Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Squatch, that system looks really, REALLY good. I like the efficient setup with the sump in the middle. Splash a little stain or paint (earth-tone) on the GBs and FT shelter and it looks like you're done all the hard stuff. I'll have to go back and look at how your FT shelter is constructed.

Can't wait to see the fruits of your labor.

Squatch,

Maybe someone mentioned already and I missed it. Concerning your underground sump. I know this means a little bit more digging, but you may want to place a regular sump pump & bucket next to the sump hold under that middle GB. That way if it rains really really hard again you can have the sump pump pull water out and away from your AP sump tank. It wouldn't add that much more money. I know costs add up quickly, but it would give you a piece of mind.

Good luck. We'll keep watching.

I've thought about this. I could probably manage it with a post hole digger and a 6" piece of PVC placed vertically next to the ST. It actually wouldn't even need to be at full depth. I could dig it to full depth and then place the PVC (I have plenty of left over 6" which was used for the media guards) cut to length. Then drop in about 6" of rock and then the sump pump on top. Then I could plumb the line a fair distance away toward the neighbor's yard.

The FT IBC is still in its cage and is sitting in concrete blocks. The FT surround was done with 2x2's at each corner used as anchors for the 1/4" ply. I made the top out of 1x2 furring strips spaced 1/4" apart and hinged in the back. Now that I've got it on there I want to make a few small changes. I don't like the way the ply ends at the top and the small gap so I plan on taking the sides off and putting furring strips around the top so I can attach the ply to the furring strips. It should look just a little cleaner. Maybe when I get it set the way I want it I'll make a little video about how it's put together.

Just mixed up a batch of the EM1A brew. In three weeks I'll give my system a dose and see what happens!

From i have observed in my system solids break down is improved,especially in the mineralisation tank,in 48 hrs the solids have broken down to detritus and the weekly dump of the gunk in the bottom,there is no smell.Before EM i had noticed white patches forming on the solids in the bottom of the tank,this no longer happens.
The problem is, as i am happy using it,i reckon its a great tonic for the plants when used foliar,i think my media beds are breaking down the solids that get through more efficiently,every thing looks,well better,but its very difficult to quantify,it could be because i am happy using it i just think everything is better.
I look forward to your updates so we can compare notes..

DB, I like that recipe, but I'm not wasting good whiskey for my plants.lol What is EM1?

coachchris,if you go to general,flow rates for swirl filters,believe it or not i just posted a paper i had downloaded from the net to answer exactly this question,it is does a better job than i could do.

Made a few cosmetic upgrades to the AP system.
The beds got a coat of stain around the sides. I was going to paint them yellow but I think the stain looks more organic.


Also made a few changes to the FT surround as well as covered the outside with this bamboo fencing panel.


The beds are beginning to get their skirts. Eventually, I'll have the same bamboo on the skirts which will add to the organic feel.


Lettuce is beginning to sprout.


The cherry toms are beginning to set fruit. Should I pluck those off and let the plant get bigger before I allow fruit?


The same for these Super Chili plants. Should I pluck off those fruits and allow the plant to gain some size?


The snow peas look very healthy.


The sweet and thai basil looks good too but maybe a little deficient.


Water test results. Everything still looks good. I think the NO2 is beginning to drop.


Tomorrow I'll pick up another panel of bamboo fencing and try to get all the skirts finished.
I'm pretty happy with the results so far. It will be wonderful when the plants get some size
and there are fish to watch.

Looks beautiful, even without the bamboo I think your skirting looks great!


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Beautiful looking system,does you credit....

Thanks for the compliments. I appreciate it very much.

I picked up 10 feeder comets to drop in the system today. One was already dead after I let the bag float on top of the FT for about 45 mins, hadn't even opened the bag yet. There is another that doesn't look too healthy. He spends all his time at the top gasping for air. I expect he'll be stuck in the SLO by morning. But, as cheap as they are, who can complain?

Only if there not bringing something nasty with them....

At the instructions of my last fish supplier, I didn't adjust water, or leave floating in Ft for any length of time...just dumped them in. They all lived?? When I had my former salt water aquarium, I was always instructed to do the 15 minute thing, and always did. Not sure which is better, but dumping them straight in is a lot easier. Tilapia are a hardy lot. They flop around on the ground for 15-20 minutes and survive. Not sure if trout or other more delicate fish would fare the same with the "dump them in" method.

It appears that the remaining nine are doing fine. Even the one I had doubts on looks healthy. They aren't eating yet but I that that will happen in its own time.