Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Lovely work on the your filter system,it should do the job nicely,i have found that 48hrs is about right in my system for cleaning my swirl,that gives the solids 48hrs to aerate the solids to get the goodness out of them,i have also been putting a dash of EM1 A in it,that really seems to break the solids down quicker,i decant the water leave the solids in the bottom then drain the swirl,i do this three times then dump the solids and start again.Seems to work ok,air is pumped in through a large stone and this keeps everything swirling around,if i see it begin to try and settle i just give it a quick stir.
The only change i would make to both of mine would be to have a 2 inch drain rather than the inch,just to make sure that everything is sucked from the bottom of the barrel,another thing i found happened with the drain was i used double elbow in the socket so as to get the outlet close to the bottom,depending which way i placed this i could get the solids to settle around the area of the drain,one of those happy accidents,not so relevant for you as yours is Radial rather than Swirl….
Some really nice work on your system….

Hi Dasboot,

Thanks for the comments, that dash of EM1 A you use, what is it?, I've had a search online and can't workout what it is.

The bottom outlet on my filters have a 3way irrigation fitting with 2 of the tubes touching the bottom of the barrel and the third is threaded into the outlet tap, hopefully that will allow the solids to drain OK, and time will tell if it does or not.

I could be heading up to Chiang Mai later in the year, I'll let you know when and if it happens and we might catch up.

Joe

JB, is your backup 12V air pump the ACO-003 60lpm model? I'm about to buy one for my system and wondered if you had any comments on its operation now you've had it for a while? Does it make much noise?

It is a ACO-003 60lpm, and it runs OK when I turn it on every few weeks and let it run for 8 - 10 hours to discharge the battery but it's pretty noisy you wouldn't want too run it 24 - 7 it would drive you crazy.

Used as backup only it works fine and as long as it not near anyone's house or BBQ area it wont annoy anyone.

You shouldn't have any problems your system looks too be far enough away from your house not to hear it.

Yeah I have that as a backup air pump too.. like job low said it is noisy.. but for a backup I don't mind

Hi Joblow ,EM 1 just stands for Effective Microorganisms, i got interested in its use as the fresh water prawn farmers and fish farmers swear by its use to the point where it part of there growing regime. I have activating it using molasses becoming EM 1A,i have using it in my system,the mineralisation tank and in my Foliar spraying programme,the truth be told i can not give one concrete improvement in my system,but i can give my observations.My Koi pond in full sun does not go scummy algae looking,i dosed then left for 5/6 weeks,algea increased so did a surface layer,that if you touched the water would break apart then float back together,after dosing with the recommended amount the pond after a week is still green,but the scum has gone and the water colour is going back to a more healthy green,if that makes sense.
Now the important bit,if you do make it to Chaing Mai,don’t know if you been before but it has some beautiful places,we must meet up if you get positive plans i will PM you a way to contact us….. :thumb right

An effective microorganism refers to any of the predominantly anaerobic organisms blended in commercial agricultural amendments, medicines and nutritional supplements based on the trademarked[1] product originally marketed as EM-1 Microbial Inoculant, aka Effective Microorganisms and EM Technology. These blends include:[2]

Lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus casei
Photosynthetic bacteria: Rhodopseudomonas palustris
Yeast: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Others: beneficial microorganisms that exist naturally in the environment may thrive in the mixture.
EM Technology is purported to support sustainable practices in farming and to improve and support human health and hygiene, compost and waste management, disaster clean-up (the Bangkok floods of 2011, the Southeast Asia tsunami of 2004, the Kobe earthquake, and Hurricane Katrina remediation projects).

EM has been employed in many agricultural applications, but is also used in the production of several health products in South Africa and the US.[citation needed]

Contents [hide]
1 Origins
2 Validation
3 References
4 Further reading
Origins[edit]
The concept of "friendly microorganisms" was developed by Professor Teruo Higa, from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. He reported in the 1980s that a combination of approximately 80 different microorganisms is capable of positively influencing decomposing organic matter such that it reverts into a "life promoting" process. Higa invoked a "dominance principle" to explain the effects of his "Effective Microorganisms". He claimed that three groups of microorganisms exist: "positive microorganisms" (regeneration), "negative microorganisms" (decomposition, degeneration), "opportunist microorganisms". In every medium (soil, water, air, the human intestine), the ratio of "positive" and "negative" microorganisms is critical, since the opportunist microorganisms follow the trend to regeneration or degeneration. Therefore, Higa claimed that it is possible to positively influence the given media by supplementing with "positive" microorganisms.

I copied this from wiki……There are several papers on its use in Aquaculure as well.

Dasboot thanks for that information I'll get right into it.

On Chiang Mai I worked on a film up there for 8 weeks in early 90's, it was a shocker called " North of Chiang Mai" and released in 1992, I've never seen it, I think it was one that they would screen once and never run again.

I've been in Thailand working 3 times and twice holidaying, and have traveled most of the country, from as far down as Hat Yai and up as high as Chiang Mai.

I laugh when you refer to it as "the land of smiles" and know exactly what you mean, the Philippines is another land of smiles, it's something we don't see here OZ unless it's someone who has just sold you a car.

Joe

The used car quote is the same as the UK,I think they have forgotten unless there drunk.

How much K1 medial did you use for your 17 gallon drum bio-filter and how many fish do you have and how much do you feed them?

24 litres = 6.34013 US gal.

28 - Silver perch 4" & 5" in length
5 - Tandus Catfish 5" & 6" in length

It's winter here and they're not feeding very often and eating very little, the main reason for adding the filters was to stop any uneaten food entering the growbeds, plus it will allow me to stock a little higher.

I've been in Thailand working 3 times and twice holidaying, and have traveled most of the country, from as far down as Hat Yai and up as high as Chiang Mai.

Joblow i just read back through and realised i missed out something... We are another 4 hours North almost on the border of Myanmar,are home is very close to the mountains Doi Tung and Doi Mea sa long,the storms from these in the wet season are something to behold. Any way if you have a Holiday here in LOS and you choose to come north it would be our pleasure to meet up, maybe show you around the touristy bits we have or just chill out.

I know it's 4 hours north, when I was in Chiang Mai working there were a few of us going too fly up and have a look at that triangular bit of sand 60 km. to the north of you but didn't make it.

If I remember correctly it was only a 25 min. flight from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and there's probably a bus running from Chiang Mai, if I can make it up there I'll let you know.

It would be a shame too get so close and not meet up, so I'll give it my best shot.

Joe

Yes very short flight roughly 4 hours on the Bus,but what a bus ride you get to see some awesome scenery as you go up through the mountains,depends on the driver can be a bit of a fair ground ride as well. The Sandy Bit is the Golden Triangle made famous by its history of drug smuggling,they have even opened a Opium museum to document it,when your stood look from Thailand,just over the Mekong River is Mynamar to your right Laos straight in front,some good places to eat and drink looking over the river. If you can’t make it up maybe if you fancied a night out in Chaing Mai we will come down,me and the Mrs are always up for good food and drink.

We'll sort something out and definitely all have a drink if nothing else. As soon as I know any travel plans I'll let you know, we have a few thing to get through here first before we can set a date.

Joe