Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

update

After some advice from Bunson, i ditched the spray bar and implemented a deep water venturi to get air into the bottom of the tank,

This does not reduce water flow and strain the pump like a spray bar might.

If any "strain" on the pump is due to any "restriction" of flow.... wouldn't a venturi.. which functions by restricting the flow.... (forcing it through a reduced aperature)...

Be just the same... at least to some degree....

I mean to say.... diverting some excess flow through a spray bar... rather than restricting the flow else where... i.e into the grow beds... would surely remove a great degree of any strain on a pump.... likewise... sending it through a venturi....

But would a spray bar really "strain"/restrict the pump flow significantly more than a "venturi"???

There is no "(forcing it through a reduced aperature)"

This is all 1" pipe, no reducers. Just a T piece at the end, 1 end going down, the other has an air hole..

(not my video)

Ok... the "tee" could be said to have some "restrictive" effect... but that's just semantics...

And it's probably valid to say that there's less "restriction" having an open end.. rather than a piece of drilled and capped pipe.. a spray bar...

But wouldn't introducing air through the hole... into the water flow... actually have some "restrictive" force???

Is it less than, the same, or greater than actually having a spray bar....

And does either actually place, or reduce any "strain" on the pump... to any great degree...

Not sure.. but its more quiet, gets the air deeper.. and much cooler
I actually have a rolly (unused) ciggy butt in the pipe to silence it.. Left out for the video

Of course im going to have external air input as well - But a little extra for next to no effort cant hurt.

Nope, can't hurt... you can't have too much aeration.... unless the fish are flipping through the air...

System update,




Still waiting on FT to clear before i introduce proper fish

Looking nice, do you have fish in there? What is the water doing (i.e water test)? In my opinion the water will clear after it's cycles, you need a consistent flow of ammonia to build the bacteria. No ammonia bacteria die, that's why it's important to feed consistent to void ammonia spikes. The bacteria will grow (slow/in weeks/month/be patient..) to handle the load if provide the surface area to grow. Hope this helps

Latest Update!!

New fishtank is here!

If i hadnt cut it, its 4500 litres,
Now its probably around 4000 still.

I cut the top out in a D shape to retain tank strength, and i dont need the entire top cut off.

Yay!

With the addition of the new tank, ive now got to move my entire strucutre 1.5m to fit the tank!
I'll need to remove all plants, gravel, move the frame then replace it.. Whats the best way to handle the plants if moving?

I'm thinking carefully remove them from the gravel, put in a bath of 1" water and leave them for the day while i re-engineer the system? (im wanting it all done in 1 day)

The vids are so cinematic

lol thanks, i like to play around with editing..

I generally like to play around with other things. But am quite often shot down before I achieve anything