Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Theres no way this can fail sleep... I enjoy your creativity and adventurous mind. There is no failure in invention.

I'd missed this... Nice work sleepe..... Bottle tops hey?

A quick update.
Scattering seeds into the beds (although I must admit some were out of date) is a failure, apart from Chinese cabbage and 1 other seedling, I have no idea what it is. Planted some seedlings, parsley and rainbow chard, not going as well as expected so I checked the ph, nearly 8. This was a bit odd so I tested the tapwater (we have had a dry summer), about 7.8 straight out of the tap so possibly a little higher
On the upside the filter is working reasonably well and I can just make out the bottom of the pond, aside from leaf etc litter there is a small fish net some stones from my stream and a sink outlet, got to love grandchildren.
If we don't get some rain I will have to drop the ph slowly or cut off the GB and mess about with it running by itself.

Hmm duckweed is amazing, it went from almost nothing to filling all the floating trays in about 2 days, I think I will add another 2; unfortunately this will stop the worm farm from being resurrected. I plan to cut a small notch in 1 tray to allow the duckweed to push into the central cavity between the trays for goldie feed.

All the tadpoles turned into small frogs and have buggered off somewhere.

I will continue with the bottlecaps and airlift to see what happens.

Next project, aside from the solar stuff etc, will be a LEAP system. Maximum 12w and shifting at least 3500lph.
If its going solar the max budget will be $100 (not including swaps and what I already have).

Couple of pics, floating duckweed beds (with 1 notch and fish that don't seem to appear on the photo ) and GB.

Currently, pic.

And an embarrassing confession What I thought was the fastest growth of duckweed ever turned out to be my son putting a handful in each tray while I was at work.

Thats so cool sleepe

This a really interesting thread, Sleepe. Your grow bed growth is looking excellent. When are you going to officially declare your trial a success?

Thanks Charlie

PLJ when the plants are a little bigger and I get a few feeds. ATM there is a slight nutrient deficiency, me being stingy feeding the fish and high ph (last time I checked). There are some pros and cons re using bottle caps for grow media but will detail them when I'm happy it works.

Solar panels feeding back into the house using cheap inverters is working so far, now I just have to find somewhere to mount them permanently.

Still waiting for the wave pump to arrive so LEAP is on hold for the moment.

When I get a chance I am going to trial a potting mix made out of 1/2 soil and half bottle caps v straight soil.

I think I told someone I would show the difference between floating and heavier crap in the system.

Today was clean the filter (weekly event)
1 turnoff tap to filter (bypass goes to waterfall)
2 open bottom drain into bucket till water goes clearer then change to another bucket
3 once water is out of filter (and some crap comes out towards the end) turn off drain
4 Stick hose from pond manifold into filter and turn on then reduce water to waterfall
5 hose as much crap as I can see then drain into bucket.
6 drain offwaterfall on filter on hose off.

pics the fuller bucket is the floaties.

Current growth. Had a few chard leaves.
Still have a slight nutrient deficiency, due to high ph I assume.
The only pests I have are snails about 5-8mm in size (came with the media) fortunately the plants are growing faster than the little buggers can eat them.

Current growth.

Ok

First impressions of soft drink bottle caps (recycle code 2) as GB media (I am happy I can get some vegies out of it)

Pros

Light
Cheap or free
Good surface area
Ph neutral
Has a wow factor (good if you are trialling it as a recycling initiative)
Has in insulating effect i.e. the top of the GB never seems to get too hot or too cold
I have the impression that it distracts insect pests especially before everything gets big
I know it attracts bees, I assume they initially think its flowers and then work out they can get a drink (well they land go down and reappear a few moments later)

Cons

It has a SG of from memory of about 95.6
Some people may not be able to get it in quantity
Children and adults like to play with it
It provides very little support for plants (this is significant)
Directly sowing seeds is a bit like a lotto, or perhaps more aptly spinning roulette wheel
I am unsure of the effects of rain on it as it is under the patio
I am unsure how worms will go in it

It will not replace commercial media, however for smallish application in a shadehouse greenhouse or for indoor application it has a place. Continuous flood or Continuous flow good; in pots with gutter guard etc separating it from a heavier media on top anything you like.

These are only my first impressions; it worked successfully on a very small scale.
I will do stuff ups in design etc later.

latest pics.

Week 10 of growth, eating the chard and wombok leaves.