Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

C-G: If you can't afford to import a cheap pond pump you certainly wouldn't be able to afford the energy cost of using this pump instead.

I think it's great to think of trying such alternatives.. I must admit that I have felt a little uneasy about 240V cords going into the fish tank a few times.. Just doesn't seem right...

I think it was more a matter of air compressors being common place in his local not necessary the cost, outside the box thinking as well.
I admit I do not always unplug my pump when I reach into the fish tank EB.

Just remember to take off your shoes and socks and put your "big toes" next to the tomato plants - may as well use the "jerking" effect from the electric shock to pollinate the flowers

This reminds me of another incident in Vietnam - the local electricians were used to wiring the American depots and to quickly check if the voltage was available, got into the habit of putting two fingers in the light sockets (110v) - light tingling = voltage on.

This process quickly stopped when doing Aussie camps - 240v = electrician being dumped on their backside, fortunately no deaths occurred as "the path of least resistance" was contained to 2 fingers

I never turn my pumps off when diving around in the tanks.

if you want to do some endurance test on your barrels regarding the pressure then MAKE SURE you do it this way.

Fill them almost to the top with water, then do your cyclic pressure tests.

This way, you use less air and time doing the tests, and god forbid, if it does blow up (with this method it will blow out with a jet instead of blowing up) all you get is soaked with water, instead of loosing an arm.

One thing I've been wondering about the proposed pump is its context in the system. Will the intake be constantly coming in or intermitently (sp?)?

Hello all,

Quite the interesting topic. I did a quick sketch in my album. I havn't had time to calc pressures vs. water volume vs. air volume I just referenced 50/50 water to air as a starting point. I may rig a simple "mini system" sans
fish and plants, move some water around, check amp draw on the compressor, and see what we get.

Re: Effency vs. pond pump. I'm 99.99% sure the pond pump wins hands down...


http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/alb ... pic_id=237

Or you could just do the whole pressure test with water (which is what boiler testers do). Even safer for the same reasons.

A simple piston with a suitable lever, and a pressure gauge over the right range will be able to provide far more pressure than any air compressor. 1 MPa = 10 kg force on a 1cm^2 piston.

I never turn off either.

Me neither, D'oh.

Actually, I learned once that if you turn off the pumps to feed the fish you may forget to turn it back on again - did that once...

Also I trust the GFCI outlets. It would be a different story if the outlets weren't protected.

i reccon you would see the fish floating f there was a problem with your power leads being in the water

would probably smell mighty bad too

CHeers

I'm no electrician - but I'm not sure this is entirely correct. Isn't it not such an issue for the fish because they are not earthed??

My fish don't care if the pumps are running or not. They'll gobble anything that comes into reach whether the current is running or still. Greedy beggars

hey would a fish get shocked if in the water? what you think i agree with veggie boy i think that need to be earth