Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

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I just had a thought. If you can get the large diameter pipe, but can't get end caps, you might be able to use buckets for the caps? Either inside or around the outside of the pipe. It wouldn't look as pretty as the correct caps, but it might do the job

at a pinch you could use rubber matting and a huge pipe camp

def thats a good idea, that or maby even just the lids would work

so i was thinking today that i need more gravel on the bottom of my tank, but i just can't come to terms with going to the pet store and buying sand for my tank at like 20 dollars a bag when i have a ton of rocky sandy dirt outside. my question is how bad would it be if i took some of the rocky dirt from my back yard and put it in my tank? i was thinking i could put it in a pan and cook it in the oven to sterlize. is this a bad idea?

I don't think you need to sterilise the gravel. Wash it and lay it out on a tray of some description in the sun for a few days if you are concerned about it.

The gravel I bought was not sterilized. The sand I scooped up from the beach wasn't sterilized. I wouldn't worry about sterilizing it. After all, you want bacteria, right?

Nice RB Will look forward to your progress.

so my system went through another change, i removed a level and replaced the plants with ornimental plants, im not sure if thease plants will provide the same amount of nutrient removal but its looks good heres a pic

more pics

pics

looking good. what is that big old fish down there?

koi there are 3 of them in the tank i have had them since january

so when i put the new plants into my system i just used the planters they were in with the potting soil they had, there are holes in the bottoms of the planters and only about 1/4 of an inch is in the water but the top of the soil is wet dose anyone think this will be a problem? the plants have been in the system for a day now and they don't look anydifferent.