Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

that makes me feel heaps better Dan, considering half the gravel is yours

And Dan, half the blame would be yours too.

my thoughts exactly

Well if was Dans gravel that broke the growbeds back ... then I think he'd be 100% responsible ...

now that is more like it!

Well there is no bending on the frames even flooded which is lucky but they did sink a bit on the first flood. Hopefully they don't sink any further or else we will need to jack them up and put pavers under the legs.
The system is pretty much up and running. The sum holds the whole flood volume easily, with about 1500 litres to spare. So the pump pumps to the fish tank which overflows using syphons to the growbeds. Each gb has one irrigation pipe down the middle with 10mm holes drilled in it. We have installed 2 syphons as one failed to keep up with the flow of the pump, 2 does the job nicely and builds a certain degree of safety in cas eone fails. The second pump feed (can't remember the watts, but it is either 50 or 70? pond pump Resun King 3a) the nft channels which are the elgrow one rupert was talking about. Just one comment, they are very cool, but by the time you buy end caps drains ends and feeder lines and channel clips to complete the system as it is designed, it does add up a bit. Also, this second pump is tee'd off to the fish tank and will run 24/7 to aerate the tank between floods and so there will always we some water flowing thru the gb's, then once every hour and a half they will flood. I estimate total water volume to be 11000 litres, gb volume just over 8000 litres, and we will be stocking this system with 500 fingerlings when they become available.
Final ssteps are to complete the standpipes and cover the gh with plastic and the sides with shadecloth, and do all the fine adjustments required, then build a shed at the end for the tank and sump.... lots of work but it is all good fun!
Overall we are stoked with how the system has come together, I think the big sump solves a lot of the issues I had with my first system where the sump was overflowing every now and then and the sump pump often struggled to keep up. Also, this will use a lot less power and service a lot more growing space and fish. Overall a good result
Some pics

one more

wow. by the looks of the progress your a real hard worker monya.

i know from expirience how many man hours must have gone into your current system.

i'm stoked for you monya .

That looks fantastic, congratulations. Bet you can't wait to get it planted eh!
Nice countryside too. Don't you just pinch yourself at sunrise when the rooster starts crowing. I was going to say chooks but thought that was not quite right.

Yep, he's a real hard worker alright!!

Team effort

Rooster starts up at 4:30 am, so I ain't only pinching myself

Mon, your roo sleeps in

Remind him about daylight saving time.... tell him if he starts before 5:30 he's dead

Nice Monya, really nice...