Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Start aquaponics me mate said, you'll love it he said, too easy he said... Hahaa
Apart from the beers during the making and the love it part, he was wrong
After seeing his setup, I was contemplating the idea. Then by chance I came across decent Nally Megabins goin cheapish, and my impulse mode kicked in at high gear...

So it began...
I just needed a location. Perth had a good few 40+ degree days and I thought that then would be the perfect time to begin the mission
Step 1: Use the most awkward method of taking up 15 square meter of lawn that I have tried to nurture and keep alive...
The good old long handle shovel... square by square

The Nally Magabins, I came across by chance.
Drovers Fish Market had just decided to get rid of theirs the day I walked in to get some Red Emperor Fillets... If it wasn't for me noticing that the bins they use for their live stock, this may never of happened
Silly observant boy...
2nd step: drop one in the ground to be used as sump tank

Next was to supply Beers, BBQ, and some of 'those one' for a couple of mates to throw down some paving... Again, a bugger of a hot day in Perth... Beforehand, a trench was dug for electrical cables/conduit for power. For some reason my staffies love the taste of electrical cord, so it had to be as close as possible... Bloody dags...
After filling the ST, she dropped a little in one corner... I was not keen to dig her back out, she was there for good.

So, for the grow beds...
I found some baths going cheap and though why not... Just had to knock a up simple framework, two more Nally Bins and it starts coming together.

In my GB's, I'm going with a flood/drain system controlled by bell siphons. I did a bit of research and found that a air suction tube going into a little vial can break the water lock created by the siphon quite well. basically, less head pressure to combat with. You can just see the black tube going into the vial.

I'm using polly tube as drain tubes from the GB's to the ST. Without any media, each GB could drain within 15 minutes (I can extend this by reducing the drain flow rate).

I'm also going with a chift pist system, although I didn't want to drill holes through the FT's. This siphon overflow method I found on YouTube and it works really well. basically like a bell siphon it need a water lock to work. I have tapped into the tope of the siphon with small retic line, this is to pull air out of the siphon if it happens to get in there. I do this by connecting the other end of the retic line to the 'water exit' of my pump. this will create a venturi as water passes by it, sucking any air along with it.
It took some time for my head to get around this, then again it could of been the beers

Last pic shows the system in test mode. I am awaiting a pump that can handle the head pressure as well as flow fast enough to create that venturi I was taking about.
Luckily I have a pond filled with Goldfish, Koi and some plant life which has been running for quite some time. I can use this water to as it has already cycled to speed the process up.

So the aim is...
Marron in the ST, Silver Pearch in one of the FT's, seasonal fish in the other FT (Barra in the summer, Rainbow Trout in the winter).
I have made some floating rafts to hold duck weed to float on top of the FT's (good for water and also shade/evaporation). So I went down to Woodvale fish and lilly farm to get some duckweed, which they had bugger all. I got a tiny bag worth anyways (2 bucks, why not). I thought I could throw it in my pond to let it grow and germinate...
Little did I know my gold fish and koi would smash it all up... Worth a laugh over a beer anyways lol.
I don't suppose there's anyone NOR that has excess duckweed they'd like to part with?

Well, that's my system so far. When I'm back from working I will fill all the tanks with water, and see how she goes.. Pic's will follow for sure.

Total water capacity = ~2100L
Total GB capacity = 1000L
Total beer consumption to date = not enough

Wow, fantastic looking 1st system.

Congrats!

Aye it looks good Steve, your FT syphon thing does look a bit sophisticated though!

Steve, look good mate! Where did you get plan for overflow with no holes in FT? I tried a few different set-up, and none worked. Ended up drilling a hole in the DWC bed.

First class set up! Looks great. Are you going to enclose the base of the GBs? The legs look like they could use a little support.

Nice system! How much did you pay for the FT/Sump tank bins?