Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Looks great!

Sejin

Nothing like having to use a machette to harvest dinner! Looking like you need some more grow beds. Nice looking system.

Love youe pics Dunderoz, truly awesome.

Looks Great! Can't wait to get ours up and running!

Have now connected the second FT to the main FT. Only joining them with the 50 mm pipe for now. The water level in the tanks rise and fall approx 25 mm, during each pump cycle. This will ensure a slow mixing of the original water to the new water. In approx one week's time, I will change the pump inflow to the new FT. Water will flow from pump to new FT, which overflows into original FT which then overflows into balance tank, then to growbeds ending into sumps.
Unlike most people, I have not made any side hole/s into the IBC. I have bled the air out of the transfer pipe, so water siphons from one tank to the other. This will negate any likely leaks, from newly made joints, that are below the water line.

Cool looking transfer system. But what happens if some air gets sucked into the siphon

To stop air going into the discharge end, in my FT, I have fitted two right angle bends and a short piece of pipe. This makes an upturned U, so no air can get in.
The input also has the same configuration. As air only goes up, in water, no air can get in. All above water joints are sealed with silastic.

Will let all know when/if it fails.

Nice. I like simple systems but others on here like making things and they will love this I am sure
Great looking growth btw

You will get some bubbles that are tiny that form out of the bio-slime in the pipes, but I added a clear section of pipe to one of my no holes bridges, and as long as there is a bit of flow, you can see them going all the way through the system. It's funny seeing air bubbles flowing down, but I think as long as there are no leaks in the pipe work, and there is constant flow so the bubbles cant group together at the top, it should work forever.

Mine's been running for 2 months with no sign of any trapped air, and I dont run the U, so I get bubbles coming straight off the bottom of my duckweed tank going into the pipe.

Thanks for the feedback Bull. Much appreciated.

Check out this photo of an awesome water bridge -
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12498&p=326811#p326822

Hi DunderOz,
I am currently building my system and like a lot of techniques you have used.
With your growbeds are they only supported by the front metal legs and againts the shed?
I have cut my IBC frames the same way as yours however they are the round metal ones not square and wondering what support I will need. I have started digging holes for front supports and was going to do a cross supports from front to back with 3"x3" however I dont know if this is overkill. I thought I would ask before I completed it as if I put the supports in it limits the space under my GB's for ST.

Thanks for the info on the water bridge too, pretty sure I will integrate this idea for my system too

Thanks Cranky. Glad I can be of some help. Have answered you back, on your own post
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=12379&p=326864#p326864

For anyone looking to build a water bridge between two tanks.
Please consider carefully. You may find some useful information on this post -

Daisy Chaining Tanks

I am now thinking of changing the plumbing to a side entry connection, or lifting one tank so that it can cascade into the other, due to possible future failure of the water bridge connection.

your 2nd tank already has the outlet so its not like you dont have everything you need to have it run as an overflow (like your first tank -> grow beds). brick it up a little more and cut down the outlet height and your sorted.

Hi all

Just letting you all know that I am selling my system, due to impeding sale of home. System will be on eBay in near future, unless sold.