Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Swede,

The bowing was my concern as well before I started the build. I'll be honest here, I see no signs of bowing at all. I thought I would see the sides pop off completely. Zero signs of any issues with the framing. There has been a to inch of settling into the ground to be expected though with this much weight on it. The place I receives the rocks from said each yard of rock was 2500 pounds!!! Yeah! I have 6-7 yards! That's some
MASSIve weight!

We have loved the AP life so far and plan this will be the last of the MAJOR modifications after the DWC build. Then I need to tweak the filtering and minerilization aspects.

I'll be posting another video tonight of the latest.

Very cool Lmannyr! Thank you for the update. You have really done a nice job. I am still trying to decide if I should do a sitting on the ground build or like you lift it up.

Keep those videos coming my friend!

Thanks for the compliments Swede. I'm trying to reduce the "eye soreness" of the AP setup. I have a bad back so on the floor was not an option at all. The design credit goes to the gentleman who's video I posted earlier. Once the big components are done, then we plan on some landscaping and wood work to clean it up a bit. It certainly was not a cheap build.

Rocks $800
Lumber $200
Liner $150
Plumbing $150? (not sure here)
I'm sure there is more... but id rather not know. lol

I hope to start on the DWC within the next few weeks.

editing the video now...

Good point Lmannyr, thats why I havent built my outdoor system yet. I want to make it look good (hopefully) and I want to make sure I have it figured out and functioning like I want it to.. Spent a lot of money already buying tanks, pvc etc etc. Should be fun once I can get started on the actual build though. I will post a picture that has been an inspiration to me since day one of starting this AP thing

I think you may have maxed out the fish tank drain pipes and it may not be the filtration that's backing things up. I could also be the transition to a 1 inch pipe out near the grow beds. If you remove the filtration media from the net tanks does the level in the fish tank drop? If it doesn't then it's probably something else causing the backup. If on the other hand, the level does drop, depending on your fish load you may want to remove some or all of the cloth netting from the second tank. Yes you'll probably have solids passing the filter but you should get better flow with the reduced resistance and unless your running high fish loads the media bed should be able to handle it. This could affect the distribution grid as far as clean out though. I know you had high stocking rates in mind when you started but I'm not sure where you are at right now on this?

I think the most that 1" pipe out near the grow bed is going to carry is around 6 gpm and that's going horizontal (that might be enough) but it actually has to go vertical up to the bed so I'll be curious to hear what happens

I agree with Swede

Swede,

That my friend is nice!!! Thanks for posting it. I'll have to show it to the queen.

Hehe.. I hope the queen approves

Scotty,

Thanks for the reply. I have a video update uploading to my youtube channel with my SIMPLE fix (didn't know it at the time) to increase the flow. The cloth tank filter drain was sucking ALOT of air and i'm guessing causing ALOT of turbulence in the piping leading into the grow bed. I put an elbow at the filter drain to submerge the drain completely and not suck air. It didn't work right away but after about an hour the pipe must have cleared most of the air out. System is now running 500 gallons per hour! SWEET!! The Fish Tank and Filter tank levels actually dropped an inch or two despite the increase in flow with just that one elbow.

The distribution pipe on the grow bed is flowing very nicely with the quarter inch holes every 6". water doesn't make it past the midway point of the distribution pipe so there is still room for more flow. Still have lots of water being diverted back into sump from pump. I didn't want to push the flow much more today. I'll nudge the diversion valve a bit more in a couple days and recheck flows and levels.

Stay tuned for the video.

Luis

Oh I'm sure she will. That is up her ally in style.

Awesome you got it figured out!

Todays numbers after increasing the flow from 300 to 500gph.

Still not happy with the GB exit DO.

Sump DO 7.0 mg/l
GB exit DO 1.1
GB exit pH 7.0

Cloth Tank DO 2.6
Cloth Tank exit pH 7.0


Net Tank DO 3.5
Net Tank exit pH 6.95

FT 1 DO 1.5
FT 2 DO 5.5

Is this the aerated net tank you got a DO of 3.5 mg/L?

No, I didn't implement the air yet since the recent move of the tanks. Still on the fence on that concept. If anything, the aeration should be on the second filter, what do you think?

Actually, I was just looking for you MT thread to post some questions there and reread the thread. What are your thoughts on mineralizing? ONLINE? Offline? Dual loop a la Strider?

I have a 55 gallon barrel that has a month of net tank fish poo in it for a couple weeks now. I aerated for a few days, then let it sit for few days with no air. Never added anything to the tank otherwise. Now I have aerated again. TDS shows 375. How do I know when to let the poo settle and add the clear to the system? I was expecting a much high TDS.

thoughts?

I think that your MT should be aerated at all times. Dont turn it off to let things settle out.
The problem with MT is that the fish waste and the bacteria feeding on it will consume oxygen at a crazy pace. So you cant really have too much air.

I think a dual loop is the way to go. The mineralization being inline or offline depends on the setup. I like cookies idea but I would like to,see some longer tests and measurements on that. I am going to build a dual loop system with a mt offline.