I hope I didn’t already make a topic for this. If I did I can’t find it.
But it’s all systems go now. It’ll take a few weeks to get going, then has to run for several weeks to check for leaks and under go water testing before I can start planting in it. A polycarbonate sheet of the patio roof will be removed to provide more sun, and I’m going to prune a neighbours pittosporum tree. Neighbour doesn’t mind.

Diagram of the beds top and side views. Closer to the weekend my young ap friend will re visit to make sure I have all the piping and joins and whatnot. This will be going in the corner of the patio nearest the pond. The existing pond will become the sump tank and house yabbies. The big 1000 lt pondy tub will be raised and become the fish tank for the gold fish. One day there’ll be golden perch in it instead.

It all looks impressive…can’t understand the drawings but I’m sure it would be like the Snowy Hydro scheme…once you see it in real life, you understand it…

_But it’s all systems go now. It’ll take a few weeks to get going, then has to run for several weeks to check for leaks and under go water testing before I can start planting in it. A polycarbonate sheet of the patio roof will be removed to provide more sun, and I’m going to prune a neighbours pittosporum tree. Neighbour doesn’t mind.

Diagram of the beds top and side views. Closer to the weekend my young ap friend will re visit to make sure I have all the piping and joins and whatnot. This will be going in the corner of the patio nearest the pond. The existing pond will become the sump tank and house yabbies. The big 1000 lt pondy tub will be raised and become the fish tank for the gold fish. One day there’ll be golden perch in it instead._

This will definitely be an interesting topic for me – fresh fish are hard to find.
Aquaponics is tricky so i’m glad the young one is helping.

Why remove the sheet of polycarb? i would have thought it would make things hotter in winter?
How many fish in the system?

Anyrate well done.

All the besser bricks loaded into my car, brought here then stacked.. I am stuffed. I asked the homeowner if I could have a bucket of cold water, and he got it, and I tipped it over my head.

Thank you Justin. Starting small with two grow beds and the six big goldfish I had. To be improved apon when I find out more about how to keep golden perch. Then the goldfish will be rehomed to VU ap set up tank.

On the contrary re the patio roof..the area seems to have a weird climate of it’s own. In winter it traps frost and everything under the roof area freezes, then the same but in reverse for summer, traps an incredible amount of heat. It could be 35-40 C outside, but 45- 50 C under the patio. Once when the themp was 43C, I recorded 54C out there. We have to release that trapped air, somehow. A flat roof doesn’t help, that was not a good idea.

So far only cost has been the pipe bits.

Yabby flats :)

Happy Potter said:

Yabby flats :)

LOL Good one!

Using a ground level pond for yabbies may be a little problematic. They’re well known for going walkabout.

Other than that, it looks like the cat’s pyjamas.

Teleost said:

Using a ground level pond for yabbies may be a little problematic. They’re well known for going walkabout.

Other than that, it looks like the cat’s pyjamas.

Yep. You need a fish tank with a lid to keep a yabby at home.

roughbarked said:

Teleost said:

Using a ground level pond for yabbies may be a little problematic. They’re well known for going walkabout.

Other than that, it looks like the cat’s pyjamas.

Yep. You need a fish tank with a lid to keep a yabby at home.

We put yabbies in our trough, the kids brought them home from a trip bush somewhere…that night I met a yabbie heading for “home”… 100 odd km away.. put it back in the trough but they disappeared…we always wondered what happened to them…now we know!

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Teleost said:

Using a ground level pond for yabbies may be a little problematic. They’re well known for going walkabout.

Other than that, it looks like the cat’s pyjamas.

Yep. You need a fish tank with a lid to keep a yabby at home.

We put yabbies in our trough, the kids brought them home from a trip bush somewhere…that night I met a yabbie heading for “home”… 100 odd km away.. put it back in the trough but they disappeared…we always wondered what happened to them…now we know!

To be able to survive.. They need to follow water to the end of its run.

The yabbies do go walkabout and sometimes serve themselves up as an entree to the chooks.
Max has learn’t that they are also something I look after and will alert me to one out of the pond. Then I go and pick it up and plonk it back in.

But the local supply is unlimited. I can get bucketsful not too far away. Fiddly, but a great source of meat. I’ve noticed that if they have plenty of caves to stay holed up in, they tend to stay in the pond.

Happy Potter said:

The yabbies do go walkabout and sometimes serve themselves up as an entree to the chooks.
Max has learn’t that they are also something I look after and will alert me to one out of the pond. Then I go and pick it up and plonk it back in.

But the local supply is unlimited. I can get bucketsful not too far away. Fiddly, but a great source of meat. I’ve noticed that if they have plenty of caves to stay holed up in, they tend to stay in the pond.

One noted exception is that when they tip Acrolein into the irrigation canals the yabbies climb out of the water and sit on the bank until it is safe to enter the water again.

Acrolein : Biocide

Acrolein is mainly used as a contact herbicide to control submersed and floating weeds, as well as algae, in irrigation canals. It is used at a level of 10 ppm in irrigation and recirculating waters.

I’ve been working on the AP system with the young fellow nearly all day. We got more piping and bulkhead fittings at the plumbing place and joined A to B then to C, ect.
I have some jobs to do during the week, like empty my rainwater IBC and take the pallet bottom off it, replace it on some bricks so it’s higher (better gravity) and put it back in place as a rain tank, drill holes in media guards and a couple other small things I can do without help.
Then late next week there’ll be a bunch of the students here to put the thing together. Will take pics. :)

Had tea at the pub, even as silly as I look with my obviously very sore nose.

Happy Potter said:

I’ve been working on the AP system with the young fellow nearly all day. We got more piping and bulkhead fittings at the plumbing place and joined A to B then to C, ect.
I have some jobs to do during the week, like empty my rainwater IBC and take the pallet bottom off it, replace it on some bricks so it’s higher (better gravity) and put it back in place as a rain tank, drill holes in media guards and a couple other small things I can do without help.
Then late next week there’ll be a bunch of the students here to put the thing together. Will take pics. :)

Had tea at the pub, even as silly as I look with my obviously very sore nose.

Good work …

I presume that AP = aqua pond?

roughbarked said:

I presume that AP = aqua pond?

aquaponic

Happy Potter said:

roughbarked said:

I presume that AP = aqua pond?

aquaponic

ta. :)

This is finally going to be built next week, tues and wed, yay! I’ll be taking lots of photos :)

I’ll be spending the week washing river stones. Great, lol.

Happy Potter said:

This is finally going to be built next week, tues and wed, yay! I’ll be taking lots of photos :)

I’ll be spending the week washing river stones. Great, lol.

Yay! Looking forward to the photos…

Working hard on this for the past 2 days and still tomorrow to go. We didn’t do the event thing as planned, didn’t want to scare my young friend with too many people about, so it was just the select few by invite only. It was just as well because we had electrical equipment and cord trip hazards and piping everywhere.
There was much measuring and sawing, carting pavers and selecting the right ones, cleaning and placing things where they need to be. In the end the bessa bricks were used as the grow bed stands but I will still use the ornamental blocks to hide the bases. I can do that at my leisure later on.

Photos so far, not in any particular order.

Ergg sorry about the first two pics doubled up.

looks pretty impressive so far :)

Happy Potter said:

Working hard on this for the past 2 days and still tomorrow to go. We didn’t do the event thing as planned, didn’t want to scare my young friend with too many people about, so it was just the select few by invite only. It was just as well because we had electrical equipment and cord trip hazards and piping everywhere.
There was much measuring and sawing, carting pavers and selecting the right ones, cleaning and placing things where they need to be. In the end the bessa bricks were used as the grow bed stands but I will still use the ornamental blocks to hide the bases. I can do that at my leisure later on.

Photos so far, not in any particular order.

super speccy – luv it – I like – thumbs up
go and rest your back – there’s a lot of work there but it looks well balanced and well finished.

Thanks, BG, Justin :) Can’t wait to see it loaded with edibles and finding out what I can grow in it.
They are amazing systems, there’s even some bods who grow trees in them. It will save me the work of having to half drain the pond and pumping the dirty water to the fruit trees and hoses laying about.
It is essentially growing food plants atop a bio filter for fish. The edible fish will come next.

Happy Potter said:

Thanks, BG, Justin :) Can’t wait to see it loaded with edibles and finding out what I can grow in it.
They are amazing systems, there’s even some bods who grow trees in them. It will save me the work of having to half drain the pond and pumping the dirty water to the fruit trees and hoses laying about.
It is essentially growing food plants atop a bio filter for fish. The edible fish will come next.

the only AP setup I’ve seen was bigger – but nowhere near as levelled and true as yours.
yours look about the right size imho.

PS : watercress is a ‘superfood’ I think – and is worth a thought in the ‘perlite’ section -

Well..what fun, lol.
We got it all together then filled the big black tub and let the system flow through. Then all hell broke loose lol! ..realised that if the grow media is not in yet, then much more water is needed to fill an ibc than was thought, then a leak underneath bed 2 appeared. It was once the top of the IBC and it’s screw in cap wasn’t sealed. A visiting friend dashed out to his car for a lump of beeswax, rolled it into a blob and pressed it on..haha it worked a treat Then turned on the sump tank to hurry things up, and whoa! sump drained way too fast. With the fish still in it. Pump capacity too big, lots of yelling, quick find a flow valve someone! rescue the fish! quickly! lol. Then the bell siphon didn’t flush as it was supposed to..turned out to be an outlet pipe prob, fixed that then I put the big fish into the new tank, no time to gas it off, and slowed the flow with a ball valve..phew. Then the smallest fish got caught up the solids lift pipe and blocked the water flow, more panic stations, but got it out unharmed, switched the thing off and fell about laughing. *some teething problems. lol!

It’s switched off for the moment while I find a suitable filter for the solids lift pipe to stop fishies getting in there, then we’re away :D

Happy Potter said:

Well..what fun, lol.
We got it all together then filled the big black tub and let the system flow through. Then all hell broke loose lol! ..realised that if the grow media is not in yet, then much more water is needed to fill an ibc than was thought, then a leak underneath bed 2 appeared. It was once the top of the IBC and it’s screw in cap wasn’t sealed. A visiting friend dashed out to his car for a lump of beeswax, rolled it into a blob and pressed it on..haha it worked a treat Then turned on the sump tank to hurry things up, and whoa! sump drained way too fast. With the fish still in it. Pump capacity too big, lots of yelling, quick find a flow valve someone! rescue the fish! quickly! lol. Then the bell siphon didn’t flush as it was supposed to..turned out to be an outlet pipe prob, fixed that then I put the big fish into the new tank, no time to gas it off, and slowed the flow with a ball valve..phew. Then the smallest fish got caught up the solids lift pipe and blocked the water flow, more panic stations, but got it out unharmed, switched the thing off and fell about laughing. *some teething problems. lol!

It’s switched off for the moment while I find a suitable filter for the solids lift pipe to stop fishies getting in there, then we’re away :D

fun and games :D

Happy Potter said:

Well..what fun, lol.
We got it all together then filled the big black tub and let the system flow through. Then all hell broke loose lol! ..realised that if the grow media is not in yet, then much more water is needed to fill an ibc than was thought, then a leak underneath bed 2 appeared. It was once the top of the IBC and it’s screw in cap wasn’t sealed. A visiting friend dashed out to his car for a lump of beeswax, rolled it into a blob and pressed it on..haha it worked a treat Then turned on the sump tank to hurry things up, and whoa! sump drained way too fast. With the fish still in it. Pump capacity too big, lots of yelling, quick find a flow valve someone! rescue the fish! quickly! lol. Then the bell siphon didn’t flush as it was supposed to..turned out to be an outlet pipe prob, fixed that then I put the big fish into the new tank, no time to gas it off, and slowed the flow with a ball valve..phew. Then the smallest fish got caught up the solids lift pipe and blocked the water flow, more panic stations, but got it out unharmed, switched the thing off and fell about laughing. *some teething problems. lol!

It’s switched off for the moment while I find a suitable filter for the solids lift pipe to stop fishies getting in there, then we’re away :D

whoa indeed! still – teething problems are part of any working system.

Happy Potter said:

Well..what fun, lol.
We got it all together then filled the big black tub and let the system flow through. Then all hell broke loose lol! ..realised that if the grow media is not in yet, then much more water is needed to fill an ibc than was thought, then a leak underneath bed 2 appeared. It was once the top of the IBC and it’s screw in cap wasn’t sealed. A visiting friend dashed out to his car for a lump of beeswax, rolled it into a blob and pressed it on..haha it worked a treat Then turned on the sump tank to hurry things up, and whoa! sump drained way too fast. With the fish still in it. Pump capacity too big, lots of yelling, quick find a flow valve someone! rescue the fish! quickly! lol. Then the bell siphon didn’t flush as it was supposed to..turned out to be an outlet pipe prob, fixed that then I put the big fish into the new tank, no time to gas it off, and slowed the flow with a ball valve..phew. Then the smallest fish got caught up the solids lift pipe and blocked the water flow, more panic stations, but got it out unharmed, switched the thing off and fell about laughing. *some teething problems. lol!

It’s switched off for the moment while I find a suitable filter for the solids lift pipe to stop fishies getting in there, then we’re away :D

Poor little fishies, good thing their memories are so short and they’ll recover from the trauma…how egg-siting to have the AP system so close to functional…!

More water play fun today. I was adjusting flow valves to get bed one to start filling as bed 2 was ready to empty and pipes fell apart. I hadn’t glued them yet as I’d been adjusting them, and whoosh, water went everywhere and I had a cold shower lol.

Hence me calling the man and telling him to bring food lol.

The AP system is cycling well, but we’re still working on getting one grow bed to start emptying while the other is half full. If they both flush at once then the sump overflows, and when the grow beds refill the pump is nearly exposed when the water drops. It’s nearly impossible lol, but we will get there. It’s a matter of getting three ball taps timed right. One to each grow bed and one to the fish tank spray bar, without retarding the pump too much. It’s all very interesting.

The grow beds were too deep so we have cut them down to half their depth. That meant cutting down the bell siphons but they are working well. The big fish love their new roomy pond, and the yabbies are doing great in the sump (in ground pond) despite the constant fluctuations in the water level. I haven’t cleaned the river stones yet, but will get around to it.

Great to see it all progressing so well…

I’m gunna have a go at growing peas in the grow bed. Seeing as I can’t seem to grow them in the ground anyway, what have I to lose ? lol.

What I don’t know though is whether I first raise them in punnets first, that much I have done before, then rinse off the dirt and plug em into the stones, or direct sow. If I direct sow, the seed could go too deep between the stones. But I’m not sure if the seedlings roots would be up to tampering with. So.. I’ll probably try both ways. ;)

Happy Potter said:

I’m gunna have a go at growing peas in the grow bed. Seeing as I can’t seem to grow them in the ground anyway, what have I to lose ? lol.

What I don’t know though is whether I first raise them in punnets first, that much I have done before, then rinse off the dirt and plug em into the stones, or direct sow. If I direct sow, the seed could go too deep between the stones. But I’m not sure if the seedlings roots would be up to tampering with. So.. I’ll probably try both ways. ;)

I thought peas were rather sturdy when it comes to transplanting, possibly at the 4-leaf stage?

Happy Potter said:

I’m gunna have a go at growing peas in the grow bed. Seeing as I can’t seem to grow them in the ground anyway, what have I to lose ? lol.

What I don’t know though is whether I first raise them in punnets first, that much I have done before, then rinse off the dirt and plug em into the stones, or direct sow. If I direct sow, the seed could go too deep between the stones. But I’m not sure if the seedlings roots would be up to tampering with. So.. I’ll probably try both ways. ;)

I’d go for seedlings I think.

bluegreen said:

Happy Potter said:

I’m gunna have a go at growing peas in the grow bed. Seeing as I can’t seem to grow them in the ground anyway, what have I to lose ? lol.

What I don’t know though is whether I first raise them in punnets first, that much I have done before, then rinse off the dirt and plug em into the stones, or direct sow. If I direct sow, the seed could go too deep between the stones. But I’m not sure if the seedlings roots would be up to tampering with. So.. I’ll probably try both ways. ;)

I’d go for seedlings I think.

It won’t worry the peas to be direct sown. They can be transplanted but are way too easy to break.

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

Happy Potter said:

I’m gunna have a go at growing peas in the grow bed. Seeing as I can’t seem to grow them in the ground anyway, what have I to lose ? lol.

What I don’t know though is whether I first raise them in punnets first, that much I have done before, then rinse off the dirt and plug em into the stones, or direct sow. If I direct sow, the seed could go too deep between the stones. But I’m not sure if the seedlings roots would be up to tampering with. So.. I’ll probably try both ways. ;)

I’d go for seedlings I think.

It won’t worry the peas to be direct sown. They can be transplanted but are way too easy to break.

our guru has spoken and I bow to his sage advice.

:D

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

I’d go for seedlings I think.

It won’t worry the peas to be direct sown. They can be transplanted but are way too easy to break.

our guru has spoken and I bow to his sage advice.

:D

actually, thinking about it, you could put a layer of chux wipes or similar at the right level to support the seed. The roots would grow right through it but it would prevent the seed from dropping through the pebbles.

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

I’d go for seedlings I think.

It won’t worry the peas to be direct sown. They can be transplanted but are way too easy to break.

our guru has spoken and I bow to his sage advice.

:D

nah, don’t be silly. I don’t sit on the top of a mountain contemplating my navel all day. ;)

They can be transplanted and yes they do snap easily. There are ways around all of that but it is so much simpler to pop the seeds in. They’ll fruit well before any transplants will.

bluegreen said:

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

It won’t worry the peas to be direct sown. They can be transplanted but are way too easy to break.

our guru has spoken and I bow to his sage advice.

:D

actually, thinking about it, you could put a layer of chux wipes or similar at the right level to support the seed. The roots would grow right through it but it would prevent the seed from dropping through the pebbles.

whosezurdum?

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

bluegreen said:

our guru has spoken and I bow to his sage advice.

:D

actually, thinking about it, you could put a layer of chux wipes or similar at the right level to support the seed. The roots would grow right through it but it would prevent the seed from dropping through the pebbles.

whosezurdum?

nobody, but I am still yet to get satisfactory employment. :(

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

actually, thinking about it, you could put a layer of chux wipes or similar at the right level to support the seed. The roots would grow right through it but it would prevent the seed from dropping through the pebbles.

whosezurdum?

nobody, but I am still yet to get satisfactory employment. :(

I’ve never done hydroponics but I did see one bloke’s AP system. I think they need a root system to plant in perlite – not sure tho.

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

I’d go for seedlings I think.

It won’t worry the peas to be direct sown. They can be transplanted but are way too easy to break.

our guru has spoken and I bow to his sage advice.

:D

Indeed he has :) I can put little bamboo sticks in with them.

bluegreen said:

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

It won’t worry the peas to be direct sown. They can be transplanted but are way too easy to break.

our guru has spoken and I bow to his sage advice.

:D

actually, thinking about it, you could put a layer of chux wipes or similar at the right level to support the seed. The roots would grow right through it but it would prevent the seed from dropping through the pebbles.

Yep, and funny you say that because another suggestion was rubber sponge.

justin said:

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

whosezurdum?

nobody, but I am still yet to get satisfactory employment. :(

I’ve never done hydroponics but I did see one bloke’s AP system. I think they need a root system to plant in perlite – not sure tho.

Ok cool, tanks. I have perlite too.

Happy Potter said:

justin said:

bluegreen said:

nobody, but I am still yet to get satisfactory employment. :(

I’ve never done hydroponics but I did see one bloke’s AP system. I think they need a root system to plant in perlite – not sure tho.

Ok cool, tanks. I have perlite too.

I wonder about carefully sieved grape seed from grape marc.. I’ve seen it last for 35 years without decomposition. This should make it ideal for shading and providing protection from air to many plants in hydro-setups.

One grow bed filled with the grow media. YAY. It’s been so slow going washing and adding them. A tray full at a time. There was too much fine rock and sand in it. I came up with this whacky system to filter it using a wheelbarrow for the base to catch the sand, another tray from a worm farm with small holes to catch the fines, and a top tray from a worm farm with larger holes to let the smaller gravel drop through.
I hosed it as I brushed and moved it about it with a broken handled dustpan brush and they came up perfectly clean. I’ve learned a few lessons, not least of those is how to grade pebble sizes! 20 cm stones don’t mean they are all that size, just the biggest ones, the rest being smaller. Groan.
I’ve been tossing the clean gravel into the yabby pond. They love it, they are little bulldozers and I see them digging about in it. The sand in the barrow has drained thanks to a few pin holes in it and I can use that, somewhere. It’s builders sand though, not the fine beach stuff.

I’ve also incorporated the UV clarifier into the system from the inlet pipe from the yabby pond. Grow bed #2 is still empty of media and has been filling and siphoning well, but awash with green sheets of algae. My young helper uni fellow ummed and arhed about using it, he hadn’t seen one used in an aquaponics system and wasn’t sure that it was necessary. I’ve decided it is.

(I discovered something when I added it into the inlet pipe..when I had it running previously for the fish pond, I had it the wrong way around. There’s an inlet and an outlet specifically designed to have water spinning around the light inside it, but I had it running the opposite way. I can’t figure out how it worked. I giggled loudly..shh don’t tell anyone will you! lol!)

I’ve added an elbow pipe to the grow bed outlet so it sits a few millimetres above the grow media, to minimize splash. I don’t need to create a fungi fest with poopy fish water splashing over vege greens. By the time I’ve finished and ready to plant it out, the system will run silently. Apart from the gentle sound of the spray bar over the fish tank.
Oh and when the grow bed empties, there’s a sucking sound from the siphon. It makes people turn and ask what the heck was that! lol. It just means the system is cycling well and working to plan :)
New pics when I get a moment.

Happy Potter said:

One grow bed filled with the grow media. YAY. It’s been so slow going washing and adding them. A tray full at a time. There was too much fine rock and sand in it. I came up with this whacky system to filter it using a wheelbarrow for the base to catch the sand, another tray from a worm farm with small holes to catch the fines, and a top tray from a worm farm with larger holes to let the smaller gravel drop through.
I hosed it as I brushed and moved it about it with a broken handled dustpan brush and they came up perfectly clean. I’ve learned a few lessons, not least of those is how to grade pebble sizes! 20 cm stones don’t mean they are all that size, just the biggest ones, the rest being smaller. Groan.
I’ve been tossing the clean gravel into the yabby pond. They love it, they are little bulldozers and I see them digging about in it. The sand in the barrow has drained thanks to a few pin holes in it and I can use that, somewhere. It’s builders sand though, not the fine beach stuff.

I’ve also incorporated the UV clarifier into the system from the inlet pipe from the yabby pond. Grow bed #2 is still empty of media and has been filling and siphoning well, but awash with green sheets of algae. My young helper uni fellow ummed and arhed about using it, he hadn’t seen one used in an aquaponics system and wasn’t sure that it was necessary. I’ve decided it is.

(I discovered something when I added it into the inlet pipe..when I had it running previously for the fish pond, I had it the wrong way around. There’s an inlet and an outlet specifically designed to have water spinning around the light inside it, but I had it running the opposite way. I can’t figure out how it worked. I giggled loudly..shh don’t tell anyone will you! lol!)

I’ve added an elbow pipe to the grow bed outlet so it sits a few millimetres above the grow media, to minimize splash. I don’t need to create a fungi fest with poopy fish water splashing over vege greens. By the time I’ve finished and ready to plant it out, the system will run silently. Apart from the gentle sound of the spray bar over the fish tank.
Oh and when the grow bed empties, there’s a sucking sound from the siphon. It makes people turn and ask what the heck was that! lol. It just means the system is cycling well and working to plan :)
New pics when I get a moment.

Gee I hope the production is worth the effort. I’m too old to even figure it out in my brain.

Gee I hope the production is worth the effort. I’m too old to even figure it out in my brain.
————————————————
It was easy, just time consuming. Relaxing even, as I could clear my mind and just plug away at what I was doing.
It’ll be very worth it :)

Happy Potter said:

One grow bed filled with the grow media. YAY.

Wonderful! Sorting and grading the stones no doubt kept you out of the coffee club…(TIC)…

Happy Potter said:

I’ve been tossing the clean gravel into the yabby pond. They love it, they are little bulldozers and I see them digging about in it. The sand in the barrow has drained thanks to a few pin holes in it and I can use that, somewhere. It’s builders sand though, not the fine beach stuff.
I’ve also incorporated the UV clarifier into the system from the inlet pipe from the yabby pond. Grow bed #2 is still empty of media and has been filling and siphoning well, but awash with green sheets of algae. My young helper uni fellow ummed and arhed about using it, he hadn’t seen one used in an aquaponics system and wasn’t sure that it was necessary. I’ve decided it is.
(I discovered something when I added it into the inlet pipe..when I had it running previously for the fish pond, I had it the wrong way around. There’s an inlet and an outlet specifically designed to have water spinning around the light inside it, but I had it running the opposite way. I can’t figure out how it worked. I giggled loudly..shh don’t tell anyone will you! lol!)
New pics when I get a moment.

quite a hobby. it’s complicated enough to confuse me. why the UV clarifier? do you expect algae to always be a problem like in an aquarium?
the little bulldozers heard you giggle lol.

justin said:

Happy Potter said:

I’ve been tossing the clean gravel into the yabby pond. They love it, they are little bulldozers and I see them digging about in it. The sand in the barrow has drained thanks to a few pin holes in it and I can use that, somewhere. It’s builders sand though, not the fine beach stuff.
I’ve also incorporated the UV clarifier into the system from the inlet pipe from the yabby pond. Grow bed #2 is still empty of media and has been filling and siphoning well, but awash with green sheets of algae. My young helper uni fellow ummed and arhed about using it, he hadn’t seen one used in an aquaponics system and wasn’t sure that it was necessary. I’ve decided it is.
(I discovered something when I added it into the inlet pipe..when I had it running previously for the fish pond, I had it the wrong way around. There’s an inlet and an outlet specifically designed to have water spinning around the light inside it, but I had it running the opposite way. I can’t figure out how it worked. I giggled loudly..shh don’t tell anyone will you! lol!)
New pics when I get a moment.

quite a hobby. it’s complicated enough to confuse me. why the UV clarifier? do you expect algae to always be a problem like in an aquarium?
the little bulldozers heard you giggle lol.

I’m not sure about the algae, I hear talk about the amounts of algae in the system and when it breaks down, provides nutrients, but then others are dead against it. It’s an experiment I guess. If it’s not needed it’s not really a big drama to disengage it.
Plus it cost a heap and I hate it just sitting there. It had a new light in it recently.

Aquaponics is quite simple really, it’s a combination of hydroponics and fish farming, only on a smaller scale for the backyard. Use 90% less water to grow food, without having to add any nutrients, they grow on the fish waste. Then in a continuous cycle, the plants clean the water that’s returned to the fish.

Happy Potter said:

justin said:

Happy Potter said:

I’ve been tossing the clean gravel into the yabby pond. They love it, they are little bulldozers and I see them digging about in it. The sand in the barrow has drained thanks to a few pin holes in it and I can use that, somewhere. It’s builders sand though, not the fine beach stuff.
I’ve also incorporated the UV clarifier into the system from the inlet pipe from the yabby pond. Grow bed #2 is still empty of media and has been filling and siphoning well, but awash with green sheets of algae. My young helper uni fellow ummed and arhed about using it, he hadn’t seen one used in an aquaponics system and wasn’t sure that it was necessary. I’ve decided it is.
(I discovered something when I added it into the inlet pipe..when I had it running previously for the fish pond, I had it the wrong way around. There’s an inlet and an outlet specifically designed to have water spinning around the light inside it, but I had it running the opposite way. I can’t figure out how it worked. I giggled loudly..shh don’t tell anyone will you! lol!)
New pics when I get a moment.

quite a hobby. it’s complicated enough to confuse me. why the UV clarifier? do you expect algae to always be a problem like in an aquarium?
the little bulldozers heard you giggle lol.

I’m not sure about the algae, I hear talk about the amounts of algae in the system and when it breaks down, provides nutrients, but then others are dead against it. It’s an experiment I guess. If it’s not needed it’s not really a big drama to disengage it.
Plus it cost a heap and I hate it just sitting there. It had a new light in it recently.

Aquaponics is quite simple really, it’s a combination of hydroponics and fish farming, only on a smaller scale for the backyard. Use 90% less water to grow food, without having to add any nutrients, they grow on the fish waste. Then in a continuous cycle, the plants clean the water that’s returned to the fish.

a lot depends upon, which algae.

More pics added, apologies if there’s some repeat ones.

To save me typing more because tea is on and I’m starving lol, copied my FB post. the grow beds have been cut down by half, another solids lift overflow added to the fish tank, piping changed and adjusted and some seedlings planted. Next is to rehome big goldfish, then find some trout fingerlings and cover the fish tank. Starting on grow bed 2 very soon. Oh and there’s photos of grow bed 2 before and after adding the UV clarifier. There was an algae fest going on. It’s lessened the algae in one day.

Update. Nothing much is growing in bed one. The silverbeet is lush and green but still small, as are the leeks and bok choy. It’s too cold, but that they are still looking fine is great. The peas are growing well but again slowly.

The other bed two still waiting to be filled with the media, is chockers with blanket weed algae. I’m cycling water through it anyway. It’s also covering the pebbles in bed one and a lesser amount is in the pond (sump). Awful slimy stuff. I noticed in the pond situation the duck weed is feeding off it and growing, and that in turn is feeding the yabbies. Duckweed that I have in deep trays of water elsewhere that has no algae, aren’t growing. It’s very interesting to see all this silent growing activity going on.

But there is not a trace of algae weed, not even a skerrick, to be found in the fish tank. I assumed the fish were eating it and put a few handfuls in the tank, and yep they went straight for it. Free fish food! Along with a small handful of composting worms once a week, I’ve stopped buying fish food altogether. Apparently, if I put some composting worms into the filled bed they will eat the algae, so that’s next.

Then next on the list is to get bed two filled with the pebbles, wait a couple weeks then plant some parsley seedlings in it.

It is great reading about your learnings, and the ecology of the system :)

The worms won’t drown?

Dinetta said:

The worms won’t drown?

No, the water level rises and then flushes away many times a day. The algae is only on the surface so the worms would hang out in the upper level. Adding worms adds another ‘dimension’ to the system, vermiponics.

Plus I have composting red worms living underwater in a small fountain water feature in the fernery, I put pics up months back I’m sure, of them living in the filter of the pump. It’s not been switched on in a long long time as I want to see what happens to them. They are still there. I’m told they adapt.

I’m fascinated by all this. Seeing what happens in nature.

Happy Potter said:

Update. Nothing much is growing in bed one. The silverbeet is lush and green but still small, as are the leeks and bok choy. It’s too cold, but that they are still looking fine is great. The peas are growing well but again slowly.

The other bed two still waiting to be filled with the media, is chockers with blanket weed algae. I’m cycling water through it anyway. It’s also covering the pebbles in bed one and a lesser amount is in the pond (sump). Awful slimy stuff. I noticed in the pond situation the duck weed is feeding off it and growing, and that in turn is feeding the yabbies. Duckweed that I have in deep trays of water elsewhere that has no algae, aren’t growing. It’s very interesting to see all this silent growing activity going on.

But there is not a trace of algae weed, not even a skerrick, to be found in the fish tank. I assumed the fish were eating it and put a few handfuls in the tank, and yep they went straight for it. Free fish food! Along with a small handful of composting worms once a week, I’ve stopped buying fish food altogether. Apparently, if I put some composting worms into the filled bed they will eat the algae, so that’s next.

Then next on the list is to get bed two filled with the pebbles, wait a couple weeks then plant some parsley seedlings in it.

Onward and upward.

Happy Potter said:

Plus I have composting red worms living underwater in a small fountain water feature in the fernery, I put pics up months back I’m sure, of them living in the filter of the pump.

I remember the photos, yes…

The second AP bed is being filled with pebbles, finally :D after the pile of them started to become a trip hazard for everyone. I’ve a girl friend coming over at 10 to help. She was here yesty washing some stones using a tray from a worm farm as a sieve to brush the fine gravel out, then tipping them into the empty bed. I was checking the pipes and adjusting the taps trying to regulate the water flow to keep it level and running. There were a few ‘oops’ moments, and a pond overflow. Or two.

The chickens had discovered the greens growing in bed one and pulled a few seedlings out. They are easy just to replant in this situation, just move a few stones with a finger and shove it back in and pile a few stones over the roots. I rigged up a temporary net cover. We stood back and laughed at it. It fits in perfectly with my patios current ‘junk’ theme. But it works :)

The bok choy is going to seed, the chicks having eaten the leaves, so they will come out. The summer bean is still twining itself around the pipe. I would have thought it’d be long dead, but it grows, albeit slowly. The leeks are starting to get taller. I’m picking small silverbeet leaves to feed the chicks in the inside brooder. There’s one pea plant left and it’s trailing over the side of the bed. I might even get a flower! lol.

Just caught up on this thread. Amazing job there HP. I’ve seen these systems on Costa’s Gardening Odyssey and Gardening Australia and they look really good

AnneS said:

Just caught up on this thread. Amazing job there HP. I’ve seen these systems on Costa’s Gardening Odyssey and Gardening Australia and they look really good

When all the hard work is done and the set up completed, it’ll be growing beaut summer lettuces and other greens, and edible fish. At this stage, golden perch. I have to learn all about them and growing them to size. This Sunday I’m going to Macedon to ‘uncle Charles’ place to meet him and check out he koi pond he is building for my big goldfish :)

Happy Potter said:

AnneS said:

Just caught up on this thread. Amazing job there HP. I’ve seen these systems on Costa’s Gardening Odyssey and Gardening Australia and they look really good

When all the hard work is done and the set up completed, it’ll be growing beaut summer lettuces and other greens, and edible fish. At this stage, golden perch. I have to learn all about them and growing them to size. This Sunday I’m going to Macedon to ‘uncle Charles’ place to meet him and check out he koi pond he is building for my big goldfish :)

Sounds fabulous. Pardon my ignorance, but ‘Uncle Charles’ ?

AnneS said:

Happy Potter said:

AnneS said:

Just caught up on this thread. Amazing job there HP. I’ve seen these systems on Costa’s Gardening Odyssey and Gardening Australia and they look really good

When all the hard work is done and the set up completed, it’ll be growing beaut summer lettuces and other greens, and edible fish. At this stage, golden perch. I have to learn all about them and growing them to size. This Sunday I’m going to Macedon to ‘uncle Charles’ place to meet him and check out he koi pond he is building for my big goldfish :)

Sounds fabulous. Pardon my ignorance, but ‘Uncle Charles’ ?

Sorry I had said earlier who he was but that as before you popped back in here. He is the uncle of a close friend and told me I can address him as such. He is a hobby farmer with chickens goats and sheep. I can’t wait to visit him and see his animals :)

I’m trading my seven goldfish with him for a whole dressed spring lamb.

Update pics :)

Serious AP envy. That looks awesome!

Yummy! All looks lush and healthy!

They are fiddly to set up, tubs and stands, piping and filling with pebbles and whatnot, but once done, very easy to maintain. Pick edibles, feed fish and check pump occasionally. That’s it :)