Progress update.

All seems to be going OK.  Just checked the Ph sitting at about 7.2.  Looking very good.  Having a bit of a problem with the siphon in one of the beds. I think following Murray Hallum's advice I'll add an elbow to the outlet and see if it helps things along.

We seeded some Morning Glory which is doing well, Bak Choi and the coriander have yet to sprout. In the smaller tanks we have Thyme and Rosemary and another type of Bak Choi. All doing OK. We did add in some Pawpaw but these may take a bit longer. The two banana plants appear to be OK. Early days for them as any change to their condition will tame a long time to show.

I also added a kilo of small cat fish to my overflow/sump tank. Logic being that some food is spilling over and they will act as cleaners. Wait and see. That's it for today.

Progress

Been a couple of days now since we plants the seeds. They have grown and beginning to look like real plants!!!! Also been doing some 'tweaking' in the syphons and all seems much better.

Back to Front

I've set up my system and added a big grow bed I had used earlier for hydroponics. Now as I say 'back to front' I have to calculate the number of fish I need.  I'm going to check flow to see the full cycle time of three different tanks and then work out the suitable number of fish the system requires to feed these three beds. Fish density is not my main concern as I ca see water throughput is quite high. I need to make sure I get enough fish waste to make it sustainable.

I've got about 180 litres of water, two half full barrels with aggregate and one grow bed 2.4 x 1.2 x 8cm deep.  Will update when I've got this sorted out. Off to by some seeds.

And we're off

Added some fish. Tilapia today and some banana plants 2 number.  We put those in first last night. Not possibly the correct order of doing things but could not wait. Wanna added some seeds so now we wait to see if anything will grow. Interesting and strange the pump cuts out when I turn on the florescent light which is on the same circuit.  Any ideas why this should happen?

Ressurected System

Hi,

Having met up with a bunch of like minds Aquaponic types last weekend in Bangkok I decided to get my system out of mothballs.

Started setting it up yesterday and today. Gone away from the high level flood and drain system to a sump tank. I think in my case this should be much easier. Need now to get pump working properly.  The old one  lasted 5 minutes and died. Then I need to add stone to the grow beds and buy some fish. Going again for using Tilapia. Fairly hardy and it gets me up and running. To think I've been sitting around here doing very little and had all this gear stuck in a store... Oh well no excuses now....

On TV

Aquaponics goes mainstream. As seen in Beautiful Homes and Gardens.

Restart Of My Aquaponics System

Moved to Gladstone, Australia a few months back. Managed to meet up with Andrew a South African working over here. He had an IBC system which he wanted to sell and so we caught up and looked seriously at buying. Decided reluctantly that it would not fit in our small garden. So turned down a good offer of a system already up and running.
Then a few weeks later I was out and about and was offered a IBC with the top cut off. (I.e. without the top !) for 30$AUD. Could not resist a second change to set up a new system. So now I am the proud owner of a IBC without any system, or place to put it. Just could not resist the potential, possible, maybe, outside chance to build a new system.

For added encouragement. I also got support from AB Aquaponics who kindly send me some drawings of his system. So watch this spot over next few weeks. And I visited the Gladstone Fish Hatchery which breeds Baramundi fingerling's. Should be some available in October. Plenty of time to continue to collect bits and pieces.