Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Currently I have an IBC system CHIFT PIST initially designed based on Murrays CHOP system, which in Hindsight I dont think is the most efficient. Essentially I have 4 GB's, 1 sump and FT, the pump delivers water to all areas equally from the sump, so in short, relatively clean water is being re-delivered to the GB's and not a lot of flow is going through my FT I have done a quick fix modification to take water straight from FT to 2 of the GB's, but with all my research and in place on the go fix it jobs I have found it is getting a bit messy. So...... I have decided to do an overhaul and fix it up for good, things will get moved around, I will obtain 2 more IBC's to allow for another FT and another sump, and the 4 GB's will be filled with gravel in one line along the back fence and operate on either autosiphon, constant flood or a combination of the 2, however by installing the 2nd sump, I can operate using full autosiphon or if I choose I can swap to timed flood and drain with a simple pump upgrade. I have been inspired by a combination of other members including ARBE and Icemandude's parents system, as I plan to make it look neat by timber cladding the front and sides, I will leave room behind the system for maintanence and planting etc. and I plan on getting hold of uniseals to join the pipework. Now I am at the point of looking for constructive critisism from anyone with ideas, I attempted to use googlesketchup but opted for paint instead. Attached is what I have in my head.... with a couple of different angles above, behind and 2 options for joining the fish tanks together, one using standard SLO with t-piece configuration (constant height method). The other option is with a siphon SLO (better for solids removal?) essentially the water level rises over the bend in the SLO pipe draining from FT1 to FT2 and triggering the siphon which drains about 100L of water rapidly (hopefully picking up the solids) which in turn triggers the siphon SLO in FT2 which drains via gravity fed 80mm or 90mm pipe to the 4 GB's. The siphon SLO's have a cut/hole in the pipe to cut the siphon at the desired level. Hopefully 4 or 5metres of 80-90mm pipe can hold 100L water rapidly drained from the FT? The FT's will be located in my garden shed with one door open during summer (for airflow and shade) and I can close in winter to try to keep temps more stable all round. Water is pumped constantly and I will have 2 airstones in each FT.

Any constructive feedback is welcome.

cheers Rob

Examples of the SLO ideas....

Ok so I think I have a workable design thanks to help from chainsaw. a little more tweaking and planning required. I have acquired 2 more IBC totes, so will now have 2 FT's located in my garden shed, I will have the 4 GB's lined up along the back fence, with pipework along the back, and timber cladding along the front, to aid in aesthetics. I will leave enough room along the back of the system for access to plumbing and sump, this may mean removing 2 trees the second IBC I will keep in my garage for later, if I decide to connect a second sump and add another GB, otherwise I will use it for rainwater collection/storage

here are some shots of the area the upgraded system will be located.

Looking forward to the expantion

Make sure your put a 'T' on the top of both of those SLO's to prevent syphoning

Thanks charlie.... I have come up with a design with the help of chainsaw. the SLO from the FT1 to FT2 wont have a T but will have a slot cut into it to ensure it can only drain to a certain point (worst case scenario). designed to keep the levels of the 2 tanks at the same point, allow to build up head in the tanks and more pressure heading to the GB's controlled with a gate valve. So have done some fiddling around and have worked out where tanks and beds are going to be going, now to purchase materials, chop stuff up, clean IBC's and to remove some trees, hopefully over the next week, I will see some progress.

another pic of my little helper.... mostly lies exactly where you want to stand, or decides to get in between you and what you are doing just to have a closer look/sniff, even occasionally chews your pencil up

Hey all.... so current progress, I have removed the 2 large trees that were taking up aquaponics room, disposed of and dug a shallow hole for the sump, I have painted the new FT just to fit in with the rest of the system, and have cut the top and turned into a lid, and placed the FT into position. Todays jobs include, obtain a couple of sleepers to provide support to the base of my GB stands (dont want them sinking into the dirt with all the gravel weight if it rains) and to source some more gravel for the 2 extra GB's not already filled with gravel (maybe not todays job, dont want to double handle gravel) tomorrow I plan on draining my existing system, and the big move is on

and a snap of the sump hole where the trees used to be

Look's like you are on track, welcome to come up and check my system as well. Can you Pm a contact where you got your tanks from and cost pls. I am picking two up tomorrow from Baldhill for my next lot of grow beds.

So after 2 days of slogging it out in this latest heat wave (plenty of water, sunscreen, hat and sunnies) I have moved the system from where it used to be, on the concrete slab, and have lined it up along the back fence, levelled it out, sat it on sleepers to prevent sinking, kind of buried the sump to give a bit more control on temps. I have got the old system cycling again, while I get everything else done, plumbed and in position etc.... Unfortunately I felt I had to give the Jades to mum to put in her dam, as I feel too much stress in the process of moving everything, new gravel (even though washed) I fear will still murky the water up, I have started feeding the system a bit of ammonia to keep the bacteria alive while I get everything done and sorted. Once the 2 new GB's are connected and somewhat cycled I will look at getting some new fish....... I just wish I had a better layout design right from the start to prevent all this hard yakka ohwell you live and learn.

Hi there RB, welcome to another Sunshine Coaster

Your new system seems to be coming along nicely!

My first system (my current one) will see the addition of a couple of goldies over the weekend (need to get my daughters to pick out one each). These will be my first fish!

After I move in about 6 months I will be looking to build a 'proper' system, incorporating 5 or 6 IBC's. Did you get yours for a good price? Were they here on the coast? PM me the answers if you prefer? Thanks in advance

hey mate..... thanks, nice to be here. i must admit i do spend quite a bit of time on here (slightly overdosing if you ask my missus) i think the biggest lesson i have learned is, when planning a system ALWAYS account for upgrade/expansion, crazy addictive and 2 GB's with a FT is never enough so much inspiration from other systems it is impossible to know what the best/right way to do things is hahahahahaha. your system looks to be coming along aswell, basil loves it. where on the sunny coast you from? i got my IBC's from a friends brother, initially only $80 but because of demand he was flogging them off on gumtree for like $130 (i think) so i got my last couple for $100. i did enquire on someone elses behalf yesterday but he is all out at the moment and said to ask again in a couple of weeks. he is located out the back of woombye and nambour. hey out of curiosity, will you be using your system for edible fish? or are you going to be staying small with goldies until you move and make it bigger and better?

so.... now i have it fully cycling, i have the FT's hooked up and the plumbing all done, however GB4 requires more gravel and an extension with the pipework, no rush, GB's 1,2,3 all running on constant flood at the moment and it seems that i did not kill off my bacteria population during the move as ammonia is being processed with no nitrites few little things left to do, ie fit the SLO's some end caps for the bell syphons, a joiner for GB4's pipework and some more gravel, otherwise i think i am all set to order some fish thinking 25 jades and 25 silvers would love some tandanus aswell but minimum order is 20 and i think 5 in each tank would be enough for me, ohwell i am sure i will survive without....... so quick description, 2 interconnected FT's, water delivered to FT1, SLO to FT2, SLO delivers water straight through the shed wall to the GB's, which i have used 50mm DWV and simply drilled some holes in rather then messing around with downsizing pipe etc.... then filtered to sump and the cycle continues to do list now includes, finishing touches, plant out GB's and get fish in. as you can see in the pics some of the plants suffered transplant shock and the current heatwave hasnt helped much, but they have started showing signs of recovery.

couple more pics