirl filter (the green thing) and 2 stainless steel raceways of 2.5m x 0.7m x 0.2m dimensions. Pump is in the FT, feeding the filter. The raceways feature overhead grids where I can connect the stringer-upper thingies for larger plants. The two raceways are connected in series, and the first one has a sort-of filter foam thingy where the water enters the raceway, to pick up any small solids that may have bypassed the swirl filter. The swirl filter has a lot of surface area inside thanks to a biofilter material that is also fitted inside. I got the filter for free, not exactly sure how the swirl will keep going if there is a bunch of biofilter media inside also, but the filter was made that way, and it is specially for kopi ponds, so I am sure it will work somehow. The media is a sort of foam that is not dense at all - sort of like a scrubby material but much less dense, so possibly there will be a swirl effect regardless. If the swirl tends to struggle, I will remove the media, or at least some of it..

There are valves to bypass the swirl filter, and by closing the inlet to the raceways by hand, and opening the correct valves, I can force water through the swirl filter in reverse, to gently persuade solids to dislodge themselves from the filter media inside - without disturbing the bacteria population too much. There is also a top-up tank (Dark grey) located ontop of the FT, with a viewing pipe on the outside so I know how much top-up water is left. I will be using some sort of float valve to keep the FT level topped up at all times. Tapwater is added to the top-up filter by hosepipe when needed, where the tap water will sit around and de-chlorinate itself. Thinking of adding maybe a small pump or something to keep the water in the top-up tank agitated.

For aeration, I am relying on the powerful 5000L/H waterpump used to circulate water through the system. I will be diverting 50% of the flow back into the FT using some sort of nozzle that will be above the water surface, directing a high velocity jet of water right into the tank, which is a VERY effective in aeration. The wooden cover over the FT will prevent water loss through splashing. There will be a venturi at the inlet to the filter, and maybe another at its exit, to add some more air. I am not sure if additional aeration will be required inside the raceways. Opinions anyone?
For backup I have a nice beefy 150l/Hr 12v aquarium air compressor:

It will kick in the moment we lose mains power, and will run from a deep-cycle battery - this air will be dispensed into the FT via two airstones. I want to keep the 12v unit as a backup only, as it is a bit noisy. If additional aeration is required in the raceways, I will get some mains-powered aquarium units..

In terms of current status, I have the FT with some tilapia, and a heath-robinson biofilter with a pump to keep things ticking over while the rest of the stuff arrives. The swirl/biofilter filter needs to be mounted on a stand, and I am waiting for the raceways to arrive.. Being an electronic engineer, I will also be connecting and measuring everything that is remotely possible to measure and connect. Our company manufactures a GSM controller device (http://www.GSMCOMMANDER.com) that I will use to keep in touch with the system at all times. I plan to measure water levels (FT, filter and Raceways), temperature, DO, conductivity and PH at least. And of course I will be notified of power failures too...

Any other Aquaponics dudes / dudettes in the Western Cape of South Africa? - please contact me, would love to meet up..

Regards
Carel Hauptfleisch.

One thing I forgot to add:

If power fails, the filter is going to want to empty itself back into the FT - the water will flow backwards through the stationary pump into the FT. no ways the FT will have enough space to accommodate all of that water. So what to do?
Any thoughts?

maybe a oneway valve of sorts?

nice looking system
i reckon a one way valve of sorts for the swirl filter will work
i believe the media you are referring to is known as 'scrubber pads'. have you tried using the AP sizing tool model thingy that has just been released onto this forum to see how your biofilter size measures up?

hmm
AP sizing tool model thingy.. where is that?

The media is sort of like scrubber pads, but really really coarse.

After some research I now know what is going on with the filter. The stuff is called japanese matting. it apparently works well inside a vortex filter.

Hi Carel,

AP is in its absolute infancy in SA other than one or two others i dont really know of anyone actively doing it, in fact to my knowledge i am the only one in JHB at this stage and my system is only starting!


First off i am no expert and i am sure others will correct me if my advice is incorrect. some comments .....

Having a sump and FT in one, is problematic, the IBC has about 1000L and from the scale of your drawing i thing the filter is 500L odd so in filling the filter you have already lost 50% of the water, i assume the vol in the GB's is static?

i think you are going to have to look at adding a sump of some description and elevating the fish tank ..... i fought against elevating the FT but after carefull thought it was the only foolproof way to do it

There's actually a few people in RSA doing aquaponics, but not in JHB...that I know of...

Hi Neil and the rest of you

Most of the volume in the system will remain static, therefore I don't think a sump is required. I am going to install a one-way valve on the line coming from the pump, to prevent the filter from emptying back into the FT if the pump fails. So the volume inside the vortex filter (about 350L) will not be emptied from the tank. The addition of a sump will of course give me the advantage of being able to add flood/drain growbeds to the system if I want to, so I am considering it from that viewpoint..

Calling all DWC experts..

I need some real advice..
I have this huge swirl filter / vortex filter that has a built-in very large japanese matting block that acts as a biofilter. Nice. This fits in the top of the unit, with the vortex action happening below that. So water enters in the middle of the unit (on the side)- below the entry, the vessel is funnel shaped, directing solids to fall to the bottom where there is an outlet. Above the centre inlet, comes the biofilter matting, and above that is the outlet.

My question is: Do I need any additional solids removal filtration for use in DWC systems? If I need more filtering, should I add this before or after the swirl filter?
My plan was to have a single sheet of vertical foam fitted into a removable frame across the one end of my raceway (At the inlet side of course), to catch everything that the swirl filter may have missed. Having the filter material in a frame and vertically slotted into the raceway makes servicing a breeze. But is this enough? Should I maybe add more than one stage?

regards

A long time since I posted any updates..

Here are some pictures. Of course nothing looks even close to what I have designed.
I am waiting for the raceways to arrive (long story). In the meantime I am busy putting up a F&D growbed. Also added a smallfry rearing tank and a big sump.

Some more pictures...

Hi there..

Just started a blog about my aquaponics:
http://aquaponic-monster.blogspot.com/

if you find it remotely interesting, please add yourself as a follower..

Hey nice looking system Basmonster.... Missed your thread before, great to see a system expanding and adapting..

Hi All

I have posted a youtube video of my system. Way more interesting than the pictures..