Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok so we've been busy with the system. Hubby is getting really excited, calls multiple times a day to see how it's progressing and when we'll be ready to start circulating the water. So he comes home last night, finishes the plumbing, and much too my surprise had a sump pump. He was smiling ear to ear and said lets hook it up now. Then said, "We have everything plumbed and ready, right?" I said "Yes". He hooked up the pump and plugged everything in. Water started pumping into the beds, had to adjust the flow and then the realization that the drain pipe was not big enough to drain the beds fast enough. So he shut all of the beds off and let the water continue to just circulate back into the pool/FT. Then another trip to Home Depot for more plumbing. Tonight he's going to take off the new-old drains and reinstall the new larger 2" drain; then readjust the valves to get the right flow and plug the sump back in. Anyways heres pics of the progress so far without the new drain.

the rest of the pics

just, wow! I'm liking the idea of blue barrels cut in half for media beds more and more. What size drain pipe will you try next?

Thanks for the "wow" boss

The blue barrels were actually easy to plumb utilizing the existing bungs. I found a local source and can pick them up for $15 each.

We are installing 2" and with the valves to control the incoming flow we think that should be adequate (hubby got to home depot and started thinking no bigger is better let's do 3" --- woooahhh I said, "Do you see the prices on the fittings--that wasn't in the budget when we left--lets stick to the 2" like we planned when we headed out). The 2" should work -- the incoming water was converted to 3/4" to enter the GB's and we have the valves to adjust the flow and there are only 8 of them coming into it so it should be fine (just hoping Murphy is on vacation far, far away).

boy howdy, I'm always surprised when we don't find another DIYer on the floor in the isles of the plumbing section .... frantically modifying their "plans!"

Yep, I think I created a monster, lol. He was pretty upset that I took the reigns and pulled him back into our reality. But on the way to the checkout (after I solved the problem of finding a washer the size he needed --tub drain gasket--always thinking for a solution outside the box), I got "I'm sorry for being a d---" and a kiss.

All is good in love and BYAP

Went to usps website today to track my pond plants. It says that they tried to deliver them yesterday at 10:32 am and left a "sorry we missed you" note. The funny thing is I didn't get any mail yesterday and was home all day. The irony is that our mail never comes until after 2 pm. So I call the Post Office. They said they don't know why but I have a few days of mail setting on the carriers desk. She then asked if my box was full, still standing, blocked, etc.... All questions "No and "Yes, box is still standing there". I repeated why did they say they tried to deliver and leave a note if they didn't? She couldn't answer my questions but said that I could come pick up my mail before 4. Otherwise I could call in the morning before 9 am to talk to the carrier.

"Water started pumping into the beds, had to adjust the flow and then the realization that the drain pipe was not big enough to drain the beds fast enough."

That was my story from day one. Computing the flow volumes and such is really hard. I'm sure there will be other trip to Home Depot in your future! It never fails... :-)

Hi shelly how can I get a system shown above?

Definitely a learn as you go process, steveholtam. I'm sure we will be on first name basis with the employees at Home Depot before long, lol. How's your system coming along?

khaledulamin,

Ours is just simply a DIY conversion of our swimming pool. We bought the barrels and IBC's---cut them down. Bought pvc and fittings and started putting it together. It is still a work in progress.

You can build your own or you can find someone to build it for you. Hope this helps; I'm new to BYAP also.

Shelly,

Make sure your sump pump is not oil filled. Also look for a fish safe rating. If it is oil filled it could potentially leak and push the start over button on your project.

Didn't think about that, floridafishin. So checked it out with hubby and its good

Ok so last night hubby replaced the drain to the 2". Everything is flowing smoothly Although, I kept waking up last night to check to make sure that nothing was overflowing; lol. So now, we are waiting till we can get the gravel next week. After we get it washed and put into the GB's we'll install the perforated pvc into the GB''s (didn't want to break it putting in the gravel) and then install a pipe that pulls the water from the bottom of the pool/FT to start filtering it through the gravel. Progress pics posted

If you properly angle the inflows to your pool. To help create circular flow around your pool. It should help it self clean a little better. By the way how are you picking the solids off the bottom of the pool?