Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So my prior post said "making the two remaining beds next week", well nearly one year on and last weekend we completed the two DWC beds.







Don't know if we originally intended to make them DWC but after shovelling and washing the rocks for the other beds our backs decided for us.

Have added air to the beds as we decided that it was also a good backup for the fish aeration pump.

The beds are looking a little bare at the moment as we have just had a spring clean, removed all the over-winter veggies.

Its been a year for learning a few things like :- tomato plants can get really really big, aphids should be dealt with immediately and there is never an end to what you want to do next.

Speaking of which our plans are now to remove the ICB and make a 2400 x 1000 x 1200 trout tank. Then remove the main fish tank and also replace this with two additional rectangle tanks of the same size.

So we'll have 50 trout, 50 silvers, and a tank where we will add silvers to when the main silver tank is starting to run low. Not sure yet as to whether we will have to add more filtration or not. This plan is still bouncing about our heads so anything could change at this stage. Oooo another thought maybe Cod!

We'll forgive you considering how well they turned out Always takes longer than you think it will, especially if you do a good job of it. I'm still working on mine two DWC beds but they are going to be a bit different and not so nice looking

Cheers

Thanks Scotty,

As long as they work it doesn·t matter what they look like plus having fun along the way.

Great system, looks tidy and very professional. How did you go with the 100 silver perch you got last year ? and did you raise trout over this winter (2014) ?

Hi Rendang,

Haven·t harvested any of the Silvers yet, hopefully end of this summer. We have only lost one, the rest are all eating well again now that the warm weather is here.

We really wanted to try trout but because the system was ready at the start of spring, decided it was safer to start with the Silvers.

Definitely trout this winter, even if we have to evict the goldfish from the icb.

Hello Ozgal, I also really like your thread

Did you have any problems with plant roots from the media beds blocking up the bottom of the strawberry towers?

What head height is your pump?

Hi Jayendra,

no never had a problem with the towers.

Pump is in the sump and probably pumps to a height of 2 mtrs, we also have it throttled back. Been quite happy with it, comes in an enclosed screened case so the yabbies cant play with it.

More info

Pump is Aquaforce 8000 Max head 4m, flow at 1m 7000l and only 95watts.

Been ages since I managed to get through many of the thread updates.
I have an Aquaforce pump as well, different model but I like it. It is replacing TWO of the Danner MD18 I was using before.
Again, I like it. I think its a 2700 gph (10,000 lph) model 147 watts according to the box. Flow Rate at 10 ft (3 m) 2000 gph (7570 lph).
And I love the cage! Seems to be a bit more power hungry than the Laguna pumps but I believe it is a lot more powerful for dealing with a bit of head height which I need for my big systems.