Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks CC I had a look after I completed todays work, but pretty happy with what I turned out. I'll add the cap so the 100mm pipe doesn't slip around - thanks


Where do you drill the little hole in the standpipe?

also whats this that you made?
download/file.php?id=50688



40mm


outlet of fish tank(not finished with gloop sucker)



Stand pipe 1 - I found a fitting that screwed into the IBC lid and lets the pipe stand in loosely


Stand pipe 2 - this one had a sealed lid so I used a bulkhead and 40mm adapter.


Alternate fittings instead of bulkheads for the sumps (have a cap in just to test something) and I'm going to use flexible hose because the other tank is in a slightly different position.


The set downs I have don't seem to work with the 40mm pressure pipe I've been using as you can see here. Any ideas what to do here?


And Last the test pump from sump to fish tank. I'm worried that its going to pump too quickly for the timer I have?

Looks to be about what my pumps volume is in the ibc system. It doesn't matter and it probably good if you turn over the tank more than once in a 15min on cycle

Ahh thanks Mantis.

I just found your notes here
"standpipes set to 25mm below the top of the gravel and have a small 8mmm or so hole drilled near the bottom.When the pump is on the beds fill and eventually overflow over the top of the standpipe, and when the pump is off , the bed slowly drains through the 8mm hole Constant water change"

thats the part I forgot.

And I also bought an extra T for this:
"...Big Pumps need a’ return to sump’ T’eed off back to sump as well as pumping to the fishtank"

thanks again - do you recommend doing this or pumping full on into the fish tanks?

I was just worried that the pump might pump the sump dry before it gets back in there.

In both systems I have with sumps , I have a bypass back to the sump. In the big system with 6000L/hr pump this is off, but in the other with smaller fish tank and 9000L/hr pump a fair bit goes back to the sump

The photo is my SLO, it comes out from near the bottom of my tank as that was the only place we could put it. At the T piece I reduced it to 50mm by using what the plumbers call a wedding cake reducer. The reducer is then conected to the valve and from the valve runs in 50mm to my grow beds. Using 50mm DW pipe.(waste pipe). After I found a straight 90mm to 50mm reducer which is more efficent.

Most people set their SLO up inside the tank and take it outside near the top of their tank, I was not able to do it this way.

The set down is a wedding cake reducer and the pipe fits inside, you have to use 40mm waste pipe (DW) not pressure pipe. Gravity feed pipe only needs to be waste pipe which is cheaper than pressure. Ditch the wedding cake and go by a straight reducer if available. I used 50mm because my plumbing supply shop said that 40mm DW was more expensive than 50mm because it is not used much these days.

As I said earlier you are welcome to visit and inspect, then I can explain better face to face. Cheers

Take note please water test your growbeds BEFORE filling with the gravel.

Drill the drainage holes in your upright just above the threaded fitting.

I was just about to ask where to put that hole - mantis suggest 8mm.

Can I make it dribble into the sump without noise? My music studio is just nearby and I want to make it quiet as possible (the pump is pretty #$#ing loud so I'll need to put that on a rubber stand and insulated concrete housing.

I use two six mm holes but do not know any way to make them quiter. Once the water has stopped overflowing through the top of the pipe I do not think it makes much noise

Today I glued the 40mm pipe between sump, pump and fish tank and put tape on the pump fittings.
Lots of green glue
Also tried putting the 90mm rainwater outlet on the fishtank with sealant but it was tricky so I'll see if it leaks.
All the seals around between sumps are now done with tape and ready to go.

Tomorrow will be a water test to see how the pump back to sump T goes.

Should I use mini Orb (pic 1) or the wide tin (pic 2) for the outside of my growbeds and fishtank.
Will I have problems with heat?

What ever you have for the lest cost. I used normal corrugated roofing and painted it. Yesterday I put my thermometer on the timber surrounds of my GB and the temperature went to over 50c yet when I felt the tin it was much cooler.

Here is the stand pipe with 2x 6mm holes emptying


Plumbed pipe work


StandPipe


Sump outlet and pump overflow return


Fishtank Outlet with anti-siphon T


Sump return to fishtank (temporary SLO in background)


Dodgy Pump - OH NO! - there some leak only when its pumping coming from where the air comes out at the bottom. Its just a slit and there is also a little hole with no thread which I tried plugging. Dad suggested a breathing hole?


Slight leak with sump outlet because near ridge - going to undo and put some silicone around the rubber washer


The following Pics are with 40mm T back to Sump on full

Flow back to fish tank when 40mm T back to Sump is on fully


Flow into one growbed when 40mm T back to Sump is on fully


And a Video of it all going (you can see the back left side fell off the pallet and is nearly overflowing
https://plus.google.com/photos/10266506 ... ifnQxpylag

Looking good

Except for the pump pic. Don't know what to do?

Decided that the pump probably needs a seal between the front part and the motor.
Probably 100$ with labour so just bought an laguna max flow 6000 from reefshop.