Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

i've never found solids in the bottom to be of a huge concern unless they consist of UNEATEN fish food..............

as above

Ah, that is reassuring to know. Thanks.



I assume if you cut back on feed, they'll eat it eventually? Or perhaps fish have a 3-second rule too!? If food has touched the floor for more than 3 seconds then it's not ok to eat it!

Don't feed all the food in one go. Toss them a bit, make sure they eat it and then give them some more. You'll soon work out their feeding habits and learn to feed accordingly.

I think it depends on the species as to whether they will take food from the bottom of the tank.

as jaymie said.

the fish aren't going to eat the food if its festering at the bottom, but nasty fungus will :Shock:

Hi Scottie,

Are you going to cut off the top of the tank or just cut out some of the panels?

Hi LB,



I decided not to cut the top off - mostly cos I was worried about the seams splitting. You can see pictures of the seam in this thread: http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... php?t=1757

So I'll probably just cut an eighth out of the lid so the fishies know when it's daytime. & so I can feed them & keep an eye on them. Actually, I'm a bit worried that I might not be able to see the fishies against the background of the dark green tank!

Maybe I should install a floodlight!?

Scottie, catching 'em might be a problem...but think of the fun...it would justify the purchase of a good rod 'n reel, braided line, fluorocarbon leader, squidgies etc.!!! My wife says we can eat the fish as long as she doesn't see them swimming around...big pleading eyes, next thing they have names, personalities and families. Beware!

That's why you should have white fish.

we rarely see our fish just the splash as another pellet disappears

I'd suggest installing a infra red or uv camera hooked up via wireless. Then you could install an robotic net-on-arm which is capable of capturing the fish. Then add a conveyer belt to your tank such that it brings the captured fish to your computer room/kitchen.

That way you can select a fish from the comfort of your own home and 30 seconds later have that very same fish delivered to you.

My order of 50mm plug-&-waste thingamabobs arrived yesterday ... they're too big! D'OH! :insert-Homer-emoticon-here:

I'm BIIK what the 50mm corresponds to - basically it will only fit in a ~65mm hole! The inside diameter of the drainage hole is ~47mm.

Anyway, I visited a local plumbing store this morning & procured a 40mm plug-&-waste thingamabob - it fits comfortably in my 50mm bathtub hole with only a little bit of play - in short I think with plenty of silicon it will be acceptable.

But I need some help working out how to connect PVC pipe to the thingamabob. The inside diameter is ~36mm. Will 32mm pressure pipe fit snuggly inside? From other topics on this forum I've gleaned that it's not advisable to use DWV pipe, correct?

Any advice how to connect pressure pipe to thingamabobs would be muchly appreciated.

Scott I am not a plumber Smedley

you need the fitting that screws on to the bottom of the waste thread, that the pipe then slips into. It is available, because that is exactly how I plumbed up my first GBs

Never take the label of PVC fittings as any actual measurement on the fitting. Measure it with a tape measure and then measure it in the shop... I fall for it ALL the time...

Hi Monya,



Ah, great! What's the fitting called? & does it connect to pressure pipe or DWV pipe?