Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

actually, there are. I updated onthe other forum, but forgot this one.

The system was run as it was for a couple of months, but never really worked the way I wanted. too much water, not enough gravel. well, the wife gave me permission to update a little as part of more extensive garden renovations, so we now have 6 grow beds (around 1500l). 25 sleepies, 20 jades, 8 goldies and 6 small rainbow fish are running it. its not cycled yet, and we ran out of energy to move the last 3 beds worth of pebbles, but its close, and hopefully will be in full swing by christmas when the folks come for a visit. Just a few lonely Purple Kale, lettuce and a lemon grass to get it started while I build energy to complete the rock washing.







I think its pretty good looking, even if I do say so myself. Changing the growbed stands to timber has been the biggest change, makes it look much better. Water is a little green, but it will get there as it cycles I think.

It all runs off a single maxflo 11000, and appears just enough to keep the waterfall flowing enough that i'm happy. A 40mm manifold feeds 25mm growbed feed lines. this is returned through 32mm auto syphons to 100mm sewer along the back wall, back to the pond. each pair of beds is connected to a single inlet/outlet for ease of plumbing.

Couldn't get a shot back the other way. at 6am the sun is in completely the wrong place.

cheers

well, I finally managed to get the last of the gravel in, and the three syphons running consistently. Planted out with lettuce, capsicums, chilli, beetroot, celery, snowpeas. Very happy thus far. Just a few very minor cosmetics around the pond, and finalise the wiring to the waterproof box, and its ready to start growing for me.

The Jades are growing very quickly, and get very grumpy if I dont feed them everytime I come out to look at the pond. I havent seen a sleepy cod for a couple of weeks, but i assume they are hiding out deep down. Water is now a little dirty, and a little green, but as it cycles that will clear up, and i'll vacuum it out once everything starts to settle.

Neat setup, good job on building a system that big first time you got permission ;]

Put some sort of a cover on that FT, direct sunlight will fill it with algae, could be why your water is going green.

orcy that is a really cool looking system any updates?

hmm. I'll have to take some photos. i'm about to replace the black tubs with standard 500l growbeds, as they dont quite work the way I wanted, and they block up too quickly...

interestingly, I've moved on from the pea soup phase (I covered it for a while), and its now completely uncovered, and the water is crystal clear...

I'd love to see some updates too.
And maybe even drop by to check it out sometime..?

whats wrong with the black tubs? i reckon they would get real hot

freoboy, I joined them with 90mm drainage pipe in pairs. and they simply clog up too quickly. aquaponics is all about making it easy, not having to *frack* about all the time...

i'll do something else with the black tubs I think. not sure what yet thought

SuperVeg, as soon as its in a bit more of a presentable state, i'd be happy to entertain visitors... i've been pretty much just pottering on my own trying to explain to bemused guests why I would bother with it

Heh, fair enough. My system consists of 2 un-modified blue barrels.... thats it.
I figured a visit to a working system with the wife would help gather some support
And your system looks so good!
A system something like yours, is now my goal

SuperVeg, I understand that. luckily my wife is very forgiving. we are both scientists, so she understands the merits of whats meant to happen, and leaves the techinical stuff to me.

the the moment, im having alot of trouble with tomatoes clogging everything up, and its shitting me. so the new beds will hopefully make things a lot better... If murray didnt have a 6 week lead time on production, i'd already have it done by now...

Love the pond construction. Just wish I could convince the missus to let me do one in the garden bed next to the future decking.

Great system!
Got any updated pics?
We love pics

Thanks Dui....you forget about all the systems out there.

Heh, I was just thinking about this system today, wondering where it was up to
So.....where is it up to ?

i've installed the first of murrays 500l growbed, and just letting it get a little established before I tear the other two out. there was a lot of muck that ended up in the pond, so I dont wanna scare the fish anymore than need be.

with Australia day on Thursday, i'll be taking a long weekend, and hopefully installing the last two beds, and getting the system completely back in order. the pond needs a vacuum, and the pump needs to come out and be hosed out, as i'm starting to lose a bit of flow somewhere.

the Jades are getting real big, and I think it might be about time I got one out and ate the little bugger. I've also had an explosion in my rainbowfish population, must be well over 1000 now I think. little buggers are everywhere.

so, the short answer is, hopefully photos sunday or monday of a rejuvinated system.