Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Aye! Thar be treasure down thar!

Is that you sitting on your butt in the background, Jay?

Thanks for the kind words you 3
Yes there was treasure - sweaty gold!
I really did get the "your buff" experience.

I reused the water from the 'PH scare' the other night - filled the tank.

A few problems - the pipe I cut through the blue barrel stands, I made the holes too big and when the bed is emptying it splashes out - maybe a uniseal or somthing here? Angle cut the pipe to the direction its going? add elbows inside the 90mm? use another pipe with small holes and seal it?

I also made my SLO holes too high - doh! Might have to plug them up and redo - or I have the option of resizing the hole for 90mm pipe.

Atm its running on a 350watt sump pump.

Need to get gravel and 'glue' the fittings.

I ran the 90mm to the far sump so It stirs the water up before returning to the sump pump in the closer sump (90mm uniseal bridge).

Looks like your having lots of fun:grin:

If you cut a new lower slo you can leave the old higher one in place as a backup

Perfect idea - thanks

Also I was wondering about the problem with the 90mm pipe going through the barrels - how should I seal the 40mm drain fittings - or should I just make them all drain into 40mm pipe and seal it

I like to keep all my drains separate so I would say to do that.
But you can try cutting a new 90 with smaller holes or just seal the one you have now.

Whatever you do just remember photos

ahh thanks Nat - okay so separate would be good if I wanted to use siphons correct?

I was thinking of just connecting with 40mm pipe instead and just running flood and drain or constant flood, that way I could just thread straight onto the plug and waist fitting and then into a coupling T.

Siphons like to breath. If you want to use siphons in your barrels Ronmaggi has them and may be able help.

I used separate lines for each barrel.

Would it be fine to separate them but have them run into the same 90mm pipe further down the line.
i.e. run 40mm pipe off each bed as in the previous pictures but run into the pipe going to the sump?

Also how do you get the gravel guard to stay still in the barrels? I've used a pipe cap upside down in the IBC - do you just let it stand on the barrel and surround with rocks?

I found a solution for my over big holes - a piece of 45 pipe angled from the plug and waste and into the 90mm pipe angling downwards the direction of the water flow - bit of silicone and bobs your uncle. (the 40mm pressure pipe is thick and nearly seals the hole).


Todays tasks
I glued some fittings today for the pump to fishtank pipe.
Bought some paint to paint the IBC's (for algae elimination)
Bought a fresh sikaflex as my other one had gone off - any tips for this?
Fresh plumbing glue - small bottle as big bottle had also gone off from last time.
Put some rocks into a blue barrel and turned the pump on.

Jobs to do
Finish lines to growbeds
Finish SLO's at correct height
Paint IBC's
Make lids over sumps and fish tank.
Buy some rocks
Finish standpipes and gravel guards.

Re sikaflex going off early. Buy from stores with a good return policy.

I meant when its opened

I found some good info here
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.ph ... g-Sikaflex

1. seal with itself
2. put gladwrap around
3. put in an airtight container
4. put some silicagel in the container
5. put in the freezer/fridge

Solution for too bigahole and splashup - I used 45 degree and angled downflow - needs silicone but works perfect.

Note to self: Don't put paint can on the IBC thats balancing on saw horses.