Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This is where they get from.
http://www.hydroshale.net/

I got it from here
http://www.southernorganicsandsupply.co ... Petes.aspx
HYDROSHALE 3/4" AGGREGATE 50 LB BAG $5.50
They only discount about $20 when you buy 2,000lbs. $200

They will ship LTL

I am close to them so it was $532 shipped for 4,000 lbs. that was not that far off the river rock because I needed 4 ton to get the same coverage as 2 ton of this expanded shale.

I had it sent to the local trucking transfer station that saves money and they can load it on my trailer with their forklift.

This is after 9 days cycling
PH it is about 7
Ammonia is about 2 ppm
Nitrite is up to .50 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 10 ppm
it is good to see Nitrite increasing. I thought I would see ammonia decreasing I guess it is too soon.

thank you as well. that bit about the bulk expanded shale is very cool

I am also picking up my HydroShale from this supplier today. They have been easy to work with.

Markb were there lots of fines in the Shale? I have not picked mine up but they claim that there is less than 5% under the 3/4" size?

I was pleased with the size I drilled a bunch of holes in an old wheelbarrow and we rinsed it in there.
Since they don’t discount the 2000 lbs. much I would be tempted to just buy the bags.

There was not a lot of fines at all.
Here is a picture of my GB it all looks about like this.
Would get it again if I had to do it all over.

Markb

Thanks

Yea I am buying from them in the 50lbs bags as I am about 45 mins from them and the shipping was $250.00 for the ton. It will take me 3 or 4 trips which is $30 in gas. I asked them if they buy it in 50lbs and they said they do not. They hand pack and weight every bag.

Maybe you could rent a u haul trailer or a home depot truck and do it in less trips.
How much are you getting how big is your GB

I work about 10 mins for there location so its not as back as it sounds. My grow bed is 78"x42"x12" so I think that 26 bags at 50 lbs will be about right.

It looks like we are getting closer.
PH it is about 7
Ammonia is about 2 ppm
Nitrite is up to 5 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 30 ppm We have planted a lot of plants. I am sure they are taking some of these nitrates.

My 12 Volt 18 watt air pump came today. I will get a 12 relay and a 12v wall wart power supply.
The 12V power supply will keep the air pump from running. When power goes out the 12v relay will close and the air pump will turn on to keep the fish alive when the power comes back on the pump will shut off.
I will connect the 12 battery to a solar panel to keep it charged up and ready just in case we lose power.



I have a new backup pump and an extra pump impeller just in case.
I got a bag of pool salt just to have on hand.
A couple steps closer to getting fish.

You sound like you ARE ready! Looking good.

What did you use for a relay?

I'm running into a problem finding something that goes from 112v to then click on a 12 volt system

I have not hooked it up yet but I changed my mind on how I am going to connect it.
I am going to use a contactor relay with normally closed contacts. This way I can just power it with 110 volts. When the power goes out it will turn on the 12v pump when the power comes back on it will open the contacts back up and turn it off.
I just bought this cheap one off eBay it gets powered by 110 volts.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171781501234



This is a more robust solution and it will use less power.
The contactor will just close or open the red wire to the pump. It is rated for way more amps than I will ever use.

J2M,

If you are a little handy with electrical. Check out this thread for a cheap switching option.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9805&p=473875&hilit=12v+relay#p473875