Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

pH meters need calibrating quite frequently- they drift over time, so a once off calibration when you buy it isn't much use.
You need to get yourself some buffer solutions to do your own calibrating. It only takes a few minutes to do it, I do it a few times per week.

abdul are electronic ph testers expensive? I did not know they existed.

For your root problem:

I've heard through the grapevine as a working Arborist that when preventing roots entering an area, one method that may or may not work is compacted garden/ag lime.

So, if you had a foundation or concrete path you wanted to protect, you would dig a trench and stuff it full of lime and tamp it nice and hard. Roots travel to the area, hit the lime and the pH is not conducive for the root to go through it.

You could pack around your seal with lime as an experiment?

MartinC: I didn't know they existed, I figured they must as it is a simple enough tool. I don't think I paid more than 50 US dollars for it, maybe even 25 i dont remember.

Hmm that's sad about the calibration need. Maybe someday I will be back home and then I can spend more time directly on it.

If I'd known in advance, i could have sprinkled the soil beneath the bed with lime. But with almost two tonne of water on top of it, it'll be difficult to get to. I'll see if it gets through again.

And I've had my first catastrophic failure

I came home to the motor running dry (it's supposed to auto cut out if it runs dry, well it might have just had enough water coming back and forth from the line to not be completely dry.





The uniseal had popped out of the DWC. We've had a mass of rain, almost 100mL in a day or so.

First lot of rain since I put the system in, and I think the rain made the dirt beneath expand, and pushed up the pipe, then made the bed sink a little from the weight.

My very new shrimp were flapping on the ground, so I put them back in, fixed it all up, and seems better now.

I'm curious to see how the plants will go with no water on the roots for several hours.

Hey Col, hope everything recovers quickly.

Well I decided to check it again tonight.

It's definitely sinking. Probably only about 6cm, but seems to have been enough.

The uniseal popped out again. Was pissing out water again.

10pm at night, I pulled out my car jack, and jacked the whole thing up, and chocked up the legs for when I can sort it out properly tomorrow.

Hopefully the seal doesn't break again overnight.

column if you need to stop the sinking, just place some foundation concrete block below the frame to help support the frame and distribute the weight on a wider surface area. 1 pile at each foot may be all u need. try to place the wider side face down.

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The funny thing is I did that. Well almost, I got some 30cm x 30cm pavers I had under leg. Probably not as big as a foundation block, but I thought it'd be enough.

It's really muddy out there at the moment.

lol serious.. I can see into de past... wait we can all see into the past... darn..
but anyhow u can try to increase the surface areas of the support to spread out the weight maybe resting them on wood planks. but wood will rot over time so something more durable may be needed. my system is on concrete those no worries

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It's in a hole filled with gravel, then the pavers on top of that. I thought it'd be enough, but it is very muddy. And I've been shoveling dirt around the backyard, getting it level for the next expansion at the end of the month. So extra muddy.

I'm not sure if doubling up on the existing pavers will be enough. or if they'll keep sinking.

I guess we got to leave it up to father time to find out. patience is a virtue.

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Depends on the amount of rain you get and the soil conditions buddy. Sounds like pouring some nice deep concrete wouldn't be a bad idea.

I agree with abdul. best to be safe then sorry.

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Wow, it seems I am in need of a life, but it's all good as I have AP