Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Damn..... That's a nice system.. Such attention to detail.

I couldn't see exactly how you buried the IBC's but keep in mind when you get heavy rain, that if you didn't support the sides and the sump water level drops, dirt can push the sides of the plastic in.

Thanks for the heads up! I'm running a constant sump height with auto topoff so I should be good. I definitely should have shored up the hole before putting the sump in, but just didnt think of it at the time.

I'll keep an eye on it thanks.

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Haven't posted an update in a bit. Currently battling high PH (8ish), although I haven't done much to correct it as I hope it will come down as they system ages. I did add a 55 gallon reservoir that I have an airstone in to get rid of some of the chlorine and I'm now able to treat my city water down to around 6.5 with muratic acid. I think the auto top off will help a lot as I was probably shocking the system with large amounts of un-treated city water once every other week.

Peppers are pretty pathetic, haven't grown much since I planted them and all the leaves are falling off. Greenbeans and corn started out well but have completely stopped all growth. Tomatoes are so so, not performing quite as well as when I put them in the ground, they produced fruit early and the plants stopped growing vertically, still not bad though and I think we will get some quality fruit.


Zucchini, squash and cucumbers are doing great. I suspect they don't mind high PH as much as the rest of the plants. I was wondering if they could be stealing all of the nutrients in the system? Zucchinis go from about an inch to harvest size in a few days, it's pretty fun to watch.


Anyway here are some photos. Any comments or constructive criticism welcome!






Tomato, arugula, mint, garlic chives, onion chives, basil, oregano, tarragon. This one filled out pretty nicely and I'm learning I shouldnt have randomly thrown a tomato in with the herbs!




Sad peppers


Beans not doing much, maybe they will kick into gear?


Japanese and garden cucumbers



The best zucchini and squash I have ever grown.


Corn stopped altogether. Maybe I'm just impatient but I do seem to remember them going much quickly in the ground.


Fish are happy. I think I'm ready to add more as the ammonia numbers look good. Currently have 50.


Auto top-off. I need to route some piping in the sump that will stir up the detrius that is accumulating. Or was thinking of putting some crayfish in there.



Thanks
Matt

Also made some wicking pots after watching some of Murray Hallam's videos on youtube. I'm determined to get some peppers this year. These are bells, serrano, habanero, garden salsa, Anaheim and jalapeno peppers. They seem to be doing really well.


Slotted pipe, vermiculite and then two layers of shade cloth, followed by sunshine mix #4, worm castings and azomite.





And a couple weeks later everything looks pretty good.



4th of July dinner.




Thanks,
Matt