Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone,
we have just purchased the parts for our new system.
I have two 650l tanks and two 500l growbeds.
We have purchased the growbeds secondhand. The media (quality expanded clay) has heaps of sludge, sand, worms and even some slugs. Would you advise rinsing prior to putting into the beds to cycle? I know that this will kill some of the good stuff too, but the tanks should stay a lot cleaner.
With two separate tanks, we are assuming we need two separate pumps. Would a 3000l per hour pump in each tank be sufficient and do they need to be "dirty water" pumps?
Need to fill the tanks, run the piping, get my pumps and a test kit! Didn't plan on getting the beds this weekend so have to get busy! A great deal came up and we couldn't resist.
Thanks for the help in setting up. Please direct me to useful threads. I have tried doing searches, but they can pull up heaps of info that you have to wade through (although most of it is very interesting)

Hey Teepee, yeah, I'd give the clay a good rinse to try and clean out as much muck as you can, you will still have lots of bacteria there to get your system cycled very quickly. With 650L tanks, I'd set them up as 2 separate systems.. 3000L l/h pumps are fine for that, and yeah a dirty water is the ultimate, you pay a little extra though.. I reckon these are about the best that you can get. http://www.aquatecequipment.com/pondmax ... p-121.html

thanks earthbound. I decided to buy the AP3000 to start off with and see how we go. may upgrade later once we have gotten over this initial large spend!
we are setting up two separate systems with a link between just in case we want it later on.
the "rinse" took half the day needing to get rid of sludge and general yuck with lots of roots! Looking good now.
any idea how to step up the 15mm fitting (threaded male) on the pump to link to the 25mm UPVC pipe? I have been to Bunnings and have 4 fittings which go together to step it up. Seems that it is an unusual size step up.
thanks

Hi Teepee,
I told the wife the next time I go to Bunning's i'll be taking my sleeping bag,, just finally completed my new aquaponics setup and so glad not to be going back to the monster green shed for sometime, 15 up to 25mm I would be thinking you could do that with one fitting, a 25 to 15 reducer. with either a slip fitting or threaded at the other end....
I got sick of coming home with 1 fitting short that I filled one of there green baskets up with various fittings and vowed not to return...............(for at least 1 week.)

know just how you feel mudeye! I looked (and a staff member looked) whilst my toddlers got more frustrated and loud! They don't have that fitting, although it must be made. I have more fittings for 25mm (pump) and 40mm (return) than I need, but as you said, better do a return than be missing that one crucial piece!
We reckon purchases should be related to percentage shares! We would own half of it by now
thanks