Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

thanks PLJ but I already got some uniseals.

Now to find a suitable container, I am thinking something like a 60L round bin?

started making the RFF. barrel was used for wine making.

inlet and waste are 25mm outlet is 40mm.

plumbed it into the pump and auxiliary bio-filter.

the bio-filter is 1200 dia and has 5 rolls of 4m x 25m bird netting as bio media.

anybody know what the effective Surface area of bird netting is?

The bird netting was a bargain, B had it on sale at $5 a roll.

the 70lpm air pump keeps it bubbling and the discharge from the bio-filter has like a swirl filter discharge feeding the water from below.

hopefully this will provide enough filtration for my system?

has anybody tried using these pumps?

my "shott 900" pump died after 6 months and the place I bought it from said they would have to send it to the manufacturer before being replaced on warranty!

anyhow this was only $79 and its rated at 12500 lph and 8.5m head.

Does that one have the float switch on it ?

yes and it's switchable,

I have used the 250 w 8000 litre I believe it was . Discontinued last year. Not good on a timer as the thermo overload switch has to shut of for a few minutes. Chainsaw uses the same as I had and used it with the float switch operating and shutting the system off. He gets 1 to 2 years but they were only coasting $50 at the time.

Tried mine last week and worked for 30 seconds then the thermo switch cuts the pump off. Sealed unit so will see about warranty.

I have the float switched off and timed at 15 on - 45 min off.

It is specifically stating that it is a clean water pump, which means that it needs to be aft of the filters. That could also account for the short time others have had with them. Debris could be causing stall conditions, causing the caps to burn out on startup.

Clean water and can handle particles up to 6 mm, be glad to have fish that big if their crap blocks the pump.

The solids from fish poo and uneaten fish waste isn't really SOLID! Chances are pumps that burn out from solid debis getting caught in it, is more likely from stuff like sticks, gravel, seeds, leaves etc.

Now if you have a sponge on the inlet of the screen over the pump has too small of holes, then it is possible that slime/fish poo could clog that and essentially have the pump running dry under water.

I would warn that cheap pumps and short life spans also often use a rather large amount of electricity for the amount of water they pump so just because you can get a pump for cheap doesn't mean it will save you any money if it is using twice as much electricity to run it as a more expensive pump.

it has a small screen on the inlet But it may be worth putting bigger suction filter / screen on it.

as the fish poo is almost liquid I'm willing to give it a go.


I paid top dollar for the "Shott" and it lasted only 6 months before the impeller shaft came out.

True that,

The amount of energy my 3000lph pump uses is ridiculous (cheap bunnings one). I have seen guys with 20 000lph using less electricity...

Put a new sunshade over the FT. Today, fish seem to like it they have been feeding in a frenzy 3 or 4 times a day.
Maybe it's because I have been feeding from a different place?
Anyhow plant growth is still zip. Tank has been vacuumed several times,
Solids filter going well.
I still think there is something in the old pool water that is impeding plant growth.
Trying to figure out if I should do a complete water change?

Hiya slowboat, I found the same thing feeding the fish in a different spot. I wouldn't be too worried about the plant growth at the moment, it seems that a few of us in Perth with new ap systems are having the same issues probably due to the weather and immature systems, I'm sure it'll pick up when the weather warms up.
Seems to be a lot of us in WA ap ing, wonder what it is...
Enjoying the updates, keep it up.