Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Jaco,
You could run the water through the black pipes on return from the grow beds or sump. So it runs through the black pipes just before returning to the FT giving the most heat benefit to the fish. If you create this as a separate loop you will need a pump to move it through as it won't move on it's own.
If you're struggling to keep the water temp up then it is also best to stop pumping the water through the grow beds at night. The grow beds act as a heat sink and you get a lot of heat loss out of the grow beds. So at night switch off the grow beds using a valve or switching the pump off. You will still need air being pushed into the tank so you might want to put in an air pump with airstones or use the pump you have to recirculate the water back to the tank using a spray bar.

Regards, Martin.

Will the plants survive being out off/ submerged in water the whole night?

I think you want to drain the grow bed and leave the water in the tank or sump. Most people have a small drainage hole (usually about 3mm) in their siphon so that when the pump goes off the grow bed drains slowly. It is small enough that it doesn't effect the flood and drain cycle but when the pump goes off it drains the grow bed.

That's a good idea, thank you. Now the big problem is to make a hole in the stand pipe, will have to take out some of the gravel.

Cool Jaco. Let us know how it goes.

Added a airpump last night, probably not necessary but more is better. Unfortunately that was the only thing I got done as I misplaced my nails, so I could not finish the FT lid.
This morning I checked the temp and so far it looks like the insulation is working. The ambient temp was 2.5 degrees lower than the FT water temp, normaly the ambient and water temp are the same. For now I'm not going to turn off the pump at night.

Sounds like you need a manicure!

Great to hear that insulation is working. I'm keen to hear how much temp difference switching off the pump at night makes.

Regards, Martin.

Today is going to be a bit warmer in Stellenbosch so will turn off the pump tonight and check temp tomorrow morning

turned the pump off for the night, currently FT temp is 16 degrees and ambient temps is 15 degrees, wiil report findings tomorrow.

If you're turning your pump off overnight... make sure you have external aeration....

Hi Rupert, I have one of these airpumps (http://www.accenthydroponics.com/index. ... gory_id=38 ) running 24/7 at max speed.


I'm going to drill a small hole in the standpipe and add a timer to the pump when the rain stops, looks like that might only be next week.

Checked the water temp this morning again and it was 4 degrees higher than ambient, so turning water pump off during the night definitely helps.

So... 500l/h.... should hold you through the night....

What size fish tank... and how many fish??

Its a 1000l IBC with 12 small tilapia

Ok... should be fine...

Caught a few crabs this afternoon, they might grow big enought for food otherwise they can stay in FT to clean up tank bottom