Rayong Aquaponics Part 2 Roof Layout

Still getting the house ready to move into but that does not stop me planning next aquaponics move !!!

Roof photos just to let you see what is available. All looks a bit dull and untidy at this time. Will add phoots when repainted. Planning on white walls to give good light reflection.

Flat tiles concrete roof south facing. Width 5 m and length is 8.5 m.

3 meters of the length is covered with a concrete sheet roof and enclosed with burglar bars.  idea to stop fish being stolen.... :)   

The covered area is the ideal location for positioning the fish tank(s) swirl filter and bio tank and sump etc leaving the open area for growing. Also plan to use the roof top for bar ba q  and sitting area so some careful "land use" planning coming up.

Ban Muang Aquaponics "Food for Thought"

I just in my last post talked about air lift pump tests.  All good stuff I know but I got to thinking about the more simplistic side of aquaponics.  Walking around with my camera I stopped to photo/video the fish we had just put in our tank.  I call it a tank. Just outside the kitchen we have a concrete pipe on its side with a concrete base.  We set it up there several years and we filled it with water Lillys and some small fish.  Main reason was to locate the pipe somewhere useful !!!
I got to thinking.  This is really a small aquaponics system in full balance.  We add water as the evaporation requires if the rain does not do it for us, and throw in some food time to time. No measurement of grams per fish weight or water volume etc,  and indeed I suspect when we are away, in fact I very much doubt if anyone bothers to check on our tank or look to see if anything needs feeding. Bit of a pun coming up but "Food for Thought !!!!"

Air Lift Pump - Aka Al's Lift Pump

Done it.

Make me a lift pump.  I followed You tube Video Air Lift Pump.  Did myself a sort of ISO sketch and a take off for parts needed. See below.

ISO for 2" airlift pump

After that it was a simple trip to Global and buy the bits. Got them all in Rayong except for the check valve.  Had to wait till Khon Kaen for that.  Everywhere sold out.  So conclusion is there are a lot of persons out there doing air lift pump tests....all at this time.....

Anyway got it sorted and then had my friends Steve and Phil assist with the testing.

I have two air pumps. One is a 30 litre/minute  low pressure on and the other is similar but I am guessing more in region of 100 litres plus per minute.  (label missing ! Other difference is the small one is about 30 watts and one is about 200 watts.

2" flap valve and 1/2 " riser

Bits

And more bits

And some more Bits......

Results were interesting. Not well recorded but good enough as we were covered in water !!! However conclusion is it seems pump output volume is main factor in water movement.  And smaller vertical pipe gave a bit better lift height. Not we only used the piping we had and did not go into a lot of extra cutting and splicing etc. Needless to say it worked. So whilst I expected it to work I was still very pleased with the results and need to thank Steve and Phil for this assistance.  Wait I did thank them.. We had a beer together.... :)

So I plan to stick with 2" check valve and have 2 smaller ones for sale !

I've added a video.  poor quality as I've having trouble getting my Sony camera to talk with my software. Will get it sorted eventually. its a bit long but shows you the fun we had... Not at all scientific but so what.....

Rayong Aquaponics Part 1 Moved house and organising new set up

Hi Guys,  Seems ages since I posted. There has been little reason to do really as nothing has happened on the Aquaponics side of things. But that's all changing.

We're in process of moving house. Due to move end of the month. The  new place has a flat roof. South facing. About 8 x 5 meters. Part of which of covered and secure, which lends itself to providing ideal shelter for fish tank(s) and filter systems etc and the remainder of the area for growing out veggies etc.  So Siam-Aquaponics should soon be back, up and running.

I am planning on copying to a major extent our last system with some modifications. Main reasons to copy are simple, firstly I know it works, secondly as I can reuse a lot of the bits and pieces and thirdly I should be up and running in a short space of time.

So 2 x1000 or single 2000 litre fish tank and DWT for the growing.

For filtration I've been looking at a first stage a rotational settlement tank for the initial solid filtration to remove large solids, the second stage a simple filter (See an item here sold as oil/grease traps which I think will do the job very well) and then a third/final chamber full of filter balls and a lot of air stones. Early days I know, but I'm enjoying the time out to think about it all.

Before, in the old system I used a water pump and air pump. This time round I am thinking of using only an air pump. I know everyone tells me they do not give enough lift or even if you can get the lift they tell me not enough water quantity to meet circulation requirements. In other words they are not a good substitute for a water pump. Well check out on You tube Airlift pump I think this will impress you and should just about, but only just, meet my requirements. If one is not enough I'll use 2 of them.... The advantages of air lift instead of water pumps for aAuaponics are enormous in every sense. One pump system, no blockage, fantastic aeration, no moving parts (except check valve). And air pumps are cheap and cheerful, low maintenance. Way to go.....

I've got 5 days holiday starting on Saturday and I plan to use one or two of these days to make an  Airlift copying the video.

So next postings will be about my planned layout and the making of an air lift pump. I've already bought the parts.... Followed by the rest of the new build.
 I plan on keeping very good records this time round. I did a reasonable job last time, even if I say so myself, but things got curtailed due to work etc. This time no excuses.

I know, waiting for more posts..... the suspense is killing, but it will be worth it !!!!