Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,

Thought I would start of a thread on mys system, im sure some noobs in the future will appreciate it

Basically I went to BYAP and got an IBC with the fit out kit. Spent all week after work getting it ready.

Well its been fun, im a computer geek so not the best with my hands and powertools etc haha, but I think I have done alright.

Had some dramas with the siphon, the manual says it screws in but mine wouldnt screw into the top of the IBC, so I tried to glue it in and put two screw to hold it steady, but the glue didnt go off and i filled the bed and then flooded it and it leaked like a sieve, water was running along the bottom of the growbed frame and leaking out side the tank so would of eventually emptied the tank... So i dug all the hydroton out and then pulled it out, cleaned it as best i could then used some silicon that is ok with plastics.. its currently drying.

so my first tip for newbies is perhaps before you put the hydroton in flood it and make sure you dont have leaks

I had tested the PH and it was around 6, maybe slightly under so I added some Eco rose and its now gone up to 7.2, will keep an eye on it.

Have put some bronze comets in for the time being, odd thing is it looks like there is about 3 different fish species in there, some have fan tails others dont and one or two have big bulging eyes. Doesnt matter anyway as they are only starter fish.

ok second bit...

to insulate it I wrapped around some Astrofoil I had laying around, then put a double layer of 70% shadecloth around it, secured with zip ties. Was supposed to be a single layer really but we didnt want to cut it as it would of made the edge a bit rough... so i only had enough to do 3 sides (this is why i do server/network stuff not a handyman job haha)


Hopefully the silicon will seal any of the leak from teh siphon, the other thing I think I had a problem with was I had not screwed in the cap enough, so that was leaking too.

Welcome to the forum. IBC's are a way to get going fast and easy. That is a great start.

Good luck roodog and welcome to the forum.

Dont worry there will be plenty more stuff ups yet.

Looking great matey, Good luck and keep those pics coming...

welcome roodog
you can call it your silicon valey aquaponics set up

Have you glued the stand pipe Roodog?
We don't because from time to time you may want to remove it to unblock stray roots, also are there two drain holes at the base of your standpipe? I'm just checking up on you to make sure that you're doing it right

Haha silicon valley suits!

Faye it will be glued permanently. It wouldnt screw in the thread was too short and wrong size. So those 2 holes need to be at the bottom so it can drain right? I will need to drill more as the holes r covered by the 50mm adapter. I bashed it in and it aint ever coming apart lol

I guess thats the problem with IBC's they can vary quite a lot, some of the lids are different, some of the bottom taps are different, the frames vary a lot.

you might want to wrap black plastic or something around that one rail of the ibc cage base that is sitting over the water - it looks pretty rusty, if that rust stays wet and constantly drips rusty galv into the tank your fish will die ( I've tried it )

cheers Boris, there is only a small amount of rust, the IBC came from a minesite so it was very red, looks very rusty but it is not. I will see about wrapping it up tho.

Had to do more silicon it was leaking from where the cap screws into the top of the IBC still, really sealed up now and no more leaking finally!

So the standpipe I had some fun with haha, It took 3 goes to get it the right height, then I figured I would cut it off at the bottom where the silicon was and attach the bit that goes from 40mm to 32mm(think thats the size) and then drilled holes in that, it slots in nice and I can now remove it.. somehow I think that is how it is supposed to work right?

Water is a bit brown now, I had washed the hydroton out already but 2 times had to take it out the bed and back in the bags, so the bottom of the bags with the dirt got into it.

Have planted the following now

Capsicums
Celery
purple basil
various lettuces

Also while out hunting on the weekend I got some water from a dam, and added it to the tank, hopefully with some beneficial bacteria in it. The cows there seem to do alright on it haha

ok an update from yesterday, the water going to the FT from the GB was quite loud, as you can see from the pics its right next to a colorbond fence so maybe that was a factor?? Anyway I got a 250mm long piece of 50mm pipe and put it underneath so it sits about 200mm below the bottom of the GB. Cut the noise down heaps, lot less splashing around too which is a good thing. Doesnt seem of of cut down the amount of bubbles that is being generated much at all so I think(hope lol) its a positive.

Some of the lettuces are looking a bit sad, hopefully they bounce back.

Ok did a test today

Ph 7.2
Ammon 4!!!(maybe under a. Bit)
Nitrite .25ppm
Nitrate 0

Added a bit more water to the system. The ammonia has me concerned a bit. Should i stop feeding?

PlAnts are coming better now with some lettuces getting new growth.

On a side note i had ordered a doz strawberries from the diggers club. Got chandler and cambridge rival like i have had before. Also got alinta and aroma. We grow those in hanging baskets above a soil garden and they do real well

Hi Roo, its always better to stop feeding with signs of amm. Just o be sure.

Your system is fairly young so best to be safe. Your fish wont die without feed for a number of days.

Cheers Charlie, advice taken.

Tested today after not feeding for 2 days.

Ph same
Ammonia 2.5
Nitrites .25 definately now
Nitrates test is yellow but off colour so looks like a trace of it.

so amn has gone down and the others are rising.