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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Jackal's System
PostPosted: Feb 15th, '13, 05:09 
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slowRider wrote:
Hey Jackal,

On the wife front, I had to set her mind to thinking about the direct benefits while making comments in passing
"Man, it's gonna be nice when I can just go to the back yard to get a tomato instead of going to the store."
"I don't know what we're going to do with all of these cucumbers. I think I planted too many!"

After a few weeks, she started talking about expanding so we could fit spinach in.

Paul



I like your approach!

I had bought a spa like the one shown on my first post new for $800 and did not tell my wife because she would have nixed it. However, after begging for forgiveness for the purchase, she now loves it and we use it all the time. Hopefully, this will also work for this Aquaponics project.

Jackal
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tambra77
 Post subject: Jackal's System
PostPosted: Feb 16th, '13, 17:21 
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Joined: Feb 11th, '13, 01:27
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We do know how to get our hobbies around our spouses, don't we....:)
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Feb 17th, '13, 08:45 
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tambra77 wrote:
We do know how to get our hobbies around our spouses, don't we....:)


And it keeps us off the streets!

Jackal
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 15th, '13, 23:01 
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Wife green lighted the project!
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 19th, '13, 18:08 
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Fish tank built, grow beds in progress!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk 2
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The Steve
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 19th, '13, 19:51 
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Congrats on the green light from the wife. Looking forward to seeing some photos as you build it.
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 20th, '13, 08:31 
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Here are some videos. Experimenting with using spa pump (100GPM!) to aerate and run geyser water lift pumps. The tests are promising, and if calculations are correct will run aeration and grow bed water with the one blower (will add an aeration battery backup).

The spa also has a temperature control, but I think I will just farm local seasonal fish and vegies with no temp control.

Also, will be experimenting with a Black Soldier Fly composter/auto fish feeder and organic fertilizer generator so that iron leachate should be the only missing ingredient.

Went with pea gravel, river rocks, river pebbles instead of expanded clay due to costs. So far, one grow bed is tested and works fine with external bell siphon.

The first geyser pump is built, and to be tested, and thereafter should be ready soon to measure water cycles. I do also have a water pump in case geyser pump inadequate.

Ordered a 20'x10' carport for $90 to be converted to a greenhouse with rocket heater (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater).

Pictures forthcoming and hopefully you can see the below videos! Friend me on Facebook if needed!

Cheers!

Jackal

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10 ... =2&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10 ... =2&theater

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOve9xNR ... e=youtu.be
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 20th, '13, 09:37 
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Geyser pump prototype pics!:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Cheers!

Jackal
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 21st, '13, 09:23 
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Tested the geyser pump and it pumps 1 gallon every 85 secs or 42 GPH!

This should cycle one grow bed at 4 times per hour.

Thinking of ditching the spa blower and instead running 6 cheap battery backed up 12 VDC aquarium air pumps with air stones. In this way, if one air pump fails, it will only affect the one grow bed, as well as provide for battery backup in case of power failure. This should also allow the system to run on solar or wind power.

Cheers!

Jackal
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POC
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 21st, '13, 09:33 
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wow, you're making quick progress.
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 22nd, '13, 08:45 
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First grow bed up and being tested, cycles fine with minimal water flow.

Image

Ordered $14 air pump and a $12 6" air stone for running geyser pump and for extra aeration if needed.

Will use a cheap 200 Watt hour UPS as backup for the six air pumps as each air pump only draws 3 WA.

Started building Black Soldier Fly auto fish feeder from two of the plastic totes that were used for grow beds. The totes are stacked with the inner tote cut so as to form an inside ramp.

Image

The other tote has a hole cut out and a part of the wall cut out to form an outside ramp with ramp bumpers made from 1" PVC pipe cut with a slit.

Image

Image

Cheers!

Jackal
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Mar 24th, '13, 08:38 
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BSF composter almost complete. Added a nesting/air tube and ramp support. Added a media grid to hold pea gravel to act as filter for leachate. Final steps will be to add a leachate collector on the bottom of the system.

Image

Image

Cheers!

Jackal
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Apr 26th, '13, 07:35 
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The entire system is now completed, with six grow beds, and a BSF composter/auto fish feeder!

You can see a recent video on Facebook here:


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151509435671832&set=vb.698581831&type=2&theater

Cheers!

Jackal
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J.B.
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Apr 26th, '13, 10:33 
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Nice work on your system! Are those the 27 or 32 gallon bins? What stocking density are you planning on? You did way more math than I did :shock:
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j4ck4l
 Post subject: Re: Aquaponics Newbie
PostPosted: Apr 26th, '13, 11:17 
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They are 27 gallon bins from Costco. Thinking of stocking with 20 to 25 eight to ten inch channel catfish. All advice highly appreciated!

Cheers!

Jackal

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk 2
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