Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Shudda used the chainsaw - not only do you get a precise cut, you get the dulcet tones of a 2 stroke engine reverberating from the inner sanctums of the fish tank...for a more spectacular sight, fill the tank with water 1st...even better, add fish

MC,
are you still wanting to make the bio filter? If so, look at this, http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_275 ... +Strapping

I went through the same process of looking at the different options, and TC is right about the tediousness of it. (PVC) This strapping can be had for free or near to it. You want the embossed type for more surface area. It comes in about 9000 ft rolls. I sent them and inquiry email as well as left a message, both responded, both sent me a free sample, FULL rolls. I just fold and stuff into onion sacks, and tie to the bottom of the pond near the drain where water is constantly flowing through (by the drain). It is quite boyant so you would have to weigh it down. It has really helped with the bio filter part of things.

Just curious though, if you are going to put in grow beds, why do you want this? The GB media more than replaces the need for other Bio filters. This is a big part of why I am excited about this whole AP thing. Builing a sufficient biofilter for a large fish load, even with cheap materials will either get expensive or large and still supply no plants...

i want to make one system with no gravel, i want to only grow watercress in it.

If the water will run independant of the other GB, then I would try the poly strapping. It has lots of surface area, and free is a pretty good price, they even paid the shipping. If they don't offer that up, let me know, I probably have some extra.

MC, I've got water cress growing on the gravel in one of the beds.

i think gravel would be to heavy for what i have planed......... on a koi site i was lookin at the dude was usein styrofoam packin peanuts for media

I like the idea of the strap material. I have 2 filters going that have the pvc material I bought on line, it works great at keeping all the sludge out of my grow beds, which was a big problem last year.

have you seen my bio filter MC ? its in my thread Here

made from safety mesh and gutter guard to give it some rigidity but thats not really needed

how many fish per gallon do you run with it?

Instead of buying 100,s scotch pads. I went to lowes ( home depot) and got the the large round scrubber pads that go on the bottom of the large floor buffers. they where 5$ and when cut up they trun into a lot of surface are.


I kind find a pic if I am not discribing it correctly.


Ramp

LOL i have 6 goldfish i know i dont need it but it was fun to build i was justtrying to give you ideas

pretty much anything will work as long as its light and has a huge surface area that bacteria can live in

met a guy today who takes care of golf course ponds for a living, and has aquaponics system for a hobby, says he can get me 100 channel cat fingerlings for $ 100 delivered. think im gonna take the offer and try them out. gonna wait for it to cool off alittle though, its gettin to 115 f in the day here lately. water temp is 85f in the day and 65f in the morning, i think the temp swings are making my fish unhappy. need to find a way to keep the temp more stable maybe?

That is a pretty wide swing in temps, MC. Any way to insulate the tank...bury it in the ground or something. Maybe some shade?

prolly if i insulate the tanks i think will make it better. just checked the temp and the water is 82f and the air is 104f, gonna check it alot the next few days, the air temp has been in the high 60s to low 70s in the mornings. i think the water loses its heat at night from going through the hose outside the tank, gonna wrap that first.

Lids on the tank help a lot, too.