Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Been a bit slack but there isnt much time after work this time of year to get stuff done.
Decided I didnt like the uniseals for the growbed 40mm returns so got a bit inventive and made these up. Should be any solids buildup in the pipe with these babies



Got all pipe work glued ready to turn on in the morning to begin cycling. One bed is ready to go and another will be not far away
Caught about 15-20 goldies from the pond yesterday and they are in the fish tank

Oh no........

Gunna have to change it now.......

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ ... revstart=0

Second bed running and some plants in. Ph 7 and other readings 0

Hey mantis, whats the size of your returns to the ST? Are they 25cm returns?

Sorry Zman didnt see your post, and they are 32mm standpipes and returns, just in case I decide to run it autosiphon for a while.
At the moment it is 15/45 timed FD
No ammonia readings yet and putting a small pinch of 2mm pellets in for the 20 goldies twice a day.

Cheers Mantis.

Is the ST going to be painted or covered?

Going to be covered, and I am waiting on more mod wood to arrive at the hw store

Got a lid on the sump today and finally got the wate cleared up yesterday

Removed the goldfish from this system three weeks ago as they were not doing much. So have been adding charlie carp and humonia to cycle it fishlessly.
Ammonia has stayed between 0.5 and 2, nitrites have stayed on 0, and nitrates 0-20 and in the last week 10-20
I did add some water from the big system which might explain having ammonia and nitrates but no nitrites.
Plants are starting to grow and in particular the brocolli. In the bed below I have put in a dwarf pear tree and a blueberry plant. Dunno how they will go but will find out eh
Just waiting on some clay balls to fill the third bed


Lettuce and silver beet in this one

What sort of wood do you use mantis? Im looking at boxing my IBC's in soon to flash them up a bit, Im being lazy in researching the types of timber I could use. Do you need to coat them in some kind of marine sealant?

Thats modwood Charlie and its made from recycled milk bottles. It is very expensive but for tank lids it is strong and should never need replacing. I can walk over that lid with no problems.
For flashing them up around the sides you could use any sort of timber that will last in the weather, but you would have to treat them with something.
Others should have ideas about this

Heres the water readings from the fishless cycling. Funny how the last addition of charlie carp (about a cup or more), the ammonia has stayed around 2, ites trace and the nitrates are rising
Plants are really starting to move now. Pics tomorrow
Sorry the numbers are a bit all over the place


Date PH Amm Nitrite Nitrate Water Temp Comments
Added good dollop of charlie carp
3/07/2011 6.8 1 0 0
4/07/2011 6.8 1 0 5 11.7 Added humonia
5/07/2011 6.8 0.5 0 0 10 Addded water from big system
6/07/2011 6.8 0.5 0 0 9
7/07/2011 6.8 1 0 10 9.4
8/07/2011 6.8 1 0 0 9 Added humonia
9/07/2011 6.8 1 0 0 9
10/07/2011 6.8 1 0 0 8
11/07/2011 6.8 1 0 20 9 Added humonia
12/07/2011 6.8 1 0 0 9
13/07/2011
14/07/2011
15/07/2011
16/07/2011
17/07/2011 7 1 0 5 9 Added humonia
18/07/2011 6.8 1 0 5 9
19/07/2011 6.6 1 0 5 9
20/07/2011 6.6 0 0 10 10 Added good dollop of charlie carp
21/07/2011 6 2 0 7 10 Added some Eco Rose
22/07/2011 7 2 0.25 5 9
23/07/2011 7 2 0 10 8
24/07/2011 7 2 0 10 9
25/07/2011 7.2 2 0 10 10
26/07/2011 7.2 2 0.25 10 9
27/07/2011 7.2 2 0.25 20 11
28/07/2011 7.2 2 0.25 10 11
29/07/2011 7.2 2 0.25 10 11
30/07/2011 7.2 1.5 0.25 20 10
31/07/2011 7.2 1.5 0.25 20 11
1/08/2011 7 2 0.25 20 15
2/08/2011 7.2 2 0.25 30 15
3/08/2011 7.2 2 0.25 30 15
4/08/2011 7.2 2 0.25 40 15
5/08/2011 7 1.5 0.25 40 13

This might be easier to read

That is much easier to read! I was doing my head in trying to read up and down the un even columns

Sorry about that, they didnt keep the formatting when I posted it, then it took me a while to figure out how to save the chart as a pic.