Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I think they use a probe as a hole wouldn't neccessarily be ground temp maybe air temp and ground mixed?

Might work??? Hehe.

I think this is pretty cool too. More pipe sounds the answer, just thought with ground temp more points of reference to plot progress.

I would cap the hole so as to limit theninterference from the atmosphere...

Now that I have a larger compost heap I will purchase another role of polly pipe and add it to the system already in place... I will also be purchasing at least 3 electric heaters to help maintain the current temp, and once I have insulated my ponds more, perhaps increase the systemp water temp...

AM, i recon you'll do it just with the poly pipe!

But if you use the heaters, this is what i found. You'll need the three to get it to temp, but then only one to keep it there.

My ambient at night was around 4C and max of 15C during the day (for about 30 min )

In the end I set two at 18C and one at 20C .

It pretty much holds at 20C with the one heater cycling during the day

for your whole system!!
My entire system (all the ponds) are in the shade perminantly (was thinking about cairns heat when I built it, not winter!)
If only 1 will keep it at temp that is even better!!! but I will play it safe and have the three to start with then remove them one by one...

Yeh, but its oly working becasue i have the mini green house over the bed and tank

I'd set two of your heaters at 2 degrees below your required temp and one at your required temp AA.

Besides, you've inspired me with the mulch! 41C bloody hell

Can you give me some tips. I'd like to use primarily lawn clippings, but i realise that i'll need to fluf them up with some wood chips maybe, because they tend to compact very easily and exclude the air.

I'd be stoked if i can get my 20C from the mulch
You can always see how many are on at night due to the little red light

the mulch pile I am using is just under 2m by 1m by 1.5m, not a small pile! I have soft material (soft leaves, grass clippings and mulched up plam trees) mixed in with wood chip and twigs and sticks... all layered to attempt to prevent compacting... after each layer I watered it to ensure it ill be viable for bacteria.. you can cover a smaller pile with black plastic, this seems to give similar results as a bigger pile, but as I have the material at hand I dont bother with the black plastic.

so what additions to the grass clippings should i use? I have a hedge out front that is in GREAT need of a trim, this might give it the "volume" it needs?

Steve

teh green waste recycling place used to add cow manure, branch mulch and keep it damp

I am now wetting it (no pee though) every second day - just a little so that it all stays damp.

I'd like to congratulate your wise decision to move into the shade in Cairns!

maybe just mad rambling but

if you use the longer pipe to take out more heat would it help to insulate the pile from the air. this way the pile would only lose heat to the pipe and your tanks. the pipe would need to remove enough heat though to stop the pile cooking itself. the insulation would also have to allow enough air in. i know the top layer of mulch is already doing this job but if you make that deeper it will start to heat up the same distance from the surface. old carpet could be a possible

blodger

It would most likely help, you are not wrong... but with the size of my compost heap it would take a lot of plastic, or a lorge tarp - none of which I have 'in stock' right now and the busget is shot till next pay...

Compost holding at 40C today... there has been a lot of wind and cloud cover - wonder if that is why the heap is 1C Cooler today...

compost heat went up to 49 today - not sure why - think bacterial population my be increasing... Water temp has risen to 24C - this has happened at the same time as the rise in compost heat and when I tented my 3 mini grow beds - perhaps I was loseing more heat through the grow beds than I realised

wow, thats some serious free heat, AM