Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

When I've got my third sump tank done and connected I think I will have to up the pump size, I have the 1000ltr fish tank and five grow beds totaling around 700ltr and three sumps which will hold around 1200ltr


I don't know how to do that, I thought only the mods could do it.

Thanks for your help jayendra

Bullwinkle, are you saying you have three SLOs or three growbeds?


Good point, I'll tell my missus you said I should have three pumps

Your so keen camel
Your going to be itching during the cycling part

Does that mean I need to salt myself 3ppt??

Probably more for ich...

Finally plumbed the three media grow beds back to the sump tanks. Media beds have been raised 18cm because I didn't sink the sump tanks enough so I would have only been able to fill the sumps to around 350 liters, now I'll be able to fill to 500 liters each. The top of the mini tank is about 15cm above the top of the sumps.

And the sump to fish tank line in place, I hope my 1500ltr/hr pump is up to it. If not I guess I'll go oversize and use the excess for a spray bar in the fish tank.

Don't forget to cover your IBC's before you put water in them.
I've never seen a sideways entry into the tank - usually higher and dropping in.
Getting gravel or scoria or balls?

Good point, I think I will make that one the overflow back to the sump and do another just beside that one but in through the top
I'm building a roof to shade the beds and the tank and I'll be using pea gravel in the beds, all within the next couple of weeks.

You don't need a bulkhead or uniseal for your sump-fishtank pipe - you mentioned spray barrs - just run the pipe across the top - zip ties to frame or wall - get more height for water drop

I was thinking if I run the return pipe from the sump through the top of the fish tank and down to the bottom, follow the perimeter all the way around the base with 1" pvc with small drilled holes and an end cap and fit a venturi pipe at the top, would I get good aeration?

I've just done this (see my barrel thread) - you need a pump with sufficient flow and then you reduce the pipe size (see video below).

I have run a section of pipe about 1m long with tiny holes in it about 1cm apart in a single row on top of the pipe at the bottom - the air doesn't come out the end of the pipe so I think going around the whole tank would be unused - plus the more pipe on the bottom the more gunk accumulates.
I made my pipe with holes on the bottom also - so the water would squirt out and push any solids away - working a treat. If you direct the pipe at an angle it will create a nice swirl current around the IBC for your fish.

Here is my one with the tap off


And the extent of the bubbles with tap on

Thanks Jay your aeration looks to be working well. I will have air stones as well for backup, I was going to run the pipe around the perimeter on the bottom with small holes set at 45 degrees opposed, thinking it would force the fish waste to the center of the tote for the slo to pick up

yes good, point but for bubbles they might only go around one length of the square, unless you make them very wide apart.

True, Im going to have to do some experimenting