Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

they can also bow out at each end and the sides. For some of ours we've had to put timber across the ends to stop sagging

I'm going to be using mainly perlite, hydrotron and coco coir for grow media mainly for weight reasons and transportability if I end up having to move.... will use some gravel layered across the top to keep the perlite and hydrotron from blowing/floating away.

Also have an endless supply of those foam peanut packing shells... from what I can gather they're inert so I might try a bed with some of those....

Probably use a different media in each of the four blue barrels and plant the same stuff... should then be able to quantify which media (if any) is better.

good idea, plant a decent sample of each plant in each barrel, as i've found that you always get a runt pant or two tat might skew results.

Sounds good less weight in the grow beds so no strain.

Will just need to make sure you still have enough bio filtration. I have been finding that my 500 litres of 5mm gravel is only just enough to support my feeding rate of about 150 -200 grams a day. I originally thought it would handle heaps more than that.

Hey Rup, were you planning on running the pump continuously, or intermitantly.? I remember having great difficulty in finding a 12V pump that was rated for continuous use..

Also be careful of the wording, I have seen pumps that state "continually rated".. They whack it on the outside of the box so when you scan the box you assume it's rated for "continuous" use, but it's not...

and when u look inside it says contiunously rated for 30mins on a 30% duty cycle? LOL

EB..Nah... definately says "continuous" running ....



saltwater/ marine approved bilge pump.... have a timer if need be


Still haven't sussed out the plumbing as yet and pumps are a new plaything for me....(specs are on other page).... so all advise welcome.

I have a couple of theories Steve:

1. I am being unreasonable to expect that 10 hours after I give my fish a major feed there will be no ammonia or nitrite in the water. The levels I am getting are not dangerous (about .25 ammonia and .5 nitrite). By the next feed (if only feedign once a day) the levels are 0.

2. On the weekends I do tend to feed them more than once. This results in a bit of a spike - but again not to dangerous levels.

It might be that these relativelly low level readings I am getting will be the same even as I gradually increase the feed rate. There must be heaps of bacteria in my system and my cycling is very efficient for them being f &d nearly to the top of the gravel, with the whole tank cycling through about once an hour.

I'm not worried - I think all is working well - but I will continue to monitor for learning sake.

Thats the way

I was playing with perlite in a window box over my aquarium, and found it to be a pain. I dumped the perlite, put in gravel, and a small amount of perlite to allow me to start seeds. Hopefully have some pictures up before the weekend....

What problems did you encounter greendo??

Well a couple of rain (yep rain) delays and a couple of brain (yep brain) delays.....

Time lead to a couple of revisions and minor changes which will be reflected and explained in the final build stage....

For now time to stand the posts and get the levels right.....

Hi rupe how about an up date the last pictures 15 march we like pictures

u voyeur u F&F