Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks Mate, the weekly dosing supprised me, I suppose with your huge volume of produce you need to dose weekly to keep on top of it.

I use DTPA 11% and dose to 2.0 mgl but I've only been dosing whenever I see the plants calling out for more, I now have a new Hanna Iron Checker I will start dosing weekly and check the level monthly.

With Iron this time I wanted to be on top of it and not have the plants telling me they were in deficiency so like you I have the Hanna checker which makes keeping an eye on levels so easy from there I found how much I needed to dose to keep in the 1.5/2 mgl range. Another thing I was slightly concerned about was the photosensitive of DPTA, the hanna checker showed me that the light levels in the fish house and greenhouse were ok and not giving me a problem.

We all love pictures so here is a few of a small DWC/Tube system Iam currently building for a Christian foundation. The trough is 6 meters by 30 cm or 12 inches deep and there is going to be 4 x 3 inch tubes along side.

It’s a single tank of 460 litres with the filtration constructed from 60 litre barrels the sump a pair of 200 litre barrels,this will allow for expansion in the future. Filtration is taken care of by a Swirl filter onto a K1 Static Upflow with the final filter a K1 MBBR.

The bottom drain from the swirl is plumbed into a 200 litre MT which in turn is plumbed backe into the Static Upflow, so at cleaning and dosing time it should be, turn the air of to the MT and let it settle, built into the MT is a pipe to control level so when the tap is opened it will only drop to this level,this flows through the SUFF which will remove any solids,then through the MBBR which will remove any Ammonia or Nitrite should there be any,this then flows through the system. The water in the MT is replaced after closing the drain tap by opening the drain tap on the swirl filter, well that’s the plan anyway and in my head it works perfectly...lol
This is a nice little system and if anyone wants any of the build spec, ask away.

I've just purchased my Hanna Checker, previously I had just used a Freshwater Iron Test Kit and found that it wasn't too accurate and over time it was easier to just add iron when the plants yelled out for it.

That will all change now that I can get a proper reading and things should improve.


That's a great little DWC system you're building for the Christian foundation, well done

If you haven't bought any shares in that company that makes that blue PVC pipe & fittings as yet you should give it some thought.

Haaahaaaa, no way man - your obsession is far greater than I could ever assist in. She should be grateful your so damn good at it... obviously because of me.

Im heading your way later in the year, Ill drop you a line closer to the date and see if your about. Way over due for a couple of ales Id say.

awesome job Andy. The build is the most exciting time! I think that's why I'm anxious to expand because it is a lot more fun than just running the system!

We must meet up, when you have your plans as you say drop me a line and we can sort something out for those couple of ales.

This has been hard work as a one man show but it’s been fun and very rewarding,I finished the air today and plumbed in the tubes so tomorrow should see water everywhere it should be, hopefully cycled the weekend so the first of the fish beginning of next week. I already have baby plants started so they can get put in as well tomorrow,I added seaweed extract today and I reckon a dash of Potassium Nitrate should see them off to a good start, more pics to follow.

really like the system. hope to create something just as good.

Hi Andy, I fell off the forum for a few years. Emigrated to New Zealand.
Thought I would pop in and take a look around, spotted your busy thread right away. So good to see how you're going gangbusters on the AP and your new greenhouse.

Was sad to see the news of your parents. Sorry about that my friend.

Will try and keep up now and see how it goes. :-)

Martin.

Andy has fallen off the forum too. Hopefully just because he's so busy building AP systems that when he does come back he has lots of new pictures for us.

+1 - I'd sure like to know if this is complete and how this system is doing.

Thanks Rob, hopefully he comes back soon!