Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Bunson:

Thanks. I will take a hard look at that. I think what I need to do is do more planning on the growbeds and their capacity. Then I will know the volume of water needed to fill them. After that, I can determine if the FT alone will handle it. Well said to keep it simple.

Thanks

Are you building or buying components (FT, GB, ST etc)? IBCs/totes?

Well, I bought IBCs and cut a couple up for GB, FT and ST. I got what I thought was a good deal $50 each for the IBCs.

Maybe:
Two IBCs = 2 x 600L FT and 2 x 300L GB sitting on top. Interconnect the FTs and use only one pump, or run as two independent systems with two pumps. No sump required.

This should still give you some spare real-estate to play with, room for future expansion.

Maximizes space and simplicity, minimises waste, power and complexity.

Our Greenhouse is almost complete and covered. I am now turning my attention to gathering the supplies for the AP inside the 'house'.

Questions:
- What size piping does one use for supply line from pump to grow beds?
- What size piping does one use to connect sump tank and fish tank?
- What size piping does one use for the drain from grow beds?

I am guessing that someone on the forum has an answer. I search and couldn't find one. My thought is there has to be more drain volume then input volume just for safety to not overflow the growbeds.

Here are the essentials number from our system:
- Two IBCs in the ground (FT and ST). They were cut at the 800L mark, so they will contain about 700L of water each.
- Two IBC grow beds cut off from tank (about 23mm - 9"). They will each hold something under 200L of media and water. Total 400L
- One yet to be built grow bed that will be about 550L of media and water
- This will be a flood and drain 15 on 45 off system

Thanks in advance for the help.

Very excited! We have completed the outside structure of our greenhouse and got the woven poly put on last night. Here is a pic

Im a little partial to lean-to's

I like it

jT

Thanks JT. Do you have a lean-to?

Yes he does...if you havent visited his system thread I would HIGHLY recommend it!!!

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5259&start=0

Brian

btw...my hometown is Waukesha...still have family up that way!!

I like it too, very bright and happy-looking!

btw...my hometown is Waukesha...still have family up that way!![/quote]

Brian:
Small world. I go by Waukesha often as I head to Milwaukee or Racine.

cool system!!
amazing good name!!!

Great looking greenhouse - turned out really well.

The largest you can afford. A particular diameter of pipe will flow less water through it under gravity than under pressure. There is a link to a chart somewhere on the forum that shows the flow rates for different pipe diameters under pressure and gravity.

For a 3000lt/h pump I use 40mm pressure pipe. Then I have 32mm drains in my two growbeds. The 32mm just keeps up with the flow split in half (1500lt/h minus loss due to head). If you start sending more water to one of the grow beds than the other it doesnt take long for the drains to start gurgling.

DrLuke:

Thanks for the reply on the pipe size. I didn't get anyone else to answer that one, so I was wondering if I had asked a really stupid question. I will look around for the chart you are talking about.

I am going to the store this morning and buying some pipe. I guess I will just have to make up what I think will work.