Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well things are looking up. This picture only took 5 min to fix the last one argued for 2 hours. This one shows the second rack built and set in place. It also has the first load of gravel in the barrels. The problem is it was not washed by me as I was thinking that I had bought washed gravel from a sand filter builder and it is used for potable water filter so it should be clean right. WRONG. Full of sand and looks like some one had a bonfire next to the pile or in it. Little pieces of burnt wood through out. At least it floats.
I kept checking my water and it doesn't change much even with rain overflows and accidental leaks of 50% or more. readings are Ph 7.8 amo 0.25 rites 0.25 rates 2.0 temp in the 60 to 70F range. Dark green almost to Gray water. Still cant see the fish even when I feed. Decided was feeding too much so quit feeding for 2 days no change. Started feeding half as much as before. Maybe helping.
Don

Mantis
The barrels drain by the fitting in the bottom. It has a street ell screwed into the bottom with a short pvc and a 45 degree a short pvc and a cap with a 1/4 inch hole drilled in the cap. That and the overflow is pointed into the gutter. Above the drain in the gravel I put in a piece of 1 1/2 pipe with 8 3/8 inch holes drilled into the bottom inch or two to keep the gravel out. Don't think I have taken a picture of one of those yet. More pics coming to show better.

Picture for post 23

Mantis in this picture there is no circulation yet. Trying to get stuff done so the fish wont die.

This pic show water circulation. The drains and the overflows are running.
This was a big day for me.

In this one the spray bar is made up all the way down the two racks. Also the Drain Gutter is supported by the 2x4 pieces. There is a screw on the outside to keep the gutter from sliding off the support.

You can see the piping from the other side here. The gutters are in place here also. This one is a little short. Need one more piece to make it to the tank. Dumps in other gutter for now.
The automatic water fill float valve is right above the date. It keeps the tank full even with all the leaks except the one that missed the gutter and dumped half of the tank. That is why I put in the 2x4 supports for the gutters.
Strangely I found a couple of the minnows in the last grow bed. How they swam though the pump and the outlet line to the end with out being chewed up I will never know. I guess they swam and swam and swam right over the dam.......Hah

I realized I did not mention that I did not worry about my barrels because they were used for bulk delivery of Salted Saki. For human consumption. So they were safe with a quick wash out with the hose.
I did not mention the pump either, It is from Tractor Supply, a Surdry Submersible 1/2 horsepower, 4500 gallons per hour 1 1/2 in outlet pipe size. It also has a built-in hi lo switch on it for low water shutoff.
When I finish the 3 and 4 rack I will put in an indexing valve to switch banks of Grow Beds.

I must of gotten camera happy and took this one also.

looking great don
you might want to turn that gutter into pipe, otherwise your gonna get algae problems in your drain gutters . .

Now guess what happened. We went shopping and got some tomatoes of several varieties. Mostly big Heirloom types, a Roma, and a cherry variety. Needed some plants to make it look like it is doing something. Should have ordered the good seeds and had some sprouting. But noo I forgot to do that.

Just like Algae in the tank so bad I cant see the fish. I already have started to clean out the drains and gutters. Do you use black pipe for drains to stop some of the algae?

Look at that, A shade over the pond to help stop the Algae Bloom I hope.

For a leak fix I added to the drains, a 45. Every time the pump shut down and the beds emptied at the end the water would run back up the pipes and miss the gutter so I put in the extra fittings so all of the water will hit the gutter and return to the tank. Now there is almost no loss for leaks. I am saving my well water. Well i am trying to dry up the mud hole I made from all the spills. I am sure glad I don't have to worry about Chlorine or Chloramines. A small river runs through my place and i have my own wells for our water.

Here is the timer I use. I bought a couple more so I have the info. I think I saw the same timer dial on one of the Aussie photos but was not in a water resistant case.

Man thats a lot of Barrels Don.... Nice work...