Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

While hooking up the drain line, I left two more spots to plumb in a couple more of these bunk beds. That is what the white buckets are covering. (Once I remove the old 100 gallon stock tank beds I'll have two open outlets off one of the old 6 zone gravity modified indexing valves to send over to these two beds.

Hard to beat when you consider you get a container and stand or under 70 bucks. An IBC for 80 I can make 2 beds that are larger, but need to add bricks, framing (wood or weld) and that's a lot more work/time. I may try too. Thinking your on to something with the epoxy and a plastic shim on the backside for the bulkhead. If you can support the plumbing very well, it could work with a uniseal. But could see where the flex will cause problems. Are you using an open gutter as your main drain or cutting your 3-4" pipe so they can drain into? I know on my open gutter, i get a pretty good slime/algae buildup.

Looks good TC. Could you have used 4" ADS drain instead of rigid PVC? I know it's a lot less$$ Some issues with connecting pvc parts under pressure, but for drains, we use it all the time for water off roofs and in landscapes.

I suppose ABS pipe could work BUT........
The PVC pipe is potable water safe and easy for me to get around here. I have a plumbing/irrigation supplier that will deliver for free (which is good when hauling more than about 6 of the 20' sticks of large pipe on my truck would be an issue.) I'm using 4" thinwall pipe for my large combined drains it isn't like I have any real pressure to speak of and there won't be trucks driving through where these pipes are. Gutters would be problematic for drains running in the ground. And because of the elevation where the sump is compared to where these beds are, The pipes stay full of water. If the sump were full up near the overflowing point, the water would probably be up over the reducing rubber couplers under the beds (which is why the beds are up on blocks, just to have enough elevation to let them drain, otherwise I would have just put them on the ground to make it easier for growing tall and vining plants.)

Hi TC, great pics of your set up with the troughs - thanks.

Lovely pics of the Chef and you and your tummy. Got four of the little tykes - hardest work ever but most fun too.

Good point on the potable water safe. I was wondering why you built them up. Looks great...good luck.
How are the towers going? My strawberries are actually doing really good. Have 1 tower with about 60-70 berries. I just hope this crazy weather isn't too hot...it's staying in the 90's in the GH for at least 2-3 hours each day. With both doors and all sides up. Not sure if that's an issue with berries or not. They taste great, but don't get any bigger in my AP. Unlike my Toms, peppers, chives, basil, and most plants that I compare side by side with potting soil.

TC, the HPDE is accepted for drinking water, but they use a solid type. Presumably, so that there is no sediment buildup, which may or may not be an issue with AP??

Noticed Ryan uses rigid in his system, so there's probably a reason to use it. The green pipe is also much less, but it's sewer pipe and not sure about it either.

My problem with the arugula is that if the temp gets over 82 to 83 for too many days in a row it bolts. Am following the bunk feeder project with interest.

If you're doing that much digging when you're that pregnant, I'll be very impressed

I like your maremma's. I had one, we got her to look after the sheep, she didn't even notice them, instead she bonded with the chickens and would lovingly carry them around in her mouth.

The Puppies are actually Great Pyrenees (another Big White Dog breed generally meant as livestock protectors.) Unfortunately the cute little blue tick mutt is only part heeler and the other part obviously hunting dog, he taught the girls some bad habits about chasing and catching birds.

No I've been leaving most of the digging and leveling to the cook at this point. Jut a bit too much for my back to take while carrying the extra 30 lb of pregnancy and baby.

Keep in mind with the strawberries, they will produce for longer if it stays cooler. Heat can really do them in.

Yea, lots of things can bolt on you when it gets too warm. When growing lettuce though the summer it is important to harvest a bit small before it starts to elongate and go bitter. Better to plant more often and just harvest small if the heat is getting certain things.

Fair enough for the digging. I struggle enough without extra weight.

I could have sworn they were maremma's, look identical, even the curly tail.

Do they protect any livestock? Ours just wanted to protect us, not the sheep.

For any breed you will also have individuals and training or learning that takes place. I worry for our girls since we do not have any larger livestock for them to protect yet and I don't know if they will remember their early days on the farm where they were born where they slept with the sheep and goats. On our farm they have always lived outside but they have bonded with each other and Bailey and us so I don't know how well they will do transitioning back to goats or sheep or pigs or anything else.

Good looking expansion,both you and the bunk beds Love those “ Bunk Beds”.