Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

well done dt, the hard work will pay off!

Rock on DT! The tilapia will do well in your city, a lot of people could have free fish in their backyards there!

Wonderful! Keep going! We're cheering for you!

Dt thats one cool system you have there!!! but the sound of water ent that bad. its kinda soothing, really it is, you could allso turn it off at night.

Just be careful if you do turn the pump off at night you'll reduce the amount of oxygen in the water and kill off some of the good aerobic bacteria and promote the anerobic bacteria. The good stuff relies on the flow of the oxygenated water to thrive and the water returning to your tanks will be increasing the oxygen somewhat unless you have added extra aeration . Even just with the aerator on though your bacteria will suffer a bit. You could try a silencer like the one Joel has in his book if the noise is a problem.
Also if you have any plants in your tank they will absorb oxygen at night (CO2 in the day) and further reduce your oxygen levels.
(Please anyone if I have got this wrong let me know). Much better to have the pump on at night and off in the day if you want to save power.

ps - I love your lo-tech grow bed construction and photos - very inspirational! ( big grow beds can be so expensive!)

Are you worried about the sound of rushing water making you want to go to the toilet? Perhaps a commode chair in the bedroom might help. (Perhaps some of the senior members of this forum may have some suggestions)

there are special pants for that sort of problem

and by senior you mean Les?.......lol....oops

Going back to that urine thread, perhaps you could plumb the commode chair directly to the fish tank?

Thanks for all the kudos. I turned the system off last night thinking the noise would bother my wife. About 2:30 am she woke me up to tell me she couldn't hear the water running and to go check it out....:l Go figure. I guess tonight I will leave it running and go to the potty room a couple of times... That's pretty close too. As for directing the urine to the fish...... sorry already cycled.

By the way.. all the tomatoe plants and basil took the transition very well. They are not at all limp. They seem to like the new environs. Did a water check and amonia and nitrite at 0 and ph around 8.0 Just what the Dr ordered for tilapia. I may get more fish sooner than later.

I want to plant some Green Peppers lettuce, and Cucumbers and let them sprout before adding more fish so they can absorbe the added nitrates. Seeds go in tomorrow.

Bad people. bad bad bad. Pee pee goes inna pottie. Not onna fishies. Right, Mommy?

I have a real concern. I am being told that I don't have enough direct sun for growing veggies where it is now. While it is very bright, there is only direct sun for about an hour between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. The tomatos are coming up fine but I wonder if that growth will continue. Ar e there veggies that do better in indirect sun?

dt, i think aeon discusses this in her tread somewhere ( worth a look)