Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks! lol. It would have been easier to carry a plastic tank up the hill instead of all those heavy blocks ill tell you that. Im having a problem finding a way for the pump to get solids from the bottom since i didnt make a "sump" or a pocket for the pump. I may just have to use a net once a week...no biggie

What does the pump intake look like and where is the pump located?

The intake is on the side of the pump with a dial to adjust flow. There was some leaves in the screen so cleared them out. The location is just in the corner of the tank.

Its day 4 and by the look of things i have alot of thinning to do. The water level is a bit high and the siphon just started, plants dont seem to mind at all.

sucky camera skills....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TG8hbU ... e=youtu.be

I would be cutting the standpipe lower as the water level is, as you say, too high and will cause algae growth.

Thanks but ive glued the pvc already...so maybe adding a bucket of gravel to each barrel is my only option....

Usually better not to glue any pipe within the grow beds. If you planting seeds you can raise the water level by changing the standpipe or lower it if you need too. Little late for this FYI but you'll know for next time.

yes i wasnt going to glue them but air was getting through one of the pipes and breaking my siphon so i went nuts with the glue...lol

So ive got some more tilapia now, 15 total to be exact, and as my friend put them in my cooler for transport i noticed a bunch of eggs in the cooler as well but didnt know if they were even fertilized but saved them none the less. The next day i noticed a very small fry and now a large percentage of the eggs have heads and tail and are trying to move about....just wiggling more than anything but they are trying. I have put them in a bucket with an aerator to give the water some circulation and I am hoping for the best since ive never done this before. Im guessing there is about 100 little eggs that are hatching.

Hi, nice work. may i ask where you buy your drylok? I looked at homedepot for a 5gal...but it cost like $150. Hoping to create sonething similar to what you have with wood instead.

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Sorry i am out of the US, i live in St. Maarten. (Caribbean)

Axism, Cheapest I've found it retail is about $130.oo at Lowes.http://www.lowes.com/pd_255229-96-28615 ... Id=3073101

I can get it wholesale for about 95.00.

Will cleaning snails help with solid build up at the bottom of my pond or is that unwanted help?

Hi,

I think you system looks great so far. Keep posting your progress pix.


Andy

Thanks Andy!
Today i was working on making a nursery for the fry out of an ibc and planning to grow duckweed on rafts in it as well. Fish food is insanely expensive here and duckweed will really cut down my costs on feeding my fish. The fry are still part egg and part fish lol, and some do 360s while some just go in random directions at the bottom of the bucket. Should be another day or two until they are able to swim properly and I will add them to the IBC at that point with two aerators and the duckweed.

I also did a lot of thinning of my garden since this is a new system and I majorly over planted. Im hoping that since i used old cistern water that it already had developed bacteria and also the fact that i was able to get my hands on some good size fish helped to increase the speed at which my system was able to produce nitrates for the plants. I know Im not supposed to plant any flowering plants yet but couldnt help myself and have just a few tomato, cucumber, and pepper plants. My mom is visiting the US soon and ive asked her to bring back a tester so i can keep an eye of my amonia/nitrates/nitrites. This way if i see the system taking a dive when the tomatoes start to flower i can yank they out asap. Anyway thats all ive got as of right now.

Lettuce


Broccoli




Trying to level the nursery, and yes the fry are in an old oil bucket. lol. Its been washed with soap and used as a fishing bucket for years so I figured it was safe. The IBC also has a stain from water and algea growing in it so i let is soak with soap for a few hours and power washed it a few times.


A bunch of fry. Who can guess how many????


Im kind of tight for space so i plan to tear down one of the sides and widen my tent to hold many another 3 of the 2 barrel grow beds. (8 barrel total)


Cherry tomato


Beefsteak tomato, might only keep one of these


Cucumber