Aquaponics System, Passive Solar Greenhouse build - Page 6

pinballlooking · 03-23-15, 07:51 AM

The sump tank is completely full with rain water. The fish tank is about ½ full.

We added cross support braces and side braces on the front grow bed stands.
My youngest son used the grinder and worked hard getting the metal ready to weld.

All the welding is done for the front grow bed I used over 2 pounds mig welding wire. This grow bed will be 3' x 20'.

I now have a new 12.5 lbs. roll of mig wire that should last a lot longer. I am pleased with my Hobart 140 mig welder this is my first welder and it works very well.

I have the PVC pipe to plum the front grow bed.

Xringer · 03-23-15, 11:50 AM

It's good you are training your son to use power tools..
When I was about 10 years old, I had to learn how to use power saws and drills etc, on my own..

I would love to own one of those Hobart 140 welders.. We have a Tractor supply store
just up in tax-free NH that stocks them.. It's on my wish list..

It looks like you learned to weld pretty fast.. Or had some lessons beforehand..

Nice work..

pinballlooking · 03-23-15, 12:06 PM

I got mine welder at tractor supply. They have dropped the price and I got a 15% off coupon.

I got my gloves welding cart and welding table @ harbor freight. The auto dimming helmet Northern tool. (All on sale)

I bought a CO cylinder off Clist and traded that in for a bigger gas cylinder for the welder. That saved some money.

I have a generator that will be able to run the welder that will give me some flexibility on where I can use the welder.

I just watched YouTube videos on how to weld. It took me some time to get it adjusted right. By the end the welds were looking much better and I was so much faster.

This was a very good project to learn to weld on. It gave me so much practice in a lot of different positions.

I even had my son weld a piece of steel. On the back stands I will help him and have him weld some stands.

I did not get my welder here but if you don’t mind factory recondition you save some money.
http://hobartweldshop.com/

Xringer · 03-23-15, 12:28 PM

It's a good idea to buy the best tools you can get for a reasonable price.
I hate replacing power tools, because they were too cheap and didn't last..
I've seen a lot of reviews on the Hobart 140, and you did good.
And, your whole welding rig is making me jealous..

I was wondering if you were going to let your son weld..
When I was a boy, I would have loved to have learned a skill like that..
Keep an eye on that young man.. He's gonna be building GoKart frames in a few years!

Daox · 03-23-15, 03:11 PM

I have the Hobart 125 MIG. I've had it for the better part of a decade now I suppose. It has always worked great for me.

Great progress on the aquaponics too. I'm loving all the updates!

pinballlooking · 03-24-15, 07:47 AM

I signed up for this online course.
Aquaponic Gardening Course
My father-in-law has the book. It has been good course I think it is worth it. She does video on one side and PowerPoint on the other side the lessons they are broken down to around 10-15 min. long.

The pump will be in the sump tank it will keep filling the fish tank un till it over flows into the grow beds. The grow beds just keep getting water from the bottom (waste and solids) from the fish tank. They fill up with water there is something called a bell Siphon kicks it and drains the water. It will stop when the GB is drained and let it fill up again. This pulls lots of air into the plants roots and to the fish. Once you have them working correctly they are dependable.

My bell siphons will be based off this design.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hHR...0BFCD5&index=3

My grow bed is pretty large so this design should work better for my grow bed. I will let you know how it works after I am done.
This video show how a bell siphon it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXaruS5z_Xc

The bulkhead fillings can be expensive tractor supply has some that are a good price. They are threaded so you need an adapter to change them to a slip PVC fitting. The adapters are common fittings home depot had them.

pinballlooking · 03-30-15, 01:34 PM

I made some progress. The sump tank is full and I filed dirt in around it.

We squared off the building and marked the perimeter in orange paint. The fish tank now has 400 gallons rain water in it. The next time it rains I should have enough water to get the system started.

The stands for the front grow bed were too close to the right wall. I cut off the legs on the left stand and welded them so 10” in toward the right said it will hang over the sump tank.

When I was cutting the legs off with the angle grinder using a cut off wheel it caught my jacket on fire.

Luckily I was able to put out the fire quick I did not get burned. I broke out my wielders apron to use with the cut off wheel. I was using gloves eye protection hearing protection.

I did not think the sparks would catch my jacket on fire I used the same jacket last weekend with no issues. I cut up metal for hours that day.

Xringer · 03-30-15, 01:44 PM

Dang! You better get a small smoke detector to clip onto your belt..

I try to use my shop apron when I'm using my bench grinder, but sometimes I forget or get in a hurry..
I'm going to change my ways. Too old to be catching fire!

Daox · 03-30-15, 02:59 PM

Haha, I've done that a few times myself... Just gotta slow down, or move so the sparks aren't all hitting in one small area. Glad you didn't get hurt.

Its really looking good!

pinballlooking · 03-30-15, 03:11 PM

It was no big deal it just surprised me. I will be more carful next time.
No burns at all it just a little hot.

It was so cool seeing the stands were too close to the wall. I was like hey I have a welder I can fix that issue. This is my first welder and I really like it. It just opens up so many options.

I bought flat black spray paint but it has been to windy to paint the stands.

03-23-15, 07:51 AM	#51
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	The sump tank is completely full with rain water. The fish tank is about ½ full. We added cross support braces and side braces on the front grow bed stands. My youngest son used the grinder and worked hard getting the metal ready to weld. All the welding is done for the front grow bed I used over 2 pounds mig welding wire. This grow bed will be 3' x 20'. I now have a new 12.5 lbs. roll of mig wire that should last a lot longer. I am pleased with my Hobart 140 mig welder this is my first welder and it works very well. I have the PVC pipe to plum the front grow bed. Attached Thumbnails

03-23-15, 11:50 AM	#52
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	It's good you are training your son to use power tools.. When I was about 10 years old, I had to learn how to use power saws and drills etc, on my own.. I would love to own one of those Hobart 140 welders.. We have a Tractor supply store just up in tax-free NH that stocks them.. It's on my wish list.. It looks like you learned to weld pretty fast.. Or had some lessons beforehand.. Nice work.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

03-23-15, 12:06 PM	#53
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I got mine welder at tractor supply. They have dropped the price and I got a 15% off coupon. I got my gloves welding cart and welding table @ harbor freight. The auto dimming helmet Northern tool. (All on sale) I bought a CO cylinder off Clist and traded that in for a bigger gas cylinder for the welder. That saved some money. I have a generator that will be able to run the welder that will give me some flexibility on where I can use the welder. I just watched YouTube videos on how to weld. It took me some time to get it adjusted right. By the end the welds were looking much better and I was so much faster. This was a very good project to learn to weld on. It gave me so much practice in a lot of different positions. I even had my son weld a piece of steel. On the back stands I will help him and have him weld some stands. I did not get my welder here but if you don’t mind factory recondition you save some money. http://hobartweldshop.com/ Last edited by pinballlooking; 03-25-15 at 10:31 AM..

03-23-15, 12:28 PM	#54
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	It's a good idea to buy the best tools you can get for a reasonable price. I hate replacing power tools, because they were too cheap and didn't last.. I've seen a lot of reviews on the Hobart 140, and you did good. And, your whole welding rig is making me jealous.. I was wondering if you were going to let your son weld.. When I was a boy, I would have loved to have learned a skill like that.. Keep an eye on that young man.. He's gonna be building GoKart frames in a few years! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

03-23-15, 03:11 PM	#55
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I have the Hobart 125 MIG. I've had it for the better part of a decade now I suppose. It has always worked great for me. Great progress on the aquaponics too. I'm loving all the updates! __________________ 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.

03-30-15, 01:34 PM	#57
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I made some progress. The sump tank is full and I filed dirt in around it. We squared off the building and marked the perimeter in orange paint. The fish tank now has 400 gallons rain water in it. The next time it rains I should have enough water to get the system started. The stands for the front grow bed were too close to the right wall. I cut off the legs on the left stand and welded them so 10” in toward the right said it will hang over the sump tank. When I was cutting the legs off with the angle grinder using a cut off wheel it caught my jacket on fire. Luckily I was able to put out the fire quick I did not get burned. I broke out my wielders apron to use with the cut off wheel. I was using gloves eye protection hearing protection. I did not think the sparks would catch my jacket on fire I used the same jacket last weekend with no issues. I cut up metal for hours that day. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by pinballlooking; 03-30-15 at 02:07 PM..

03-30-15, 01:44 PM	#58
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Dang! You better get a small smoke detector to clip onto your belt.. I try to use my shop apron when I'm using my bench grinder, but sometimes I forget or get in a hurry.. I'm going to change my ways. Too old to be catching fire! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

03-30-15, 02:59 PM	#59
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Haha, I've done that a few times myself... Just gotta slow down, or move so the sparks aren't all hitting in one small area. Glad you didn't get hurt. Its really looking good! __________________ 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.

03-30-15, 03:11 PM	#60
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	It was no big deal it just surprised me. I will be more carful next time. No burns at all it just a little hot. It was so cool seeing the stands were too close to the wall. I was like hey I have a welder I can fix that issue. This is my first welder and I really like it. It just opens up so many options. I bought flat black spray paint but it has been to windy to paint the stands.