Aquaponics System, Passive Solar Greenhouse build - Page 8

pinballlooking · 04-13-15, 09:32 PM

That is a pretty popular way to start a system off. With everything blooming we are all taking sinus medication. So I will have to use the powered ammonia for now.

pinballlooking · 04-15-15, 01:28 PM

Ok fish tank is full with water and a have ran into a snag.

This is my first system so it does not surprise me that I have a snag.

I did not realize that the water coming out of the fish tank needs to be able to go over the outlet pipe. It can do that here but it is spilling out over the sides.

I need to make the current outlet be an overflow and I need to drill a hole lower in the tank for the outlet.

This will make the tank outlet lower than I want so I will get solid block under the tank for it to sit on and raise it up 4”. It needs to be strong 500 gallons water weights around 4,000lbs

Time to pump the fish tank back out again.

My boys pressure washed the other three IBC containers out over the weekend so I can use them to pump the water into.

pinballlooking · 04-20-15, 09:47 AM

It rained most of the weekend so we did not get much done. We got 35 solid block and put these under the fish tank.

I cut the hole for the fish tank lower and put the pipe in it from the radial flow filter.
I was able to use the same hole in the filter.

This pipe was very hard to get in it was already attached to the filter and the seals are so tight. I still need to level the stand for the filter.

The hole above this one in the fish tank will be piped into the sump tank as a fish tank over flow.

pinballlooking · 04-20-15, 06:18 PM

I don’t know sketchup at all but here is what my setup is going to look like when I am done.

Even with my bad sketchup skills it should still help in seeing what the final system will look like.

Daox · 04-21-15, 07:27 AM

That definitely helps to see the general layout. Thanks.

What are the two IBCs and the DWC for?

pinballlooking · 04-21-15, 08:11 AM

The greenhouse size will be 14' X 24'.

Aquaponics (DWC) deep water culture is a floating raft system. It works very well for fast growing plants. You can plant lettuce at different stages so some is always ready to eat. You can start smaller plants before you move them to the main grow beds.

The back IBC’s will have cattle panels mounted behind them the will allow them to have vine plants that grow high. The back row will have black 55 gallon barrels stack 2 high behind them. This is for heat storage.
I think I will set up one IBC like this so I can have little fish in the bottom.
this will keep them away from the big fish in the main tank and keep them from being eaten by the big fish.

The other one will be constant flow and it will drain into the DWC (deep water culture)
Constant flow is just the water will not fill and drain like the other beds it just flows in and back out to the DWC bed. The DWC bed needs constant flow.

pinballlooking · 04-28-15, 10:07 AM

Someone on an Aquapoinics forum just recommended this site.
Very interesting idea to make your fish tank out of an old freezer.
This might work for someone here. A insulated fish tank for a good price.

https://www.frostyfish.com/2014/05/1...nversion-kits/

Daox · 04-28-15, 12:02 PM

Thats where I had originally heard about aquaponics. The guy that runs it is somewhat local to me. I even talked on the phone with him a while.

pinballlooking · 04-28-15, 12:43 PM

We did make some progress on Sunday. My youngest son and I did some of the pluming.

We plumed the pump and the water from the fish tank to the radial flow filter.
I need to finish the grow bed and the bell siphon. Then I can add the rock and start the fishless cycle.

I found this interesting. It is a cost benefit analysis of Aquaponic systems. These are bought systems in Australia but I still think it’s interesting.
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/Tr...nicSystems.pdf

pinballlooking · 05-03-15, 06:38 PM

We made some progress Saturday. My boys dug and moved all the dirt that came out of the sump hole.

Before they started.

The finished product. This took all day.

I worked on the grow beds. I cut all the bottom steel support.

I put some insulation down and worked on the drain/bell syphon.

04-15-15, 01:28 PM	#72
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Ok fish tank is full with water and a have ran into a snag. This is my first system so it does not surprise me that I have a snag. I did not realize that the water coming out of the fish tank needs to be able to go over the outlet pipe. It can do that here but it is spilling out over the sides. I need to make the current outlet be an overflow and I need to drill a hole lower in the tank for the outlet. This will make the tank outlet lower than I want so I will get solid block under the tank for it to sit on and raise it up 4”. It needs to be strong 500 gallons water weights around 4,000lbs Time to pump the fish tank back out again. My boys pressure washed the other three IBC containers out over the weekend so I can use them to pump the water into. Attached Thumbnails

04-20-15, 09:47 AM	#73
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	It rained most of the weekend so we did not get much done. We got 35 solid block and put these under the fish tank. I cut the hole for the fish tank lower and put the pipe in it from the radial flow filter. I was able to use the same hole in the filter. This pipe was very hard to get in it was already attached to the filter and the seals are so tight. I still need to level the stand for the filter. The hole above this one in the fish tank will be piped into the sump tank as a fish tank over flow. Attached Thumbnails

04-20-15, 06:18 PM	#74
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I don’t know sketchup at all but here is what my setup is going to look like when I am done. Even with my bad sketchup skills it should still help in seeing what the final system will look like. Attached Thumbnails

04-21-15, 07:27 AM	#75
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	That definitely helps to see the general layout. Thanks. What are the two IBCs and the DWC for? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-21-15, 08:11 AM	#76
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	The greenhouse size will be 14' X 24'. Aquaponics (DWC) deep water culture is a floating raft system. It works very well for fast growing plants. You can plant lettuce at different stages so some is always ready to eat. You can start smaller plants before you move them to the main grow beds. The back IBC’s will have cattle panels mounted behind them the will allow them to have vine plants that grow high. The back row will have black 55 gallon barrels stack 2 high behind them. This is for heat storage. I think I will set up one IBC like this so I can have little fish in the bottom. this will keep them away from the big fish in the main tank and keep them from being eaten by the big fish. The other one will be constant flow and it will drain into the DWC (deep water culture) Constant flow is just the water will not fill and drain like the other beds it just flows in and back out to the DWC bed. The DWC bed needs constant flow. Attached Thumbnails

04-13-15, 09:32 PM	#71
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	That is a pretty popular way to start a system off. With everything blooming we are all taking sinus medication. So I will have to use the powered ammonia for now.

04-28-15, 10:07 AM	#77
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Someone on an Aquapoinics forum just recommended this site. Very interesting idea to make your fish tank out of an old freezer. This might work for someone here. A insulated fish tank for a good price. https://www.frostyfish.com/2014/05/1...nversion-kits/ Attached Thumbnails

04-28-15, 12:02 PM	#78
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Thats where I had originally heard about aquaponics. The guy that runs it is somewhat local to me. I even talked on the phone with him a while. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-28-15, 12:43 PM	#79
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	We did make some progress on Sunday. My youngest son and I did some of the pluming. We plumed the pump and the water from the fish tank to the radial flow filter. I need to finish the grow bed and the bell siphon. Then I can add the rock and start the fishless cycle. I found this interesting. It is a cost benefit analysis of Aquaponic systems. These are bought systems in Australia but I still think it’s interesting. http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/Tr...nicSystems.pdf Last edited by pinballlooking; 04-28-15 at 01:31 PM..

05-03-15, 06:38 PM	#80
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	We made some progress Saturday. My boys dug and moved all the dirt that came out of the sump hole. Before they started. The finished product. This took all day. I worked on the grow beds. I cut all the bottom steel support. I put some insulation down and worked on the drain/bell syphon. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by pinballlooking; 05-04-15 at 09:48 AM..