Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

thank you Titus and joc.

I love the idea of a cone bottom RFF. I always wanted one for my biodiesel settling tank as well. Unfortunetely, it was not going to happen because of cost. Even now with the more wife-friendly fish pond project, understandably, she's nearing the upper limit of tolerance for expenses.
That's okay, for now. I'm fairly certain after cleaning my filter a few dozen times I'll revisit the cone bottom tank with her




I hear you on the Kiwis, joc. I was premature on the fig tree and kiwis. The fig, we bought before we realized how limited the space inside our greenhouse is. We're going to have growbeds pretty much everywhere and anywhere I can fit them.

She is really getting into the spirit of the greenhouse and gardens. Retirement is good to my wife, indeed.

one last think I've got to mention, we now have an unbelivably awesome gift from Linda and Lee Terry

More Wednesday progress to report:

I love having a regular helper. Matt comes in twice per week, both days I'm off so I can work with him or explain what needs to be done, Yesterday, Matt split wood, in-between working on digging trenches along the house and greenhouse, where we'll apply spray foam to the foundations.

I went on a full out-building search for the PVC plumbing fittings for the SLO (solids lift outflow) while Matt dug the first foundation trench for our new bedroom addition. I didn't find what I was looking for, but... I did find a number of parts and pieces for another project which I nearly bought new that morning. Two identical fan aka "V" belts for our twin cylinder compressor. The belts that were on there gave out after a mere ten years outside in the weather. I guess I bought new belts some years ago, and got sidetracked with some other project or problem. I gotta say that was very cool finding those belts still together. FYI the compressor is twin V belt design. Both belts need to be exactly the same size to fit properly, It's kind of a lame design, and the motor has no means for tightening, making getting them on and adjusted kind of a pain in the rear.

It drizzeled on and off all day, so I had some inside work to do as well. We still needed to cut-in the corners and around the fixtures in the greenhouse. This time we both used brushes. I was doing the off-white on the ceiling and Matt worked with the green. I had less to do, so I decided to cut some pieces to finish around the recepticles and some around the door, before the rain made me put up the saws and stop. After Matt left I finished up the green on those added pieces. I'm happy with the results, of course.

Now, I've been having possibly more than my fair share of delivery problems with both FedEx and UPS this week. They deliver most packages properly, but twice this week they've delivered them to the wrong hose. This latest package shows delivered, but it isn't here. I was here all day and I know they didn't come. This situation is exasperated by the fact that this latest order had much needed coffee beans. Grr, I know it seems petty, but it feels anything but. Grr.
The Laguna pump went to my daughter's house. No big thing except for the fact that it cost and arm and a leg, and I needed it last weekend so I can figure out what size plumbing fittings we'll need, Grr. Adding insult to injury; the pump has a busted cover! I've now been dealing with this company for a week trying to resolve this. It's begin to really piss me off.
It's a good thing I'm a very mellow guy.

Getting damaged Laguna 2500 pump issues resolved; They sent a replacement cover. Now I'm plumbing, yayo

How does the fan work for pulling excess heat from the building? Everything looks frickin awesome!!

It lowers my RAS building by almost 10 degrees. If I leave the doors open on the opposite side...closer to 12-14. Doesn't sound like a lot, until you consider it's been mid 90's this week, and the temp is in the upper 80's vs almost 100!

Right now, 10 degrees would be key. That would make it bearable to spend some time in the building.i just purchased a wall fan almost identical to yours, Boss

It's still hot, and up until the last week, wasn't bad to work. But between the extra 4-5 degrees and some extra humidity, it's pretty miserable after late AM in there. But, it's pretty miserable working everyday in a "feels like" of 106-112. We know all the tricks: work on the west side in the AM, east side in the pm, shower your head with water as needed, drink 2-3 gallons per day, and take breaks if you need them. It's still hot. But, it keeps the yankees away.lol If it was as nice from June - September as it was October through May, we would have another 10 million people here.
I'm going to up your way in August Benny, I'll check in before heading up. I'd love to check out the GH and maybe hit some with the youngster and you. I'm rusty right now, but can still hit the ball. Just don't ask me to grind out 3 sets in 90 degree weather.

It is underpowered, but it does pull heat out. I had an interesting idea while in the city yesterday shopping, after my kidney doctor appointment, which went very well, by the way: I wanted to buy sunscreen for the roof and had picked out some, when I saw this stuff. It's made of reeds, so I don't think it'll last too long, but I needed shade and I also need defense from the inevitable hail storms coming soon no doubt.



I have a feeling if it does get hailed on it will disintregrate. I guess I'm okay with that; then I won't need to take it down come Fall.
I have a feeling if it does get hailed on it will disintegrate. I guess I'm okay with that; then I won't need to take it down come Fall.
I'm real happy with the new lights. It adds much need light to the side where the filters and sump tank are, just in case of nighttime maintenance. I also have another idea for a DWC ((deep water culture)for my facebook friends) over the sump, up high enough I can easily reach the pond skimmer strainer and the sump pump if and when needed.

I'm getting excited to start building my grow-beds with the fiberglass when it arrives. I'm sure I didn't buy enough, but that's the way this whole project has been going: Buying just enough each week to keep from killing our hand to mouth budget.

Do you have a mold to pull off boss? Or, are you wrapping wood?

I hadn't decided. From my experienceand I actually took a college course on fiberglass working, molds are where it's at, especially if the paln is to reproduce the same size bed a number of times, as I am going to do. One thing to consider is the thickness is greater in a molded fiberglass container, and I've only ordewred a gallon of resin and a 1/2 gallon of hardener

Alrighty then, I've got started with a custom made adapter from the Laguna pump and its weird connector to PVC 1" (25.4mm). The rest should be a piece of cake, right?

What I've done here is cut a strip of blue PVC as shown, warmed it, wrapped it around the biggest size diameter on the outflow adapter barb connector, that came with the pump. Prepped it, glued it, put a hose clamp on it to squeeze it tight and round. After that dried I spun it against a small bench grinder until it was more or less the circumference I needed. A piece of course grit sand paper cupped in my fist and spun it around until it fit. Bingo!


It is much cooler in there under a blistering sun.
Early this morning I cleaned the filter for the 55 gallon fish tank. It is a neat filter. It has three compartments, one for the four filters, one for biofilter sack with some kind of media, and a third chamber for bioballs. Sweet, I cleaned the four filters and left everything else undisturbed.
Here's a FB chat with a local fisherman:
Hi B, I was talking to Kevin and he was telling me a few of your thoughts on the trout you wrangle for the pond. You've probably researched it but I have many thoughts on what you might not want to do. For example, brown trout will ruin it for all the others. The only natives we have here are the brook and rio grande cutthroat. RGC wouldn't survive the trip down to your place without the proper water truck but I know the place for brook up here. Brook will live well together and stay smaller, Browns will eat every and all things. Brooks will tell you if your system is polluted, Browns can take lots of pollution. Anyway, just a few thoughts.


wow, thank you Aaron, where are you talking about going for Brooks?
I have access to Terrell ranch up evergreen canyon until the end of June. I think if we hauled ass we could have them to yours in under an hour
really? Give me a minute to think about this
oh where is Evergreen canyon?
It's the tip top of Gallinas headwaters
Cool man this sounds great
When will you be looking to get the fish acclimating
When will you be looking to get the fish acclimating
my quarintine tack is at 71 degrees, I need to check the pH and Ammonia but other than that what should I bring with?
What's the main tank temp gonna end up being more or less? 71 is warm.. Trout will die near 80.. Might need Browns
I'll temp the pond up there to see what they're living in now
I may go up this week
the main tank should be 55-65 as it is 2000 gallons and mostly underground
the tank is five feet deep at its greatest
That's so great, if we could chill the quarantine tank it'd be better chances maybe
it'll get water in a few days to a week and then need a few weeks to settle down
so the trout will be in the 55 gallon quarintine tank until then
yep I can float a frozen bottle of water or two in there
Cool, maybe the beer keg chiller method with copper and ice, sounding great
what I'm reading is they try and keep metals away from the fish, as most contain zinc
Bottle trick seems smart, yea makes sense about metals
We should just try anyhow
do you wanna go this morning?
It'll have to be in a few days, I need to work it out with the land owner. Im seeing him today
What about the vessel to get them home, big plastic or what were you thinking
I have a small Photovoltaic oxygenater that works with a beer cooler
Ooh nice..
I'm heading out, I'm gonna get on it. I've got loads to read on trout if you need. I'll let you know later about the day to go fish
I'm off on Wednesdays
thank you Aaron
Ok I'll work that.. No problem, super fun
it going to be super fun, and thanks for thinking of me
Chat Conversation End
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I love life

I wish I could keep trout. I know I've said that before. But, I miss Alaska, and especially trout and salmon fishing!

This is the Sump Tank. Grr, That one was 7'X10' (2X3meters) I guess I'll not be filling the Sump today for a test
I suppose it would be the epitome of follishness to think I could tape it Oh well back to the store for a 3mX3m