Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hopefully it will stay put I have 8 10.5” tent stakes in the ground.

Love the idea of using solar panels to run the system. As we go, I hope to convert our system to solar and will be watching to learn from your build.

We have natural gas tankless hot water and backup natural gas heat. We heat and cool with DIY installed Mini Splits. We have 5 of them three of them are 27 SEER.

We are able to bank extra solar power we make for 12 months then March 1 they zero us out and we start over. We make more power than we need in the summer and push that to the winter to heat with and drive our EV car.

We already make more power than we use last year we lost over $100 worth of banked power at zero out date.

So I have this extra power to run my greenhouse. My solar also powers my Chevy Volt we drive about 17,000 EV miles a year and my solar covers charging my car.

The greenhouse will have passive and active systems. It will have black 55 gallon barrels full of water that retain heat. I will add some solar collectors to heat the fish water.

I will add a vent free natural gas hot water tank with closed loop system to help with heating the water. This will give some heat in the greenhouse and some needed C02.

Our system was started with captured rain water about 1,000 gallons we have close to that stored to keep thy system running.

We want to run our greenhouse our house and our car all off the solar power and not give away any power at the end of the year.

Smart and resourceful

I know this is a bit off topic but since you've done so many of these mini splits any suggestions for where to get a mini split and figure out the installation. Are mini splits used more for cooling or for heating in your area? Not much need for cooling here, this is a pretty mild climate. I'm probably a year or two away from doing this and unless the subsidies justify paying a pro I'll do it myself or my wife puts on the skids (I did a heat pump water heater last year and a solar air heater a year or two before that).

We use the Mini splits a little more for cooling than heating. But we are in an area of the country where you need a fair amount of both.

I have my installs documented here. Even where I got them and how much I paid.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geotherma ... stall.html

Here is another good install.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geotherma ... 011-a.html
This is a good place to ask questions and share information. I had never done a MS install before these.

My 9,000 BTU systems were about $1,000 shipped with line set and they come precharged with 410 Freon.
http://www.comfortup.com/gree-terra-sup ... ne-set-kit

I have three of these and they are 27 SEER inverter units and work very well they are all installed in bedrooms.

Thanks Mark

Finished reading the thread on your mini split install and didn't see any mention of the warranty but I'm assuming since you did a self install that the manufacturer won't honor this? I've heard of some people doing the setup and then having a pro come out to do the final hookup and charging of the system (assuming you can find one who is willing) - not sure if this would allow someone to keep the warranty or not - any thoughts on this?

I have found that if you check craigslist for a HVAC guy that has a cheap service call. He is a go getter and may work with you.

Just explain to them the process you used to set up the system. That you used nitrogen to pressure test. A micron gauge to test the vacuum. How long you let it sit at that level.

You just need him to release the Freon and give you an install invoice for the warranty. I am sure you will find someone to take your money. That small cost is worth it.

Their goal is to have it installed correctly so they are not giving out parts for bad installs.
By doing it right and having a pro check over your work you meet their goal. It is done right so will last and it meets your goal also.

Sounds like the way to go then, thanks again

I added 500 red worms today to my grow beds.
Now that my fish are eating really good the plants are starting to grow well.

Have you had any issues with the buried sump tank not being in a cage? I noticed you have a lot of clay in your soil, like we do here, and had some concerns about doing that here.

I have not had any issues with it. It is an older tank. The sump tank is about 3/8 thick. Once I put it in the hole I filled it with water then I added the dirt around it. Then I started putting dry cement around the edge of it. I ramped it away from the tank so water will not just go down the sides of the tank.

Thanks for the info. We are using an IBC for the sump and could leave it in the cage for extra support. It is something to think on as we go.

The Plants are taking over the grow bed. So we are sending them up.
We build some trellis from a cattle panel and some conduit.
I need to add some plants my nitrates are too high 120.

Maybe plants would help take care of this.