Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone. Brand new member here I've been lurking for a while. Finally got some IBCs and put together my first ever aquaponics system!

Been making it from mostly scrap material and stuff I got from Gumtree so it's not exactly a scientific design. Got a whole pile of free irrigation piping to hook most of it up.

I will upload some pics on when I was building it!

First though - the current status:

I've been running the system for about 3 weeks now. Had 10 goldfish, down to 8. 2 died to mysterious causes (I think a cat ate one before i started putting a cover on the tank, or at least all I found were the head & tail in the bottom of the tank!). Before I setup the big tanks I had one growbed set up on a table with a bucket underneath with 4 goldfish in the bucket, and *that* ran for a few weeks, so I figured that helped get the bigger system cycled.

Tested the water a few times, PH is 7.8, other levels seem pretty good, ammonia bumped up a bit at first but is now not registering at all, which seems good to me!

Anyways, on to pictures!



My cute little sprouts:

Chives


Broccoli which apparently tastes delicious to caterpillars:

The Construction Of:

Picked up some cheap IBCs, one with a damaged top, so I figured I'd make an IBC system with room to expand!

So after doing a bunch of reading and a little planning, I picked a spot that gets a decent mix of shade and sun, and started laying out my IBCs. I kind of messed up right at the beginning and cut the wrong end of the cage off one (oops!) so the floor of the one is missing... which ended up working out ok once I dug it into the ground a bunch.









Added a pallet and a couple grow beds made from Bunnings tradie bins, and filled 'em with Scoria rock. Did NOT expect the vast amount of red dust that came out when I rinsed it. But got it clean and it looked pretty good in the end.

A few days later.. planting! Way way too early I think, but *ahem* I was eager to get some greenery in. Apparently this is a hobby that requires patience.. who knew...

Ha! Bunnings tradie bins! That's what I used for the two growbeds in my teeny test system. Nice to see them popping up on someone else's thread.

I understand that theoretically aquaponics requires patience, but in practice it's hard to find some... wonder if I could buy some patience at Bunnings? I have to keep finding something to do with the plants so I don't mess with the water too much. The last time I gave in to temptation I caused a nasty ammonia/nitrite spike. Went and bought new stuff to play with today so I don't do that again!

Welcome to the forum! (I think I missed saying that on your caterpillar post...)

Haha I keep poking the plumbing. I haven't really figured out if I'm supposed to filter out the solid waste from the FT yet. Was going to set up an SLO to the second ibc and possibly put in a swirl filter but the 25mm pipe I had on hand just wasn't draining fast enough to keep up with the 2000lph pump once it got going. Not enough pressure at the surface I guess.

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Drains/overflows running under gravity need wider piping than the stuff going the other way pumped under pressure; if you make sure to always go up at least one size, that's a good rule of thumb. (If I sound wise it's only because I've been reading a lot!)

You certainly don't need a filter yet, but if you want one it doesn't hurt to set it up now - just make sure to keep checking it on a regular schedule, so that you don't get used to it not needing to be cleaned and forget about it when you have more fish (and more solids)!

Where or what do you use for connecting tanks with the larger pipes?

And since pictures... my first capsicum seedlings have poked their heads up!

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Yay seedlings!

Bulkhead/tank fittings and Uniseals work really well for plumbing larger pipes into tanks.

Tbh I have no idea what those are. Bunnings searches seem to fail me.. or come up with it ty bitty 20 mm versions.

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For example I'm using this for most of my connections atm.. not sure what to call it tho i found a 50mm version today

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Holman fittings at Bunnings go up to 50mm: http://www.bunnings.com.au/holman-50mm- ... g_p4813626

(and yes, Bunnings' website search function SUCKS. If I didn't already know they were on there somewhere I wouldn't be able to find them, persistence and using some kinda stupid keywords gets me there eventually.) That one you're using looks like a plumbing fitting, they work but are a lot less forgiving - you have to match the hole size to them a lot more carefully than tank connectors, and the ones I've found don't come with their own gaskets. I used one to put the SLO on my teeny system through the tub wall and it works perfectly, but I didn't have a hole saw at the time to make a nice neat hole, so I had to carve it out with a 3mm drill bit, a Stanley knife, and a file. I was sweating until I was sure I hadn't stuffed it up!

Uniseals get bigger but can be tricky to install. RobBob (who I b'lieve is on this forum) sells some useful sizes and also has a handy guide (with video) on how to install them: http://www.bitsouttheback.net/p/bits-ou ... store.html

Hi Pawz, your profile only says West Aust, but if you are in Perth and SOR or visit Perth frequently....
Try Pipeco ( http://www.perthirrigation.com.au ).
They have a shop in Welshpool just off Orrong Road.
Else I think there is a similar place in Osborne Park or Malaga.

They carry larger sizes and the 50mm etc should/will be much cheaper than Bunnings.
eg. 50mm valve socket is $1.40 versus $8 at Bunnings.

Correct name is Faucet socket / valve socket etc but Bunnings don't use those names.
so basically got to search PVC thread male female... etc.

at $27 for the Holman tank fitting above you would be better chasing up alternate tank fittings (eg. Hansen).
Holman seem to be getting overpriced these days - try Ausplastics for PVC or Hansen for Poly.
But even those get pretty expensive for larger sizes.

At Perth Irrigation take a look under the section 'tanks and pits' and then 'tank fittings'
They also carry some threaded flange type fittings (like bulkhead) but not sure what sizes go up to.
they carry 15mm-32mm definitely because I have brought them from the shop and less than $10.
they also have a heap of things that are not on web site.

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there is also creative pumps in South Aust who have $10 shipping as long as you know what you want.
http://www.creativepumps.com.au/ (go to the lower part of the plumbing section.


Valve/faucet/flange and PVC male-female fittings are generally OK for low pressure (SLO and overflows etc at top of tank).
I use them all the time without issue. But may need something sturdier lower down in the tank as bottom leaks are not that pleasant and have bigger consequences...

Wow thanks for the info. I'm in Rockingham so most of those should be quite reachable. Bunnings is 2 minutes away tho so it's soooo easy to pick (too much) stuff up :-)

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that's how they get away with charging 300% on items but on flipside great for the share divs
If it wasn't for postage and people needing stuff ASAP these other sites would be killing it and Bunnings might be a bit more competitive...

not sure about anything down your way but brother lives down that neck of woods so will check with him when see him next. (wouldn't be surprised if Rockingham or Bibra Lake has something)

Smoky today!! Got my overflow working.. gonna wait and see about putting a solids filter on.

Would anyone know what would cause the plants to just seem to stop dead in growth? Would it be the recent drop in temps or something else?



Values seem normal as far as I can tell but my lettuce and carrots and leeks just aren't moving...

More pics :-)



Sad carrots: