Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok it’s a work in progress, still a bit to get as I will need a plastic green house type of cover and lids for the two tanks, plus something to keep the cats in, its been five weeks so far, all is working good now, I will do a video of the new paint bag filter setup soon,
Here is the link,

http://youtu.be/KIxnsQLk3_s

Haven't been able to watch all the video (I'm on mobile broadband with a small quota and a bad connection) but I can see a lot of work has gone into it.

Still doing little tweaks today, the paint bag filter is working fine now, I had a little backup the other day as it works too good, so I have been making little adjustments as I think of them, I have had fish for a week now, just goldfish to get the system going, plus five marron, I will post pics soon as it stops raining long enough, cheers

Just for those that want to know, the fish tank and sump tank are cut at the 800ltr mark on the IBCs, with the tops turned upside down the cap and top section are just over 300ltrs, with 250ltrs of grow media in each grow bed, the AC/DC air pump is from Backyard Aquaponics, the sump tank has been lowered to allow grow tubes at a latter date, a constant flow channel made from electrical ducting fittings, to grow my own seedlings plus a few head of lettuce eventually, pump is 3000ltr per hour at a head height of 1mtr, which should give me a constant flow of around 1600ltr per hour, I have a timer on the pump for now so as to keep the system flowing and allow the warmer water out of the sump to keep the fish happy, during the night the timer is 15 min on 45 off, during the day its 15min on 15 min off, and when I get home from work around 4pm I have the system running for two hours as to see how it is working correctly, once I have everything working and some insulation fitted, this system will hold Barramundi in it, plus Marron, the paint bag and flow filters are now working great and I will show pics and how to build instruction soon, I am sure there will be some that can improve it but it’s a work in progress ATM,

I enjoyed your video, Blizz. Very descriptive of your system layout. I have some questions and advice on your plumbing but my daughter is nagging to take me to the cinema so I'll touch back in later.

You have done a good job.

Good for you Charlie, my daughter is to big for me to take to the movies now, but as a single dad those years were special, we had popcorn fights at every movie, apologies to anyone that works for Hoyts or Reading cinemas, but these days are just as special as I have a good kid,

Ive got the same issue. Wireless internet not many gig to use watching videos.

I am starting to think that my system is really bad or something? I am still tweaking it to get the best out of it, but still no help from here?
I was on my way to get bits for the greenhouse this morning but my car battery died,

Sorry Blizzard but I haven't seen your system.

My internet is really expensive so I don't tend to look at very many videos. If you could post some pictures and a description I'd be able to see what you have built.

Good work system looks ok,

have you tested the water? Bear in mind in cold weather it will take a while to cycle and build up nutrients.

you could probably do with a few more fish.


How much sunlight do you get on the GB's?

Plus I'm being "gentle".

Cheers Slowboat,
I understand that it will take longer in our cold weather atm, to get the system cycling as needed, as soon as it warms up I will be adding 20 Barra, in the meantime I am working on a greenhouse cover to attract more sunlight to the plants, its winter here so I only get a few hours of direct sunlight on my plants, but in summer I will have full sun for around 8hours, hence the rush to get a cover over the top to get some shade cloth when the heat starts, plus I have started colleting empty milk bottles to cool the water down when needed,
I am way ahead of thinking about what is next, I think the kid wants a few more gold fish for her tank and the rest will go with the Marion, they didn’t eat the other two fish, so here’s hopping they wont eat the goodies when the Barra arrive as the Barra will defiantly eat them,

Ok here is proof the guys giving me advice about not needing a filter, haven’t even looked at my different setup design! They don’t have the wifi?
Now how can you give advice on a system if you haven’t even looked at it?

It took me weeks to design this new type of system, I even designed a filter that would supplement it so it would fit my needs, of what I wanted out of my system, the space above the sump tank is where the dwc will be, to propagate my own seeds eventually, ATM I am using seedling from Bunning’s, I have been tolled organic vegetables are worth $6.50 per head of lettuce? As far as I am aware it takes three years before you can claim organic stance? And you cant use seedlings from Bunning’s for three years to get that, you have to grow your own seeds and not use anything none organic in any way for three years,

As far as I am concerned I need a filter for my setup! Anyone who says different is a fool!

Huh? I'm confused, proof? Think I'm lost. It's time to let the filter thing go. Lots of people have them and like them, lots of people don't.
Full disclosure:
At the moment I ONLY have a canister filter because I'm waiting on my growbed frame - and it is saving my ass. And my fishes' asses! No one would argue that I don't need one right now. Once the growbed is online, I may well keep it in the system, and do some experimenting of my own. I will see what I like, and what works for me. That's what everyone should do. You don't have to follow the advice, just maybe don't shoot it down in flames listen politely, then ignore it - just like our kids do when we give them advice haha.

But re: organic stuff, you need to be certified by (forgot organization name) before you can sell anything as 'organic'. I believe it is a very laborious process to get certified, but definitely a good idea to be thinking about it right at the beginning if that is the route you want to go down.
Bunnings do actually sell organic lettuce seeds though I found out the other day, I got a pack purely by chance when I bought a seed raising kit for the kidlet. Might be a way to start off on your seed propagating?
Still, if you want to save seeds you will need organic heirlooms though. I can't remember if these ones were or not. But if it's just for your family, a $5 pack of seeds every year or two probably wouldn't be a prob :-) hope that helps! As much as none of us love Bunnings, sometimes it is really bloody convenient isn't it


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Here we go - these guys.
I had a quick look at the contents page of the Standard - it's about 100 pages long! Too much reading for this time of night.
Download it and you will be out like a light I'm sure lol.



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