Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So frustrating! Finally got my system set up and cycling and now my housemates and neighbours are complaining about the noise during the night after I tried multiple times to explain to them what exactly I was building before I bought everything - they just brushed me off.

SOME PEOPLE

Anyway, enough of that little tantrum. So they want me to turn off my system during the night. Problem is, the only way my FT is getting aerated is through the two waterfalls going in to it, and that it's a constant flow (which needs to be cycled at least once per hour, I'm sure you know).

So: Can I turn my constant flow off for four hours (lets say 8pm-12 midnight, while they're in a lighter stage of sleep) if my system gets about 32 turns in a 24 hour period (or about 26 turns in the 20 hour reduced period), and are there any plants I can add to a small ish pond that will add water and make sure my fish don't drown during this 4 hour period?

If this is the wrong forum section, feel free to move it dear editors.

Thanks!

Unless you have a lot of goldfish in there you will probably be fine turning the pump off overnight. I'm sure that a some members here have their pumps on timers and switch them off overnight, usually for temperature stability but I'm betting that neighbours appreciate it too. I don't do it though so I can't advise on what is sensible, hopefully someone else can chime in there.
If it worries you though, you could add a tee to the water hose between the pump and the growbeds.
Run a second hose from the tee back into the fish tank and then you can turn off the growbeds overnight (with a tap/valve).
You'd still have water circulation to keep the fish happy but without splashing to annoy the neighbours.

Thanks Bodg! I'm (obviously) new to this so I was worried if I turned the system off it would just fall to pieces because as far as I've found there isn't a whole lot of info on CFs.

How many goldfish do you have and how large are they at the moment?
Most gas transfer to/from the water occurs at the water surface. As long as you are pumping the water and it is circulating from the bottom of the pond to the top, your water will be oxygenated well enough. (don't get me wrong, your waterfalls will definitely be making a positive difference and are worth having if you can manage to keep the peace with the neighbours).
At a pinch just switching it off overnight would most likely be fine but you'd want to use a decent timer since forgetting to switch it back on one summer morning might be a disaster for the fish.

It's really little pond; 120L, so 6 goldfish (might get a couple more) and.. I haven't got their weight, but generic "I just got these from Petbarn" sized goldfish?

Hi Jessssuhh,

I take it the issue is the splashing (water noise) from the return flow.
Bed noise presumably would only be an issue if you are using auto-siphons.
Presume also you are using a submersible electric pump (no noise).

Bed noise will be minimum using a timer switch and simple drain sump (as BYAP systems use).

The return noise is simply addressed by inserting the drain pipe into the water,
so there is no longer any fall. As Bodgey suggests you could use a T piece and tap
to switch between modes - but that is a manual option and assumes you are there to do it (see bottom).

As for goldfish - unless heavily stocked there is no issue. I and friends have had goldfish
in barrels, tubs for many years and recently in a half IBC. In these cases some have no pump
or alternately pumps that only run a few hours each day. My mother has ponds whose
waterfall/fountain pumps only come on for 4-8 hours per day (solar powered).
Re: plants Each tank/pond has potted pond plant (vallisnernia).

** Note I use pots of vallisnernia in my Aquaponics system to give my goldfish some shelter.
with no issues so far. But cannot comment on their oxygenation effects (if any).

Only issues are: (a) stock density and (b) water quality.

IF water quality became an issue you could add a standard air pump (oxygen infuser).
But doubt this is required if you are running a splashing discharge for say 7am to 9pm.

An automated option might be too look at a tap timer or retic valve or something.
Have an overflow at right angles so when timer is off (closed) the water diverts with splashing, and when open it drops vertically straight into the tank below the water surface.

Just to clarify using a tee and water bypass to avoid the beds, if you cut the hose from the pump and install a tee piece and a tap/valve just below the water surface all you'd need to do is open the tap and it would probably stop flowing up to the growbeds and just circulate the pond.
In the morning simply closing that tap would restart flow to the beds. (The tap would not be on the growbed pipe but would be beside the tee and dump straight into the pond, preferably at or just below the surface to keep things quiet and the neighbours happy). I hope that makes some sense.

Using parts like these -

Yea I getcha! I actually have some pieces like that laying around from when I was still working out how to plumb it

Hi Jessssuhh,

like this..... hope I inserted image correctly

Darren

Some people do it without problems but it would make me nervous.

Alternatives that I'd do first:

1. build an alternative plumbing loop that is muffled.
2. buy an airpump and run that over night.
3. shut it down but ask them for reimbursement since you did consult them.

No. 3 is probably not a goer and no. would have the noise from the air pump. That could be minimised because you can pump air relatively long distances without much friction loss so the pump could be located a long way away from everyone ( ).

1. is probably the best bet but depends on how finicky they are going to be. You can reduce the noise level but not eliminate it.

Welcome Jessssuhh, like Stuart says, I'd try having the water return go under the surface of the FT water, it may be quiet enough? thing is once they start listening for noise any amount is going to be heard.

However a small system like yours would probably be ok to have shut down for 7 or 8 hours over night?

BTW you sure are pretty for a bloke

Right on the money, so anxious about my set up. Trial and error, I guess.

I'm seriously considering throwing a tantrum and being like 'YOU want it turned off after I tried explaining it to you SEVERAL times, YOU buy me an airpump', but considering one person has threatened to break my submersible pump if they don't get their way I'm thinking that I'm just fresh out of luck.

HAHA I swear I didn't set that, or maybe I was just too tired when I set up my BA account.

Thread should probably be renamed - reducing noise from AP systems


Did you build the system like described in your thread "Staggered grow bed/Help a newcomer out?" ?
(it was only a small system, - and you say that above - but had a lot of permanent plunging water)

If so maybe would be much easier to move back to a more 'conventional' tank and bed system.
bring your grow beds over the pond and then surround back to provide some muffling.

then (as per previous post above):

(a) submerged pump on timer with 15-15 or 30-30 cycle, which you can reduce in the early hours.

(b) use a low volume pump

(c) have inflow controlled by a PVC drip pipe at bed surface level (so minimal noise).

(d) use flood and drain system with a simpler well & leaky sump rather than an auto-siphon.

(e) minimise air within pipe systems, so keep them flowing full when at peak (less gurgling).
can use diameter reducers to do this.

(f) have discharge pipe below water level with the stop-cock/valve providing an aeration option.

(g) maybe install a small screen fence between system and the problem people.

that is about as quiet as you would get it.