Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello Everyone

I am married to a 'Nanna' who is to retire from her day job in July. She is a very keen Bridge Player but is wanting to also grow veggies hydroponically in the backyard during her retirement.

So I went off to research hydroponics and came across the idea of using fish to input the nutrients for the plants.

Long story short, Nanna's hydroponic system has grown and although it will start out as a hydroponic system it will be designed to incorporate fish when the time is right. (When I have built up enough knowledge and in that regard I must thank all the participants to this chatsite. What a wonderful site!)

I am starting with a 'blank canvas' in our backyard and expect the construction of our 3,000 litre CHIFT PIST (took me a while to figure out what that meant) system plus Grow Tunnel to take some time as I learn best by experience and will take it slowly.

My high priority is for Nanna to be able to work in her new garden as effortlessly as possible - no bending over or crouching down.

So I have 'run the tape over Nanna' and determined a good hight for the top of the grow beds to be 1 metre. Everything else will flow from there so to speak.

I have a question please.

Can someone please help me to know how much fall I need to allow for the Bell Syphon to work properly?

The Grow Beds will be 500 litre 350 mm deep. The Sump Tank will be recessed into the ground so I just need to know how much fall to put on the Bell Syphon so I can work out how deep to dig the hole for the ST.

Thank you in anticipation.

Kind regards
Rodney

Here is a pic of the site where Nanna will be spending many happy hours in retirement. So far pretty much nothing has happened except for a lot of measuring and I have poisoned the lawn.

Hi Backyard food, that looks like a great spot for an AP system good luck with it all.

I have 7 IBC GB's syphoning into sumps none of them have more than about 10 degrees of fall and some have as little as about 5 degrees, I haven't had a problem with them yet.

Just make sure that the outlet end of the pipe is above the water level in your Sump other wise it will impede the flow of water (experience) also all that water draining back in will create good oxygenation just in case you ever want to stock fish in there too (can be very handy for fingerlings).

Wonderful - thanks Blind Freddie. That helps me heaps.

In fact you have helped me more than you know as I have previously studdied your thread and the magnificent job you have done landscaping and incorporating your AP.

As my experience determines, I plan to construct a grow tunnel that will cover the whole area following the shape of the retaining wall and plant shrubs along the upper level of the wall. First I have to learn by experience all the technical stuff about the impact of the temperature range in our area and etc so I can figure what design to follow and materials to use.

It's all going to be good fun I feel.



Can anyone give me an idea please as to the pros and cons of using bell syphons as opposed to timed flood and drain?

Is there any advantage created in the GB from the high speed which the bell syphon drains the GB?

I am thinking there may be an efficiency to electricity usage if I run the pump just 15 min every hour rather than continuous as with the bell syphon? But I don't want to sacrifice plant growth to obtain the savings.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards
Rodney

I tried timed, but after several timer failures went back to bell siphon running all the time. My system uses a little 30 odd watt pump, so bugger all electricity anyway.

I also know that if I walk out the back and don't hear the water dump after a few minutes, I know I have a problem.

I feel that siphons help get the water and sludge out of the bottom of the grow bed. My water is still clear though goes murky if I disurb plants, but clears up in less than an hour.

I also feel it puts my system well placed regarding O2 in the water. When my pump died the other week, my fish slowed down, but didn't come to a complete stop. Came back up to normal speed with an hours run time.

I have one question though. Why dig a hole for a sump? These are meant to be no dig gardens!

Thanks Dr Bee - that's what is so helpful to me, comments from experienced people. I also studdied your thread and got heaps of ideas there. Thank you.

I'll barrack for the idea of not recessing the sump into the ground - I'm no hero when it comes to digging holes by hand. (Although we are sitting on about 7 mtrs of sand here.)

However, there is only 650 mm from the bottom of the GB to the ground. (Nanna's perfect height for reaching the top of the GB and the plants is 1.0 metre and the GB's are 350 mm deep.)

The ST is 1140 mm high and I want to run only one pump in the system so I am thinking I need to dig the tank in.

Is this correct please?

Thanks in advance, I am getting so much out your kind help.

(Loved the rich green colour of your veggies. I made the mistake of telling my grown up daughters how I plan to get my new system to cycle (as you did) and they were horrified. (Ooooooh! We'll come to visit and be sitting at the table not game to eat any of the greens if you do that Dad!!')

Kind regards
Rodney

Hello Everyone

Just looking to determine a good size for the mesh pots in my floating raft bed. Can anyone suggest where I might get some polystyrene and what size mesh pots I should use?

Thank you.
Rodney

I couldn't find anywhere in NSW. Will be interested to see where you can get the raft.

Hello JJ.au

We'll keep in touch on this.

Hopefully one of the good souls on this chatsite will help us out.

I have been looking for foam for my raft for some time without any luck.

Fingers crossed.

Rodney

The kids have grown out of their small foam boogie boards. That might do the job. Keep an eye out for them in council pickups.

I have a pack of stands for reo when concreting. Thinking of using them as baskets.

Thinner foam often available at furit and vegie shops from brocholli boxes, or fish shops.

Wonderful - thanks for the ideas Dr Bee.

Hello Everyone

Here are a few pics showing where we have gotten to with our AP system.

Here is a pic of our 'blank canvas'. Our house block is set into three levels and we decided to construct our aquaponics unit on the lowest level at the back which was previously laid out to lawn with underground irrigation. This pic was taken a couple of months after I had poisoned the lawn.

The hoop house will follow against the straight edge to the left and be fitted to follow the curves in the retaining wall on the right.
We will plant low growing shrubs along the top of the retaining wall.

The blank canvas -



My worker! (Actually she is the boss - I am the worker!) -



The first day of construction has taken its toll on the worker (I mean Boss) -



And here is where we got to today. We have been at it on and off for a week now. Our wonderful neighbour, Norm has been working with us also.

We decided to employ a 3000 ltr fish tank, 500 ltr grow beds (5 to fit the space available) and 2000 ltr sump tank -



Note my grow beds are fashioned with concave sides. (Click on the images if you would like a closer look.)
I will be using expanded clay and have calculated 85kg max weight on each upright at the
point where the grow bed rests on the bessa block. I am hoping the grow bed can support
this. If not I will have to construct support in the centre of the GB.
I will fit out and carry out testing on the GB nearest the sump tank prior to fitting out the other
GB's.

Monday I will order the material for a hoop house which I intend using plastic and shade cloth
with a winch on one side to roll up a half metre or so in summer. The plan is to use 50mm
poly pipe which will (hopefully) be criss crossed on at least two occasions for stability.
By hinging two hoops at ground level and laying one off at an angle of perhaps 30 degrees
I hope to fashion an awning of sorts over the doors.

I have mostly 6 metres and in one part up to 12 metres to span. So I am planning to install upright support at strategic locations.

By use of criss cross hoops, uprights and battens we are hoping to achieve sufficient strength
to support not just the skin also plant vines etc - we will see... I won't be at all surprised if it falls
in a heap - I have so far done every thing else at least twice...

I welcome any offers of advice and thank you for your time to do so.

Kind regards
Rodney