Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

That's pretty cool, I had not heard that before. Appreciate the info.

Nice build!! Especially the fish tank. I would love a system just like yours one day..great work

If you want to speed the algae killing process, barley straw puts out the same enzyme as algal blooms do during the dieoff.

silly question im sure.. what's the blue barrel for between the FT and sump?

A swirl filter! Something that should be on every system

Why is that?

Thinking back over my previous statement, i shouldnt have said no worries about algae blooms. You should be aware that algae can cause ph swings so dont go crazy trying to balance ph right now and algae like plants consumes CO2 and produces O2 during the day and the opposite at night, so you do have to be mindful of O2 levels for your fish at night.

I guess i can still i say "i dont worry about it" but i dont always run aerators in my tanks but i do during hot summer months and i would during an algae bloom.

It's also something to consider that maybe you are registering no nitrates because the algae is claiming it. If you havent already started plants you should, so your plants can start competing and try to out compete the algae for nutes.

Is there an easier way to remove solids from your system?

It's true, I neglected to upload any pictures of the Radial Flow Filter in that blue barrel. I copied the design of Paul Van der Werf from Earthen Group who I'm a big fan of. Though I put a funnel shaped bit of concrete on the bottom with a bulkhead fitting to the drain, as some others have done as well. I haven't had the chance to use it yet though, as I don't have any fish yet, so I'm quite curious to see how well it does.

One change I might possibly make if I could go back in time is make my SLO out of 4" pipe rather then 2". As it stands I'm really glad I put that second 2" skimmer drain in, or else the drainage would be totally insufficient.

I measured the out flow from the fish tank to the sump using a 5 gallon bucket and a stop watch and it came out to a little more then 600 gallons per hour. My fish tank is 1000 so I'm a little less then ideal. My pump has a high speed that I'm not using and would prefer not to use to save electricity but it is there if it's needed.

I'm a believer in removing solids.

My question was why do you think every system should have a swirl filter? Just trying to understand why you think that is true.

There's the option of not removing them and letting them mineralize in the system/grow beds. That sounds a lot easier to me.

I just thought it was the best way to get rid of solids in the system

This system has finally cycled after over two months, so I went and got 150 goldfish today and yesterday. My little canaries, godspeed little canaries.

Freshwater Fish Company near Sacramento is doing one of their sales on the 15th. Bluegill, hybrid carp, redear sunfish, channel catfish - $1 each. I'll probably be going - are you interested?

Hmmmm, I'm thinking about it but I might roll with gold fish for the moment. I'll talk to my neighbor about whether they want to get some catfish. That's where all the aquaponics people get their fish around here isn't it? That is good info to know.

By the way way I met Michael at the Lucky Garden, really nice guy, really cool store.