Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Filling in slowly by bucket & trolley. I'm going to need a ute to save the energy required to go up and down the driveway slope. It's keeping me fit though!

Put a time capsule in

I like it

Not much progress over the silly season due to free dirt sources drying up (pun intended) Pool's about 25% full now.

I did manage to score 3 tons of river gravel for free though.

Still working on a source for sumps.

So a bit more dirt has gone in since last post but I got sick of people giving me crap fill full of rubble and clay. And it seemed like every day I had off it was raining or the pool area was a muddy swamp.

Finally we've had a stretch of dry weather and I got stuck in preparing the spots for the 2 big sump tanks. The north end was mostly clay, super compacted and wet.

The sumps need a bit of fibreglass work before I drop them in. They're 1.6m dia at the top x 1.1m deep. So about 2200L, give or take.






The winter weather made me realise my original plan based partly on aesthetics wont work. Most of the yard doesn't get adequate sun for most of the day in winter. The sunniest spot is down along the back fence and the north end of the pool yard.

So my plans for a gazebo might have be ditched in favour of a greenhouse. It'll be situated at the north end in place of the gazebo and contain the sump tank, 2-3 bathtub beds and who knows what else. I'm not sure I can use the oval tubs in the backyard systems now, perhaps they'll end up as ponds in the front yard.

Oops I can't seem to edit my previous post. Replace "North" with "West" and "South" with "East". The house is north of the pool. The sun sits low behind the trees on the ridge to the north causing my lighting issues (the sloping block and the house don't help either)

Things progressing nicely despite the windy winter weather. I got the second gelcoat done on one of the tubs and scored a $20 bargain off Gumtree: a big pond liner offcut (about 6m long by 3m at its widest) that will serve as the liner for the other tub once cut and joined.

Waiting.... Excited for you. The project has so much promise


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Nice going Greg, this looks good.

Regards, Martin.

I just saw the pool, and my first though is that'd make awesome wiking bed. I don't know why I came up with that thought.

Did you drill or make any holes in the bottom of the pool? I'm just imagining the rain turning it into a muddy bog for quite some time.

Can you hack back the plants that are blocking all the light?

Yep, I knocked out the big centre drain hole, drilled all over the base and sides with a 1 inch spade bit. You can probably see some of the holes. Once the pool is near full with dirt I'm going to cut the rim off below the path level. That should allow ground water to pass through and not muddy up the surface.

I can't hack "back the plants" unless the council lets me hike up the ridge and knock down all the tall gum trees. Some of them are probably on private land.

The house still shades a lot of the yard in winter anyway. No fuss really, I just wanted to keep the back fence area as is with sub tropical-ish plants, ferns and such. Some may die off if shaded by the AP grow beds but I can handle that, especially when it comes time to harvest.

The tanks have landed. Far tank will sit another 20cm lower when bedded down.

what a interesting build i'm looking forward to see it progress keep up the good work cheers

Pool? What pool?

Looking good Greg, I bet that wheelbarrow's looking forward to retirement