Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi tcshad
The pump is the BOYU S-30 and it can be seen here http://www.boyuaquarium.com/en_ArticleS ... cleID=1622
However that is not BOYU Australia and on the Australian site I cannot find it... I have read in the forum that someone was selling to Australia via EBay but I could only find old listings. Let me know if you have better luck

So got a lot done today.. I've almost got the NFT tubes done x 3. I have drilled all the holes for the lettuce pots and the 80mm pots fit perfectly when drilling with a 76mm bit. also I have made two hatches one at each end of tubes and put hinges on them so I can inspect any root problems but still keep out light to prevent algae growth...images to come soon!

Thanks mate I also had a look for it and it doesn't look like it's available anywhere in Australia... being 7.5kg it would be a bit pricey to ship

So here are some photos of my progress on the NFT and strawberry towers. It all looks a bit messy with the glue but it works. Some of the photos show the inspection hatches to check for roots growing too far but still keeping sunlight out and frogs etc.
My strawberry tower prototype is a little messy but the next ones will look better since I will only use silicone, I may also screw on the collars at each opening to make sure the silicone isnt the only thing holding it on. I found these drain mesh grates for 3 for $2 in a cheap stores and they fit perfectly at the top of my towers where the water enters to catch any fish poop etc... although im not expecting too much since the water is pumped from the sump.

more pics

more

and the final pics for today...

Does anyone have experience growing anything other than lettuce in NFT or similar... I know the roots are a problem with a lot of plants clogging the tubes etc but are there other plants suitable to my type of NFT. I did a quick search of the forums but couldnt find much apart from some people wanting to grow tomatoes or strawberries (i will have towers for the strawberries)

I'm new to the world of AP and have only had one season of using NFT so haven't very much knowledge yet. I grew several varieties of basil in my NFT kit last summer which did extremely well (had to drop bunches of basil on neighbours doorstep when they weren't looking !) and some chives which were as thick as spring onions. Great looking system you've got there.

Thanks Pipkin,

Basil sounds like a good idea, i guess i will just change out the plants when they get older so the roots dont clog up too much.

You could always lift the plants up every week or two and trim the roots to keep them under control...

I wouldnt want to do it for all 33 plants but I guess for a few of the ones with longer roots it would be ok...if I rememembered.

Should be able to get them all done before you finish your stubby

OK..so its been a busy few days trying to get the AP system closer to complete (yeah right! ) but I have now got all the new piping glued and connected.. now the new piping runs to the NFT and prototype strawberry tower and uses the same return piping that runs around 3 quarters of the inside of the greenhouse in 40mm and 100mm piping to the sump.

I also took the time to rip out a lot of the jungle I had growing (as cucumber and pumpkin plants/vines take up way too much of my limited space that I have (I am planning a phase 4 which is a growing trough along the outside of the greenhouse attached to its side where I will grow all kinds of melons/cucumbers etc which will allow them to spill out over the 2 metre retaining wall below and my dads improvised greenhouse roof below.

Well here are some pictures of the functioning end result... now I just have to build another 14-19 strawberry towers, if this one works well enough.

more pics..