Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Would they be better on the sides maybe, that way you are not looking directly at the lights.

yeah probably, i was thinking the same today

I want a window and lights! Please post a picture when it's all set up IceMan.

there will be lots more pics (and if i ever get around to it there will be a video...)

A bit more work was done today...

I arrive to find dad had decided to change the design... again
We really can't help it...lol

The long awaited 'big' trip to the local Bunnings saw dads wallet a little lighter and a lot of fun for me!!

Heaps of bits and pieces, it was nuts.

Once back to their place I got going on the SLO system... all 5 of them!! While i was busy with that dad continued to clad... and its starting to look awesome!!

Here are some pics

The SLO network... i will be adding extensions out the top of the T once we work out what the maximum water height will be.


The SLO pickup
Longest pipes only pick up from right hand side, next two from around the middle of the tank and the small one from its whole length.



The outlets, they now have elbows on them that extend out past the 75mm insulation that will be put on after the plumping is complete


the front... cladded!!

why 5 SLOs and why not make them all go the full length of the bottom?

Basically i wanted them to pick up from different parts of the tank, probably overkill but i wasn't taking any chances...lol

got a bit more done tonight.

Another redesign and i could have done things a whole lot easier with the new layout, but oh well.

Anyhoo... got the first two grow beds inlets plumbed and the last two are ready to go once dad sorts out the IBCs.

Hopefully tomorrow night we will get the sumps all plumbed (interconnected) and the last two growbeds inlets finished and if all goes well i'll get all the siphons done too.

as the growbeds are a bit low to the ground we can't use the 6" IBC caps but will need to cover the hole and silicone it up and then mount the siphon to that... it will give us approx and extra 40mm or so to work with and will allow better drainage into the sump.

I am hoping that i will be ready to add water by the weekend, purely to test out all the joins, seals, flow and the most importantly... the window!!

Looking good, have you done any more testing of the LED lights you bought. Can you also post the part number for the lights would be appreciated. Cheers

no more testing thus far but i have ordered these for dads system

http://www.bl-led.com.au/store/index.ph ... ucts_id=33

i will install them once i get them, they will be at the front of the tank, either side of the window shining towards the back.

a fair bit of progress over the past few days...

all siphons have been made (only tested one as we have had various leaks,,,lol)
the five SLO have been reduced to three as the detached growbeds are now inline making feeding them a lot easier. The two spare SLO outputs have been capped and will be reinstated when the system expands (yes there is already talk of that) to either a NFT system along the back fence.

The sumps have been connected and have designed it to be easily expanded, especially if we go down the NFT path.



I have made the swirl filter, now am just waiting on dad to make a stand for it. This is primarily going to be used to extract good rich fertilizer for mum's other plants etc around the place.

the girls were very busy cleaning stones... and there is plenty more to do!!
the local soil yard has a scoria that is a rich deep purple colour so we decided yesterday that these will be used as the top layer in all the growbeds





We tested out the SLO in one of the grow beds and it was working perfectly, i was so relieved!!
I'll get more pics of that tonight.

The 24cm LED strip lights have been installed, i can't wait for clear water to really test these out properly!!


and finally... we have FISH!!!

Oooohh , flying fish