Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Here's how they look when cladded. I know the straps will only last a couple years in the sun. Maybe i can paint them?

The tanks are in place, but leveling the ground hasn't quite worked out yet. I have variance of 1/4 inch or so on one, and almost 1/2 inch on the other. I'm not sure this will matter too much.
One tank is cladded with the walls of an old wooden hot tub I picked up.
The other is someone's redwood decking they were giving away.
I like how they turned out. Now i just need to level properly, and decide on the SLO size.

The tanks are ready for 2 inch SLO plumbing, but it sounds like 3 inches might be a better choice.

Here's a view of the grow bed that is currently connected. Right now the habaneros are just starting to set fruit. I think the shade cloth might have been too much shade. The beans are still making beans. The lettuce is doing great now. The ginger looks good, but I have no idea when it is ready to harvest. The strawberries are still growing, and started to form a few flowers now that the shade cloth is off. The sun is lower now, and the temps are dropping, so we'll see how things grow.

Oh, and the basil, the basil, the basil! It's still going strong. It made two nice batches of pesto so far. I'm going to make another batch soon.

I was thinking of having both of these big tanks go into one RFF. Would it work to have them both spill in from above the stilling well coming in from different angles? Would this matter?


The area is kind of tight, so I wanted to get the RFF in the wedge between the tanks.



Then have exit plumbing from the rff go into a mbbr?

Would it matter if I constrict the plumbing after the SLO (3 inch) to 2 inch?

Would this help with retention times in the RFF, or just cause my cactus next to the tanks to become decoupled aquaponics?

I've seen this top down method done with a single pipe from one tank at least once, thinking of Web4Deb, in his commercial venture.

Couple of things mate, I know it’s just a drawing, and a very nice one too, but in reality the SLO uprights will be in the centre of the tanks won’t they?
I think I’ve said before I removed my filter from the system as it added work. Draining from the base was awkward and it needed cleaning often. That said my media is starting to clog up so am thinking about reinstating it again to give the beds time to decompose.
The thing about gravity feed is that it’s dynamics are constantly changing. If the sump level lowers there’s a higher head so less flow. If any pipe that’s a gravity feed is full pressure will build up behind it, good at the ft as it increases the SLO vacuuming effect but bad if it overflows. Air locks can also become issues if pipework isn’t level or sloping down. With short pipe runs these aren’t too much of a problem but I like to try and keep an air gap in the pipework at all times.
Generally when you join two pipes you upsize from there but you’re looking at reducing and this would be my main concern but it may cope with the flow anyway.
I’ll throw this link at you as you may be surprised at the different flow rates through different sized pipes.
https://www.supadiverta.com.au/friction ... rates.html

Skeg,You are 100 percent (Don't know that one in Metric) correct that they would be in the center!
I simply had already written in the label, and didn't want to draw the SLO over it (Lazy) and didn't want to erase. (Lazier).

Yeah, filters are kind of awkward. Crouching down to drain my current RFF at least gives my abs and legs a workout.
I do want the extra filtration just cause I know that I'll be somewhat heavily stocked for now. I think the removal of solids would be helpful for now. Plus, I used about 50 % scoria in the new beds, which seems like it would be much less fun to clean than expanded clay or pumice (Which are an absolute joy). I think I'm starting to grasp mineralization, and might give that a go.

The bit about air locks is good to remember. In this case, I'd have a good12 feet or so of straight pipe length, so maybe I should create a vent along the way.

I might just have to bite the bullet and get a few more uniseals, but I'm not sure if the local place that carries them will have 3 inch anymore. I bought the two that they had the last time I went in, and they said that they had those two for a very long time. It wasn't a hot seller. They generally have 2 in/50 mm and smaller.

And, thanks for the flow rate chart. I appreciate it.

Only Aquaponics can produce such massive habanero peppers, and so abundant as well.
These things are huge!
I mean look at them!
A picture says a million words......

Yeah, these were about the size of a house fly, if that!

Tiny guys, but they still packed a little kick, and had all the flavor of their big brothers and sisters!

I wasn't really sure when to harvest, so I just waited for the tops to die down. Got about a pound from a few plants. All of what was harvested isn't shown on the scale, that was from one plant. There's also more that hasn't been harvested. It's good ginger! It's juicy, and has a good heat.

Wow Will, things are looking really good! Nice work!

Whenever my catfish start flashing I get very nervous. It usually means there is something bothering them. In my experience it has been Ich. It's good you are running salt. I think anything over 2.5 ppt is a bit high for the plants.

Those catfish are looking good!!

Hiya Will, how’s it all going?
Bump…

Hey Skeg!

Things are still ticking along. I know it's been a while since I've checked in!

Work got really busy for a while, my computer's charger is finicky, my computer is old and slow, it takes me a while to get pictures uploaded and resized, and I was busy with the rest of my crazy life, practically schooling the kids from home......and covid slowed me down for a while...

I had another ph crash due to a lack of testing and not adding carbonates regularly, i lost a couple fish because of it. I think it was 3 total. Ammonia spiked. The majority pulled through. Channel Catfish are quite tough. So now I am testing more regularly, and alternating between potassium and calcium to keep the ph up.

Things are going well overall. How is it in your neck of the woods?

Here are a few update photos.

I have harvested quite a few fish, and they have been great!

I don't remember if I posted this pic yet.

We tried frying the fish skin on, and skinless. I found that we like the fish skinned when fried.




The other day I barbecued some, and they were delicious.

I updated the RFF, with a side drain (Ball valve popped through a unusual) that is a little lower than half way down, so I can drain clean water from the upper portion before emptying the solids.


It is a good addition. I am happy to finally get it installed.
It drains into the sump.

This happened after I had another leak at the uniseal that the SLO goes through, passing through an IBC wall. I originally had it going from the inside out, since it was easier at the time. After two big water losses, I switched it so that the uni's flange with writing is outside of the tank, and added a piece of Poly plastic from a drum, to bulk up the thickness where the uni expands, and it has not been leaking for a few weeks.