Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ahhh yes good pick up, i too did that and had to jack it up and slide sleepers under it. BUT My top was half an IBC, i see battnNZ has only used 1/3 an IBC so might not be as critical however the support bars that come with the IBC offer little support really.

The bed on the left which has nothing in it atm needs to have support put underneath anyway, because of the way its positioned and cut, it overhangs the lower sump.

I had a question to throw out there.....I use to have a planted aquarium, with co2 injection. which was a balancing act with pH in the water, but the plants obviously thrived off it, and through photosynthisys created "pearling" which put more oxygen in the water for the fish.....

My question is has anyone tried using co2 injection to lower their systems pH??

Just thinking of an alternative, tanks of co2 is more readily available than hydrocloric acid. I still have the adapter for the sodastream bottles and a solanoid valve.
Besides could always do it the cheaper way, sugar and yeast in the bottle gives off co2 gas, with a bonus brew

Don't know anything about that side of things but we are trying to get as much oxygen into our systems so would imagine c02 could be a hinderance???

Our system ran in the high 7’s low 8’s for the first 5 months and still mid 7’s due to our top up water (which I think we share with Laverton), I don’t think there is any real reason for concern but if you need something I could probably pick it up and drop it off in Leo as I am up that way around once a fortnight
Good to see another system going together

Hi Savness

Im not too concerned about the system as there is no fish in it at the moment, im sure naturally it will come down. However Im also aware that the pH of the system may lock out the plants from absorbing nutrients and minerals.

If the system pH lowers over time and I keep adding our main supply of tap water which is high in pH range, I would assume it would bring the system pH up.
I could easily fix this by adding Hydrochloric acid to the topup tank water supply.

I do want to test in a smaller quantity what the results may be in adding co2(gas).
This system is widely used in the planted aquarium enthusiasts, which also has an affect of lowering pH but also boosting plant growth

I found an interesting article outlining this, im interested in the paragraph about half way down talking about disolved oxygen and also the heading further down outlining co2 and pH.
ARTICLE

Would be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried this, or simply tried using co2 to boost plant growth and having pH buffering as an effect.

The ultimate goal here would be using co2 to lower the pH of the supply water in the topup tank atleast a few days before adding the water to the main system

Thats fair and could be worth a try, but I doubt you will find any other AP’r using Co2 for a couple of reasons:

Aquaponics produces Co2, The fish put out small amounts but the bacteria that transform ammonia to nitrate put off bulk loads (that’s probably why the PH drops with system cycling)

Not much benefit to the plants, Unlike a planted aquarium where the plants do not have access to the atmosphere because they are always under water, our plants have access to the atmosphere and the Co2 it contains.

Could deplete the oxygen in the water, the reaction caused when adding Co2 to water gives you HCo3 (acid that brings down the PH) and hydrogen, the acid has in effect taken one of the oxygen molecules out of the water.

I’m not saying don’t try it because chances are the quantities that stay in the system will be small (the rest will off gas) so chances are it won’t hurt the system that much. And if it’s done to the water before its added to the system and the water oxygenated it may just work to reduce the PH.

Keep us posted and let us know how it goes

Hi all,

Reluctantly selling my system, just had it all cut up, positioned and plumbed for water testing. Currently has no gravel/plant or fishes, typical algae growth in the garden beds just established.
$1000 ONO.
All pre cut you just have to setup and youre done!

Comes with:
1 whole fish tank IBC
2 cut IBCs (2x Garden Beds + 2x Sumps)
2 "Strawberry" Towers
1 5500Lph Dirty Water Pond Pump
1 Mini Comp/Air pump with 1 air disc and 2 air bars
1 2.5kg bag of unopened fish food (5mm pellets)
1 API Fresh Water Master Test Kit, only done about 4 tests per solution
1 50L Unopened BYAP Hydroton
All tank/bed Entry points have push adapters
All drainage points have through tank fittings 25mm
2 x Bell Siphons assembled
1 x 90mm Shroud
Return plumbing is 25mm
Pressure plumbing (From pump to beds/tank) is 19mm Black Hose

All Sumps and the Fishtank are still attached to their manufacture pallets for easy transport.

Its basically all plumbed and ready for you to hit go, there's even the test kit, and fish food.

Must be picked up by the 22nd of April, serious country buyers only consider contacting me as we are a long way from the city. Could have it delivered to Kalgoorlie for an extra cost. If you are keen to do the traveling for an easy ready to go setup please dont hesitate to contact me. 0490549872

Thanks

Dropping the price to $550

Please anyone in the area, Im going back to New Zealand and I cant take this with me and would hate to see it go to waste sitting out here.
Thats a Bargin price considering the cost of 3 food grade IBC and the pumps plus fittings.

Thanks everyone

Bugger that sux battzNZ.

Yeah the employment thing out here fell through, not a happy camper. Cost thousands getting household plus aquaponics setup, up here. To ship it all back to perth wouldve crumbled us. So have to sell up. Was planning on moving back to NZ within 24mnths anyway. Wasnt the way I planned on leaving oz though :/

Have plans to do this in NZ though and help expand the hobby there.

Bother. Hope things go well for you back in NZ.