Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

is the bio filter before GB or after GB.
If stopping feeding reduces nitrites can you do away with bio filter and if your fish are pooing to much why not put in another GB or reduce the number of fish so the existing GBs can cope with solids

Hey Skipd.
The bio filter runs out of one tank with a constant flow through it, I haven't got enough grow bed that's why the filter is in there, and I also only feed the GB's from one tank with the return going to the other tank. The water that gets pumped through the filter then gets pumped, and also overflows back into the tank that supplies the GB's, thus recycling all of the water in the tanks at least twice each 15 minute cycle. ( I have a 12000 l/ph pump in the first tank overkill I know, but it sure moves the water around!) I am going to install a couple of "strawberry/raspberry beds near the FT to run the return tank pump through and fingers crossed be able to get rid of the bio filter all together. Plan is to have a constant flood system on the return tank and flood/drain for the GB's
A.J

sounds like a good plan. Great looking system BTW.

New addition to the system, well sort of. . . . .it is a little stand alone system for the Pygmy Perch I have, but it is soon going to contain some Silvers for when the Trout in the big system are gone.

Hi A.J - are you using a syphon or just overflow standpipe for this one?

flood and drain, same as the big system. Originally the return water flowed into this tank and then back to the main tanks but the flow was a bit much for it and I didn't want to lose a heap of water if the system got out of whack. I decided to make it a stand alone system, which has a couple of benifits. . . . I can move it around the yard if I want to and I can also run a heater in it to keep some Barra happy until the water temps rise. At the moment it has only got Pygmy Perch in it, however I have just returned from Golden Ponds with 10 Silvers of varying size from 100mm down to about 40mm and once I relocate the Pygmys, I will put the Silvers in it.

Update. . . .
I recently finished the plumbing in of three half barrels (100 litres each) to the system in preparation for the next round of fish (Silver Perch) and now have them cycling. I went the barrels so I can get some length into my carrots and parsnips as the shallow beds I have weren't too successful with them. I will be doing an experiment with the garlic and onions in one of the shallow beds too. I am planning on reducing the height of water flooding the beds so I can make them dry out a bit and help in the formation of the bulbs. . . has anyone tried this already, and if so was it successful? Will post some pics soon.
A.J