Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Toes!

Yes those are slip fittings. They didn't have 1.25" couplings in stock. So everything except for the coupling/union gets glued in this case? Or can I use some type of less permanent adhesive for the parts that touch that expensive valve?


Simple is always best as a builder, you don't want to hear that it broke later. I'm going to give it a shot but I have this looming feeling I should be listening to your advise. I am just dead set on that valve giving me additional control to slow down the water cycles per day.

Yes Ron... Did we join the international cult/hippie commune? We just need fish and a beer in the GB for snails and slugs. Are we there yet?

using PVC cement is fine on the indexing valve...just leave some room before gluing pipe and/or coupling so you can cut and make a repair at a later date without ruining valve or at least losing 1 "zone". I don't know of any semi permanent waterproof alternatives. You can use stainless screws on pressure fittings instead of glue. They will seep a little until some bioslime stops the drip. Not sure if that would work on the indexing valve or not. If I tried, i would certainly pre-drill a pilot hole into valve body so as to not crack it. Ask TC, she would know if that's even an option.

Join it? It is so much funnier to be the cult leader!

Thanks Chris, at the very least you help me use the right words (PVC union) when I walk in to purchase parts, but you may have saved my sump from floating and my indexing valve might get a few more years of use and redesigns too. I did find a local store between my house and bee ridge, even closer to me then home depot and after talking to the guy a bit about AP it turns out he is attempting to cycle the water in a lined pond on his own property for catfish, last week's flooding really screwed him up. Its great to be totally out of my element with plumbing yet still confident thanks to guidance from you guys followed by searches on google and youtube to understand what the heck you're talking about... then suddenly I'm a pro in my own mind.

Don't worry, before long you will be the one giving the advice. We all started where you did! (Just with less flooding...)

I keep saying "Oh, yes, there will be fish... in like May 2016" On that note I'm a little bit further along now, starting to get some plumbing parts in the mail. I need my reducing Ts before I actually cut into this beast, just in case we get more rain.



Also worked on a cover made from the base of an IBC that was cut for 2 GBs, so this sump will have a base on both top and bottom when completed.



We hope to be able to reinforce the IBC enough to support the leg of one of the GBs (As shown above). I think this could get us into trouble later on. The base is just a thin sheet of steel. The good news is I have framing to support some type of reinforce cover. Right now its being painted with zinc and paint. While I consider my options.

It is in!!!

No I chickened out on cutting a circle with the rotary tool and decided I want to use the drill bit method even for the huge 4.5" hole.... so It will happen after yet another trip to the hardware store in the morning. I also stayed up way too late watching all the ted talks links in some thread I found on here and signed up on the backyard farming site, though I was upset there isn't nearly the massive amounts of info on this forum.

With all the issues with water, you may want to bring your ST up 6-8" and make sure it's above the "high water mark". I know its a P.I.A., but a lot easier now, then after it's plumbed.

I had to purchase a 4.5" circle bit for $35 locally only to use it 1 time. If anyone needs this thing I will give it away free, they pay cost of shipping and they can thank the community for the hardware instead of me. I don't want to store it for 10 years, even at the small chance I may need it again one day. Or Chris once I get to a point where I have something worth showing off it can go home to live in your shed instead of mine!

PIA? That must mean pain in the bottom? Do you mean to raise it up higher out of the ground? That thing isn't moving at this point, but I figured even if flooding occurs above it, all ports will be using bulkhead fittings and all lids are closed. I hope I never see the thing again.

I guess your concern is related to surface water during flooding to somehow get inside the sump tank right? I think your pool example is key to all of this and maintaining a high water line and hopefully shifting wont occur much at this point with the earth anchor and cement walls frame and some serious water volume maintained via fill valve.

From what I read these things can hold up in the ground, I didn't cut the top at all... Placing a GB support on top is probably a bad idea. But I'm even considering a small deck top of sorts just for the sump cover.

Side note plumbing before glue is seriously fun like lego toys and makes pre-planning and layout out of unglued pieces really easy to trail test even with actual water flow. Also yelling RICOLAAAA in a 4" pipe sounds pretty cool and the Labrador went nuts when I growled in to it.

Ricolaaaa, interesting. I usually make elephant sounds.

I need a 5" for my 4" unis. Did you buy one of those too?lol I was mainly concerned with getting water from run off into the sump. I had the issue once because mine was installed too low. I had to change grades around Gh and add a raised concrete barrier around ST. Not real pretty, but has been effective during the Summer rains.

So I'm out in the back yard and just cut some 3" pvc and I had to ask my girlfriend how to make an elephant noise and she made a funny effort. I told her she should let me video her "best effort" and then I could rightfully ask 'Ron the Pirate' if he would provide a proper example of his own elephant noise. I was denied but I haven't given up on it yet.