Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok here are some pics of my latest progress.

Just a few things to do before I get to the cycling stage.
Buying, transporting and cleaning media.
Getting an outdoor electrical outlet for my pump.

There are also a few niggly things to do like buying more ball valves as the store had run out. That was a year ago. I expect they will have restocked by now!

And I have an issue with my sequencing valve that Rupe supplied to me. I'm hoping it is a simple matter that a bigger pump will solve (I'm using a Quiet One 4000). Rupe is being great in helping me with that problem.
Good customer service!

Very cool paedur. Nice progress you have made. What are your growbeds used for normally? Those look like nice growbeds, sturdy and compact.

Thanks Steve.
The growbeds were bought new. They are common storage boxes and I bought them without lids.
I added a hole in the bottom of each for the standpipe to exit.

They seem to be coping well in the sun. So far they've been outside for a year. Yes, it's been that long since I started this project...

Update!
A friend has been able to get some media for me. Expanded clay balls from China. Very cheap. Only HK$50 for a 50lb bag! So far I've got 8 bags but I think I will need 2 or 3 more to fill all my GB's.
So far I've brought four bags home and have washed two of those. They are a pleasure to clean being so light!

I partially filled three of my GBs and moved the balls from one to the next to the next. By the time I got to the last rinsing the water was fairly clear and most of the dust and fragments were gone. Water from the rinsing flowed back to the FT which had the plug removed and so drained away to the garden.

My electricity supply is now at the poolside. I've run an extension cord through pvc conduit for protection from the kitchen to a socket mounted to a piece of wood. Currently this is 'well' protected by standing up in an up-turned bucket. A more permanent solution is in the works and involves a plastic box. Not too extravagant but it will do the job of keeping the electrics dry.

I've also given my GB's a coating of outdoor paint for a bit of sun protection.

I've not solved my aquaponics sequencing valve problem yet. I will probably get a similar sized pump as I have now (4000Lph) and run the two banks of GB's separately without using the valve. This has the added advantage of redundancy in case of failure. By staggering the pump operation times I can ensure the FT does not empty too shallow.

So when I finally have all my media moved to my house, and cleaned I will be able to progress to filling with water and then cycling.
Whoppee!

I understand that the stocking of permanent fish (not the cheap cycling fish) should not take place until the system is cycled. How about planting? When should the planting begin?

I know there is a general hunger on this forum for pictures. These will be coming in a day or so.

Time for an update I think.
I had a battle with a leaking pond which I fixed with NitroCote. Then a further problem with pH up into the 10+ range. That rapidly killed off a bunch of river caught fish before I bought a pH test kit!

Now... the pH has stabilised at about 8-8.5. So I bought a a couple of bags of cheap feeder fish (30-40?) for the pond and they have been swimming happily since 29th. No deaths so far!

As for the plants we have planted some seeds on the 26th and they are sprouting nicely

Chemistry:
pH 8.0. Nitrites 0.5 Ammonia 0.0
I don't have a nitrates test kit, but I'd assume 0 as my system has been running fishless for about two weeks and I added the fish just 3 days ago.

Some plant pictures taken today.

The fish tank.
Currently stocked with some cheap feeder fish. Apparently these can get to 30cm so these may become my first proper fish for the system rather than just cycling fodder.

They are quite happy and are eating now.

Sent from my GT-I9001 using Tapatalk

Nice work Paedur !

A picture of the return pipe to the fish tank.

Sent from my GT-I9001 using Tapatalk

A quick update
pH 8.0, Ammonia 0.0, Nitrites 0.0, Nitrates 20ppm

Nitrates have increased over the past 4 days from 10 to 20ppm.

My plants are small but planted very thick and are going well. But I'm wondering if my high pH is affecting nutrient uptake by the plants. I've read that it can take several months or more for the system to mature and the pH to drop and in the meantime I should be patient and not do anything drastic.

We've had a lot of rain these past few days so I'm hoping the addition of acidic rain will bring down the pH a bit.

I will add that I've been feeding fish on home made feed. It's based on 'recipes' on this forum and the web. Basically shrimp, fish, veg, garlic, seaweed and I also put in an old supplement capsule we had. It contains a bunch of vitamins & minerals and omega-something.

Also I'm finding lots of caterpillars on my veg. I need to make up some garlic/chili spray but in the meantime I'm getting them manually with a pair of chopsticks and dropping them down the GB exit for the fish to nibble on.

If it doesn't drop don't be afraid to add some hydrochloric acid from a pool shop. Just remember to add it in small doses. over a couple of days. Test before each dosing. I am unsure if you sealed the concrete before you filled with water, if not that may be why your Ph is high, along with being a new system.

Lookeeg goood :]

you probably should drop your flood level, or add more media so that the water does not come up to the top of the growbed.. at it's highest level, the water should be about 25mm (1") below the top of the media

Hi Abdul, Long time no see!

Hi Keith, Thanks for the reminder. Actually when it started the media was above the water level but I think it must have settled. I intend to add more media buy have yet to order more.
It's one more thing on the Aquaponics To Do List.
Which is just one list of many!

Hi Paedur... long time no see... hpw's it all going?