Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This stuff is actually kind of fun to put together, only down side is the cost

explosive, light the fuse and run, duk sucker.

The wife asked while I built this barrel up on the dinning room table, "Are you going to paint it?" Sorry honey I said I don't have time to paint it. I've really got to pick up the pace on this plumbing, if I want to get done this year. In fact, I want to get done this month. Talk about naive. I knew, because I've always done my own home building, how long these elaborate builds here must take to create.
Indeed in my head I have asked how long must that have taken? You know what though? I have friends who like to photograph car shows, I too, love to look at beautiful paint and chrome-work. I respect the determination needed to chrome every inch of an engine compartment. If it's possible, I'd like to go one step deeper, get something more from my projects. Because I work doggedly, I am probably considered well a lot of things, including and not limited to narcissistic and boastful. When I get to the stage where this project is producing food and entertainment while giving me a greater shot at having a social life as both my wife and I settle into our 60s, then I'll really be a proud narcissist. Because, if I've played my cards right, this will remain fun for decades, and I won't be that creepy old guy with the fish who lives out in the middle of nowhere. I'll be the happy and balanced happy gentleman who loves having friends over for conversations, and as soon as we get those bedrooms built, y'all can have a longer visit.

I think this idea of going with an over-size valve will help as I've got a small pipe through the wall of the pond and I don't want any more restriction than I've already got there.
So looking through the pipe now and the ball valve area is no smaller than the pipe inside diameter.

The Uniseals aren't here for plumbing the brown bio-filter barrel, so I'll probably move on to plumbing the pump side today.

I thought of that to..the same size ball valve, is about 30% smaller then the pipe. knife valves are better, but your solution of upsizing the valve is better. More $$, but better.lol

Thanks Coach, it wasn't even all that much more expensive, maybe a couple bucks. I'm glad I discovered BigR as their prices are rock bottom. They only had one of the slip fit valves though, if I had to go with the threaded it meant buying more adapters. For now one valve to shut off the pond from the filters. Later when BigR recovers from my little buying spree I get the other side valved too. I think I can clean both filters with just the pond shut off.

next time you are at B-R take a look at at their big sprayer tank valves, they are those black valves, you find them in the section were they have all the tank connectors and sprayer parts, no restriction on those ball valves.

You're going to have fun getting all the media into the top GB's.

How high is the top grow bed?

I can't wait to see it up and running though.

Easy hoisting may be one of they benefits to having bought so many small sacks of media. The resin is here! Now to finish layering the growbeds. The Uniseals are here as well. The big plumbing order from Amazon shouldn't be far behind. Time to see if my big vision holds water!!

More rain. Sheesh. We're up to 6.75 inches (17 cm) since fathers day when my sweetie got me a rain gauge

Sunday was productive. I made a plan and started putting it together. Even though at times our Aquaponics project seems like a money munching beast, it is getting more and more animated day by day.

I'll tell you, something most people here know, I can not wait for the life blood of my beast to flow.

"Up and out," we don't watch broadcast television. In the old days I saw some commercials that were mundane compared to todays. One we'd kid about was a bra commercial. I must have a twisted mind because I carry those words to this day and see their appropriateness in everything. Keep them up and out. Talking about plumbing of course. Oh, up and over, what ever!
Sunday we worked in the afternoon on our driveway.

We've hired a guy to dig out the foundation and what will be a concrete floor for two bedrooms, one master and one guest. Yeah, we still sleep in our living room.
Anyway, I feel like with my obvious fish pond obsession taking up all of my time and much of our cash flow, I better keep the bedroom project alive too.

Well, then I mentioned that I couldn't stand to listen to the mud tires on my Jeep for another week. I went in to the tire shop and inquired of normal tires? $195 per tire.
But Honey?!? Please?

Good Morning
I've got a second coat of resin on the grow beds on my day off (Wednesday.) I did not get anything done on the filters. After getting up early and mixing a gallon of epoxy resin and painting it on with a brush, I drove Nell to town for tests after her fall last week. The doctor wanted more X-Rays and and labs done. When we returned home we spent the afternoon visiting with my daughter Brittany and her fiancé Adam. Lovely time that was. Anywho, a little down time is good, especially when communing with family.

The corners still leak, so I'll give those another coat. This grow bed is right below the faucet so it was the easiest to fill and test. It is also the one with excessive amount of fiberglass cloth, so no doubt it leaks at the corners as that one has too many folds in the corners. No big deal, we have more than a gallon more of resin.
The bell siphon worked at the proper level, spilling the 50 or so gallons (~200 liters) of test water into the pond when it was 3 inches (76 mm) from the top. As you aqauaponics people already know this is not a real world test of the bell siphon as it will behave differently when the lava rock media is in there with the water. I'm also posting this to my group for their information, so I'm spelling everything out as much as I know how.

Hey Brian, you are such an inspiration with turning your vision into a reality and sharing the journey with us. I hope Nell is better soon and you both get a clear run with your health.

thanks joc. Every time another piece works is a milestone. Each milestone bolsters my outlook on life

"Up and out," we don't watch broadcast television. In the old days I saw some commercials that were mundane compared to todays. One we'd kid about was a bra commercial.

over shoulder boulder holders

I can't say my usual, good morning.
Nell, went in to the hospital around four yesterday, after the doctor read her labs we got done the day before. The labs showed she has blood clots in her lungs. Most likely from the fall she took in which she broke her toe. It's all related Doctor Miller told us. He isn't positive yet, but it is also likely she has pneumonia. It took them quite some time to get all the tests done. By the time I got there at 6:30 ~ 7:00 pm, from working in Rociada she had just been admitted into Alta Vista Hospital room 202. She has her phone. (505 426 9045) Not sure what kind of shape she's in this morning. I'll let you know from Facebonk this morning when I get in there. Finally at around 10:00 pm they got her pain managed. I'm uncertain about any of these times, as I wasn't paying any attention to the clock, just my poor baby. I went out at one point when after the tenth blood draw I was feeling queasy. The lab tech was very good. She explained everything they were doing, and there was some reason why they needed so many samples, but again, I'm no good around that much blood, had to go. Unfortunately, I didn't notice the hour, and the state of the hospital, and managed to get locked out for a minute before I realized I could just press a button on the door in the hallway. Honestly, to me it was the most Orwellian looking key-pad I'd ever seen. I must have looked paranoid standing in that hallway folding and unfolding my arms, trying to decide what sordid after effects might occur if I touched that creepy pad with the eyeball staring at me.


Maybe it is just me, after all I was completely unaware, merrily working my little tail off high in the mountains.
After this, my fist job, I inquired from the client what all the trucks were doing going up and down this steep road above his house in Pendaries. He gave me the name and number of the guy above and suggested I could ask if he wanted WiFi up there. I am ever curious, and if there is a view, I'm all in.



One heck of a porch. When I was done, we chatted for a bit and I headed up up up


On the way back from the mountain top home where I did indeed make contact with the potential new Desertgate client, I spied this picnic table. It was lunch time...


Holy smokes, I think I found my best lunch spot of all time. Except for the trucks going up the steep incline, oh and the multitude of lawn mowers going down in the valley on the golf course, it was heaven!


This was as I mentioned, around 12;30 perfect for a lunch break. Although, it was pretty hot and humid, I ate here for a bit, finishing the lunch I had begun while driving down the mountain.
Okay, enough fooling around. I'm in bad shape as you can imagine, but I've got to work again today, and I need to call Nell and see what else she needs me to bring her. They said last night that she will be in the hospital a few days. We hope that is all, of course, but with clots in the lungs it is the best place for her, right now. On the bright side Nell said, at least it is still July and our Medicaid is still in effect. Oh I haven't mentioned, we lost our benefits which we just got at the beginning of the year. Sigh. What a tease. The government should provide all tax payers with some for of medical care. This system sucks a big one, but you all know that.
Like I said, I'll keep you updated though Facebash
Brian Rodgers