Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well, how about lumber and pond liners? Then you can build the dimensions you like.

I can't find those 50 gal rubbermaids here. The tuff stuff tub is from a pond/farm feed store and they don't have anything good for a growbed. I actually shoiuld go and take a look again to see if they have new stock.

Maybe I'll just add one or two more barrel bottoms and figure out a sump.

Thanks!

If you can get the barrels easily, what about cutting them lengthwise and getting two larger beds that way?

I used a 200 Litre (50 gal) drum - top cut out, as sump for 4, half drum grow beds. You could gang sump drums up by using siphons to equalise the water level between them.

See the sump drum in My BYAP System
Regards,
Tony

Hey HN.... Dave Donley is using various Tuff Tubs in his system, both as tanks and the mortar tub as growbeds .... have a look

DD's System Tubs

He got them from Tractor Supply Co

Or you could try the manufacturers themselves for the ...Mortar Tub

I think he should get a used dugout canoe and use that as a grow bed. And put tiki idols all around it for good luck. And surfboards, and wahines, and a nice BBQ pit, and...

(Sorry too much coffee)

OK here are the plans for increasing GB volumes since that was the general consensus. I plan to add another GB on the side (20 gal) and have a pump on a separate timer so the water level does not drop too much. I have pretty much everything except another timer. I'll post pics when complete.

My lettuce that I am growing doesn't seem to be that healthy. They are growing taller but not thicker and some of the leaves have white curly lines on them. Any ideas?

I will also try and test nutes this weekend.

Thanks! This is fun!

HN

HN, with two pumps running from the same tank, just be sure that your don't/can't run the tank dry

Any reason that you can't just extend the growbed delivery line to the new growbed and continue using the one pump?

I probably will add another GB and have 3 on the rack. The reason I want to have a second pump is so I can stagger their cycles so I don't have all 3 GBs full of water at once.

Fair enough... just raise the point to make you aware...

i.e if pump1 fails to switch off and pump2 starts will you have enough water draining back to ensure fish and pump survive.

Personally, I've wanted to implement a 2 tiered siphoning system. You can make one GB siphon into the next level and then back to the tank. Only need 1 pump that way, and the fills are still staggered.

Depends on your physical set up of course. You need the height for it to work.

HN, have you grown lettuce successfully before? I ask because we live in a warm region and lettuce often bolts before you get much use from it. We pick leaves each day for our meals, and this helps to slow the bolting.

I haven't had much success with lettuce. I have had a few grow OK but 75% of the time it bolts and grows poorly. I think you are correct. Maybe I'll grow something else. Any suggestions for a warm region?

HN

ours never heads up, same with cabbage. Try some tongue lettuce, loose head ones like corals, they take to daily pruning quite well.
I just keep chucking more seeds in, as one lot of plants bolt too far, another lot is coming ready to start. The chooks get the leftovers.

Wow this is spooky,
I was looking for lettuce variaties, (spelt like that) in a google search,
and Backyard aquaponics popped up with C1's first node........second on the list!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for hijack now gone to get the info!