Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

That scoria looks nice. I'm still bummed they don't sell it around here.
Your system is coming along nicely.

Cool idea. Would be pretty awesome if you got some that looked like the ones you linked to. Either way, at least you'll be able to sleep now. A cool idea like that tends to fill the head until you give it a shot, I find.

Just want to check. Are you running two pumps? One in each tank?

I'm going to run a 2xIBC fish tank setup and debating if / how to join them.

Thanks

Thanks for the feedback folks, it'll be interesting to see what happens, although I won't get my hopes up.


Yup I have a 3500lph pump in each tank. I was initially going to have both systems connected but in the end I took the lazy route and just bought another pump. I figure by having two separate systems I can run different fish at different stages and the like. And for an extra 25w the running costs for the second pump really don't make a difference.

I've just bought a 60lpm air pump too so hopefully it can supply enough air as backup both tanks should the pumps fail. I think I'll have it running 24/7 along with the pumps so if one of the pumps crap out the air is still going.

However you do it I recommend fishless cycling. In Tank 1 I cycled with goldfish, in Tank 2 it was fishless and by far Tank 2 was less worrisome, and personally to me it seems a far more stable system. It was handy not having to worry about ammonia or nitrites killing the fish and just let it do it's thing (especially since the goldfish were borrowed from a friend, lol).

Thanks for that. I agree re fishless cycling. Did my first IBC like that. Was good not to worry about dead fish#

Got the air pump put in the tanks today, kludged a over for it from a dodgy PC case I was given. Unfortunately it didn't quite fit in behind the tanks how I wanted it to go so it's even more dodgy, but it seems to do the job and it will hopefully provide enough air to the tanks should one of the pumps fail.

Luckily strung up where it is means the air intake for the pump lines up perfectly with the vent in the side of the case, and is in line with the air hoses going out of the case.





I was worried it was going to be noisy but I can't hear it over the sound of the water falling into the tanks unless I go right up close to it. Not quite a permanent solution but it'll do for now!

That's awesome - another novel idea. I think the rope would also help with sound - like a spider mount for a studio microphone.

Nice work. I also hung my aerator like that, really limits the vibration noises.

Yah I have to admit I did appropriate the idea from Charlie. I was going to use wire but I got lazy and couldn't be bothered walking outside so poly rope it was, lol. It was either string it up to get it to the right height or use two milk bottles which is what I was using to keep it at the right height while I tied it up.

I'm just hoping mice or rats don't decide it's a nice cosy shelter to set up a nest inside the case, lol.

Here's one for you
A mouse somehow got into the computer at school during holidays.

Haha, oh dear.

I think your system is very presentable btw, almost impeccable, and managed by such a dedicated enthusiast.

So after seeing the mousey photo and rescuing the goldfish from the collapsed barrel yesterday, it's no surprise I have dreams of mice and goldfish. So so many goldfish, mice trying to eat said goldfish, mice getting squashed by me trying to protect the goldfish, goldfish ending up stuck in the cushions of my parents car. Oh, and the guy who plays the most recent Gregor Clegane/Mountain in Game of Thrones was in it too, just...because? lol. Who knows?!


Thank you for the compliment, hopefully when I finally get around to putting the capping and lids on it'll look better.

Update so I can keep track.

Gave the plants a second foliar feed of fe-eddha today. It wasn't a strong mix, about 5g into 8 litres and sprayed some on, plus a sploosh into each GB's. What I gave them seems to have helped a bit so far, new growth seeming a lot darker, older leaves where the drops stayed on going green and so on. The water is an amber colour now which I was expecting, better than blood red or wine and I can still see the fish so all good.

The pH is slowly dropping from what I can tell, it seems to be sitting around 7.4 now in both tanks, down from 8.0. Temps in both are holding at about 12°C, although they were at 11°C the other day it's not too bad considering the ambient temp has been lower than that this week, lol.

Carrot seedlings are still alive which is good, my experiment could have flopped at the start if they didn't like the constant flow system. I noticed today that the Miners Lettuce that grows locally has started to sprout so I dug up a few small plants and put them in the GB's, I'm not expecting them to like it but it'll be interesting to see if they grow.

Some new photos of the growth for comparison, things are looking a lot greener thanks to the iron. Still a few yellow leaves but it's much better than it was.




The Miners Lettuce plants I pinched from down the road seem to be tolerating things so far too.



Pulled out some of the radishes last night to go with dinner, the girls were excited to be eating something from the AP, silverbeet will be next to try I think.