Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hiya Squatch I had the same problem with tomato's last year. All I can think of for your system is to add a joiner and extend/redirect the gb inflow.
Your system has really come along nicely and the wood chips look great, well done.

Thanks skeggley... but...

MAJOR DISASTER AVERTED!

I just got home from work and heard a strange sound coming from the AP system as well as the absence of a familiar sound. Upon inspection I found that water was barely trickling into the FT and the pump was slurping!!! WHAT DA??? I looked in the FT and saw one floater and the water was very cloudy! OMG!!! I rushed and turned on my back up DC air pump to make sure the fish were getting O2. Then I turned off the pump and started filling the ST with filtered tap water. Phew! I think we're okay! Now, what caused this?

I found that one of the drain pipe connections from one of the grow beds had separated at an elbow which meant all of the drain water from that bed was now on the ground. The break was right next to the sump tank so now the ground at the sump tank was saturated and the sump tank was floating. I checked the water level in the beds and saw that all three were nearly at the top of their cycle. Once I got enough water in the sump I turned the pump back on and allowed the beds to cycle. This put enough water back into the sump tank to push it back down in the hole. By morning, the ground water will dissipate so I should be okay on that issue.

What did I learn? Well, first, I have to secure the connections of all drain lines. I didn't think they were in danger since there is no pressure on them. Of course, Mr. Murphy has a different set of rules. So, I'll get some small stainless screws to secure the connections... or I'll just glue them. Second, I need to get a AC powered air pump and stone to run in the FT if only to make sure the fish are getting O2 should this ever happen again. Third, I need to pick up a 5-pin 12v relay so I can finish my DC air backup. I got lazy and never went to the auto parts store so I could finish this little project.

On the positive side, the ground next to the sump tank where I had to kneel and crouch was nice and dry thanks to a new layer of mulch!

So, tomorrow, when I have light, I have some chores to tackle. Thank the Lord I got home when I did or that the break didn't happen earlier in the night. Hopefully the water will be clear in the morning and everything will be back to normal.

How was it the next morning? Hope everything is ok now.


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That's why I think gluing is the best, if it can come apart, it will.

At least it wasn't too bad of an outcome.

The bark looks awesome, btw. The whole thing does actually!

It was all good by the next morning. The soil here drains really well so it doesn't take long for even a hole 4 feet deep to drain away.


You're right, Colum. I haven't glued it yet but I will. I left them pressed together because I didn't know if I would want to change something after everything got up and running. Now that it's been running for a couple of months I think it's safe to finalize the design and start gluing things together.

I'm rather fond of the mulch too. :-) It's nice and soft under your feet and keeps you out of the mud when it rains. And the whole place smells like a forest floor.

This morning I built some lights for the top of the shade structure. I got tired of having to use a flashlight to check my plants every evening when I get home from work after dark. I'm looking forward to the sun going down so I can see how they've turned out. I'll post a pic later.

I also split an IBC that I'm going to make into a couple of wicking beds. I think I could probably fit 4 more 1/2 IBC wicking beds under the tent so that may be the route I take in regards to filling the tent area. I also have various places around the yard I want to add wicking beds so i think all up I need maybe 6 more IBC's. They don't have to be done all at once but I think it's a good plan for now.

I put four 100 watt CFL bulbs over the AP system and it lights up the area nicely. I usually don't get home from work until after dark so I'd have to check my system by flashlight. This will make nocturnal viewing MUCH better.

You can also see the two IBC halves that will soon be wicking beds. I'll tinker around with that project this week. After placing those two IBC halves I think I'll add another pair which should fill out the area pretty well.

Can't say I've ever glued drain lines but goes to show you can't be too careful. System looks really nice by the way.

Thanks Charlie.

Well, I'm almost ready to fill these IBC halves with compost. Today, I placed and leveled some 2x8 planks under the IBC's to help keep them level. I'll cover the weeping pipe with some shade cloth and then start filling with compost. I'll amend the compost with some coffee grounds, epsom salt and left over cinder rock/dust and inoculate it with some EM1A.

I'm taking the advice of some of the more reputable members on this board and filling the wicking beds with regular growing material. F&F and Stuart have both advocated for straight soil and foregoing the use of sand or any other "wicking" material as unnecessary. I've used the same method on my two little 18 gallon totes and they seem to be chugging along just fine.

If anyone has any strong feelings against the use of soil as the wicking agent please speak up!

and inoculate it with some EM1A.

Hi Squatchaponics,going to follow those wicking beds,could be something i would like to add to my system and how are you getting on with EM1A,any observations ??

Nothing in my system is growing outrageously well and I strike that up to the system only being 2 months online. Things have picked up a little and I have been adding the EM1A mostly on a weekly basis and I've also started spraying with the foliar concoction. I really can't tell if has had an affect I think because I am observing my system so much and so often that unless something was to change drastically I probably won't notice right away. I can say that I have 3 papaya trees growing in the corner of my yard and I've treated them a few times with some of my left overs as well as thrown some compost at their bases and they're doing great. My neighbor has a couple of trees just on the other side of the fence and hers are much more pale and don't look near as robust. Obviously, something is working.

Speaking of which, I just used the last of my EM1A today when I treated the new wicking bed reservoirs. I need to mix up a few batches tomorrow.

I think your right when we say we observe on a daily basis so its hard to see gradual changes,i use it now as part of the plan,it goes into the old Koi pond,now bringing on Tilapia, into the system and always as part of the foliar mix.I like to think its doing what it says on the box,still being a natural product it can’t do any harm.
I dose the system and the pond monthly at 10,000 to one,the foliar gets 100ml per 20liters,this is EM1A not the concentrate.

This pair of wicking beds is pretty much complete. Nothing is planted yet but we were thinking of using
them for peas, pole beans, turnips, parsnips and maybe some carrots. Eventually, I'll add another pair
of wicking beds just like these two which should pretty much fill the AP area while still leaving ample room
for walking around.


I also installed a traditional raised bed. This bed has no added watering technique installed. The bed is
10 feet long, 33 inches wide and about 14 inches deep with compost. Again, not sure what we're going
to put in this bed but I'm guessing some tomatoes, garlic and whatever else.

It really looks amazing over there, the lighting at night and canopy in the day time are making it look top notch. I really appreciate how you write about the lessons learned.

When the drain line broke was your autofill valve hooked up to city? If so how did that part work? It sounds like you must have come home with in a short amount of time I would guess.

Also...This wicking bed project will be interesting to watch, there will be no return plumbing for that, correct? And did you put a liner in it... eventually you'll need to explain that part more when you have time.

Thanks. It is my hope that others will avoid any errors I encounter.


I do have an autofill hooked up to a float valve. That line feeds from a rain collection barrel which is only gravity fed to the sump tank. The sump had lost so much water that the rain barrel was nearly empty and did not have enough gravity pressure to push much water through the hose. I quickly used a water hose hooked up to the house supply line but I have an inline filter on that hose just for gardening which eliminates about 96% of the chlorine.


There is no water feed from the aquaponics. The wicking beds need to be manually watered but the watering is done through the fill valve. I covered the overflow outlets I drilled through the sides of the IBC when I added the surround so when I fill them I just look down the PVC fill pipe. When I can see water I know they have enough.

And there is no need for a liner. The IBC containers are water tight and food safe.

There is quite a bit of information on wicking beds/containers available on YouTube. A quick search there and you'll get all the explanation you can stomach and it will surely be more entertaining than my ramblings.

I guess its a good thing the autofill valve was only on rain barrels and not city water it could have been a much bigger mess. I was going to build something like yours right away, but I think I would rather go manual and make that a later addition in case I need to work out issues.

I thought at first we were looking at an AP fed soil wicking system at first in your last photo. I realize now you're talking about the photo just above it. Has anyone ever created wicking that can filter from soil to rock and somehow back to closed loop AP water?