Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All
We had some very urgently needed rain over the past few days.
The rain filled my system to the brim and everything is still standing and nothing broken with all the weight.

load tested

What do you build those long canals out of?

Hi silkcom
This is a previous post on my grow tray material I used
I am not 100% percent sure but I bought the liner from Rhino plastics.
2mm thick and it came in a 3mx30m roll. (Hdpe I think)
i cut the liner and folded into a water proof tray
hope this helps

http://www.rhinoplastics.co.za/

from catolog.(below)

Geomembranes (Dam Lining)
Applications
Mining - for prevention of contamination of the soil and underground water table
Tanks – Used as secondary lining for prevention of pollution in the case of leakage or chemical spill
Waterproofing of buildings and construction projects
Evaporation basins
Aquaculture - Water reservoirs for fish breading
Agriculture – Lining of dams for irrigation
Selection of Membranes


HDPE – this material offers the highest tensile strength, impact, tear and puncture resistance. It has very good ESCR (Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance) and the highest resistance to chemicals. Its disadvantage is its rigidity which makes handling and installation more difficult. HDPE is the preferred choice in landfills lining, insulation of chemical plants, roads, petrol stations etc. as well as in mining, due to its chemical resistance.


LDPE/LLDPE – These materials have good mechanical properties and are more flexible than HDPE so they can be handled easier. The new generation of LLDPEs such as metallocenes, match HDPE in strength while maintaining an excellent flexibility. They constitute, therefore, good alternatives where a very high chemical resistance is not essential.


EVA – This material has the highest flexibility of all polyolefin liners and is often preferred as replacement of PVC membranes. Its disadvantage is its low softening point, which makes it unsuitable for use in warm climates without covering. Various types of co-extruded EVA membranes are produced with Vinyl Acetate level between 9% and 18% (the higher the VA level the more elastic the membrane but the lower the softening point) as well as combinations of EVA with LDPE and VLDPE to take advantage of the useful properties of both materials.


FPP – Flexible polypropylene is a new polymer with an exceptional combination of characteristics : very good mechanical properties, excellent ESCR, flexibility superior to polyethylene, excellent weld ability and reparability, lighter weight per sq.m., very low coefficient of linear thermal expansion and higher friction coefficient permitting stabilization of soil at a steeper angle. These advantages make it an optimum choice for many

sorry better late than never

Hi All
Been down with the flu and I had it bad.
Over this weekend I finished of the last few things and am now running the system without fish and grow media in my trays or worm sump.
My business has also kept me away from starting up the system…been very busy.
I want to see if I get time tomorrow to add 5 or 6 fish to get the bio going.
I closed the system with shade cloth and I think with only a few fish the surface area of the 4 grow trays should be ok to get the filter working….

That's coming together very well.

Hi All
This is my father in-laws pool he converted to a Kio pond.

He has a lot of Kio and a few tilapias in the pool.
More for the fish than the plants....he grows water lettuce in his bio filters
The pool really brings his backyard to life....beautiful

Hi All
I started my duckweed population today.
Not much duckweed to start with but also not the first time I start with a hand full
So my duckweed will be slow start.
I also added tilapia to the system today to help kick start the filter slowly.
In total I added 19 very small fish. 17 fry and 2 off 25-30 mm long fingerlings
Still no media in my trays or worm filter…..
Here in Port Elizabeth we have had very good rain.
The drought broken I think and hope and with that we have had very cold windy conditions.
My water temp late afternoon is only 11 deg.

i made these plastic covers for the tank and filter
light and easy to open and close and keeps the sun out

Hi Francois,
Came across this site a few days ago. And would you belive it, someone in my neighbouring country had/will have a working setup. Great setup, I must say!
I found the use of every day material very motivating.
I am busy planning my system and will be doing a lot of reading on current systems before I tackle the building and commisioning of my system.

Sou jou graag wil bel as dit moontlik sal wees?

To the forum, thx for all the info!

Hi All
It has been cold wet windy over the last few days.
My 19 fish I started with has decreased to 6….
The duckweed I started with has almost doubled.
I added duckweed into my duckweed trays today and have taken some photos to post as I go along.
I have started closing up my system.
Using the used pipes and fittings from my pilot project (i have lots)

Today I made this to keep count of the duckweed I put into the system's duckweed trays bellow.

Well done on the pvc frame Francois. So how does the duckweed counter work? Is there a measured amount you put in for each count or is this a flow through gizmo?

Hi Scotty
Not really a counter..More just checking how the duckweed will do where I am planning on growing the duckweed....tests
I can monitor and measure the growth of the duckweed in a confined space.