Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have 2 x Resun air pumps, battery backed, that run for something over 8 hours, just in case. Fish will live much longer if you have air for them, even with the water pump off.

so a further update - based on info in this thread, i decided i am not going to use the top part of the IBC as a tank, and instead get a 30cm deep pond to use. Currently bidding on ebay, and if i dont win, will just grab new from Bunnings. Still trying to decide how im going to plumb it though. Wondering if my 38mm holesaw will make a big enough hole to fit a 40mm pvc pipe.

figured I would post so you guys would know i havent disappeared or given up.

re the hole saw... no. Don't forget you need to put something in the hole to seal it so the 40mm pipe doesn't leak water all around the pipe. Many people use Uniseals and some use bulkheads - both have standard 'oversize' hole requirements for a given size of pipe.

Good to know you're carrying on with it...

As usual, i am glad I posted, and glad for the advice. Now i just need to find out where to buy a uniseal nearby or online. So im guessing if i use my 58mm bit, i should be able to find a uniseal to tightly fit around the 40mm pipe (hoping at any rate.)

Can you recommend anywhere I may be able to purchase online?

Started some seeds in coco coir today, anticipating having the system ready for fish within 2 weeks if all is well, and I reckon I will be going for SP. Will be doing a mix of seed sown directly into the grow medium and about 24 plants in coir.

Looking to have at least 300L of grow medium for the plants, and if i win the ebay auction for the pond, it will be closer to 450L of grow medium.

Also, because i bought a pressure cleaner to do the tank, my back concrete is getting a good clean too

uniseals
I bought mine from aussieglobe.com

63mm holes saw for 40mm PVC (pressure) pipe

@Jayendra - given all those uniseals are in avoirdupois I presume aussieglobes is in the US? What was delivery cost and time like?

@Ark - there's no real need to go beyond the 300mm of media and some people don't go that deep. What it gives you is more filtering capability without increasing the amount of growing area. You might be better putting the extra pond-area of 100mm or so into something like wicking beds, or maybe a barrel split in 2 lengthwise to make 2 extra GB's.

1 week postage time
postage cost + items cost was less compared to buying locally. naughty me

Ordered uniseals from uniseal.com.au - very quick response, lets see what delivery time is like.

havent looked into wicking beds yet. Didnt win the ebay auction, so i may even just buy another IBC and cut to custom size for a couple of beds, though the missus will kill me if i start with more than 1. (she might kill me anyway if i dont start cleaning up the yard soon)

Have a browse through Nat's Blue barrel thread - you might be able to make her some pretty ones and win her over to the bigger systems. (if you can't beat 'em, bribe 'em)

Or you could tuck what you have out of sight...

Did you check to make sure you're getting the right size uniseals for your pipes? You must have got lucky with uniseal.com.au - every time I have tried them I get a 'technical difficulties' message. Got to be the least-up site I've ever tried. I think for my next lot I'll be trying jayendra's link.

The system I am working on (in between Uni etc) is 2 x IBC GB (perhaps 3) 2 x half barrel wicking beds (WB) nad 4 AP buckets. The WB's are for plants that are so-so in gravel, such as carrots which grow like stumpy little turnips in gravel, and for dense-grow herbs like coriander.

The buckets are for fruit trees - I came up with the idea of planting fruit trees in AP and once they get to the desired size, Bonsai'ing them to freeze them at that size. There's a bonsai thread on here started by Ronmaggi Bonsai'ing fruit trees in AP after we talked about it in another thread. Broought in some useful info that I plan on taking full advantage of...

You can email uniseal.com.au (sales@uniseal.com.au) and they send you a price list, order form, instructions. It happened within 5 minutes for me.

seconding this. Absolutely awesome response times and helpfulness. Will update when i have them in my hand, but pretty confident.

another one for uniseals... we have used a few in Dad's new system... and postage has been nothing short of prompt!!

I'll give them a try via email - site is still off-the-air. But if they send a catalogue that could make up for it.

Well, emailed them Monday, got a quote, then pro-forma invoice Monday afternoon, paid by direct deposit, express posted on Tuesday, at my door today (Wednesday).

Id have to say, their site may appear down, but the service from Uniseal is fantastic once you engage. They do have a minimum order cost of $30 though. I bought the right size holesaw bit from them as well as a 3 actual uniseals.

Got the catalogue today...