Gary's System #2

[GaryD]

Hi,

Announcing the arrival of Gary's System #2......

Several months ago, I laid down the criteria for my ideal backyard aquaponics system.

My final list of criteria included:

Safe to be around.....the capacity to exclude unwanted entry.
Ability to control the production parameters.....like temperature, DO, etc
Small footprint – vertically integrated – convenient shape and size....stacking components.
Integrates with other backyard food production systems....like Quail, worms, snails, chickens, rabbits, etc.
Durable......made to last
Easy to install and operate – comfortable working height.
Productive......capable of producing an average of 1kg of fresh fish per week….and copious quantities of fresh vegetables, soft herbs and small livestock fodder.
Versatile – system components to have multiple uses....and the ability to mix and match tanks and growbeds......and to use a variety of media.
Cheap to operate - will operate on small pumps.....easily insulated against cold weather
Designed specifically for an urban backyard.....in terms of overall scale and size of individual components.
Affordable.....high perceived value and modest actual cost.
Expandable....add new components as resources permit.
Aesthetically pleasing......will reside comfortable in any backyard.....and even in many houses.
Portable.....able to be easily emptied and relocated.....for renters.
Low water usage.My new system addresses these criteria.

Gary

[fishfood]

Gary has this system been built or is it on the drawing boards still if its been built wheres the pictures! we love pictures

[GaryD]

Hi FF,

The system has just been completed.......and the pictures are on the way.

Gary

[doug.a]

Well done Garry.
If it does all those things plus does the washing i would marry it.
Doug.a:D

[GaryD]

The microFISH FARM Aquaponics Unit is designed to grow fish, plants and duckweed.

The unit features a 1000 litre fish rectangular fish tank. It also has 2 x 585 litre fibreglass flood and drain gravel grow beds, a 250 litre fingerling tank and another 585 litre duckweed tank.

The fingerling tank is supported on top of the fish tank and is intended to extend the productive capacity of the whole system by allowing me to rear fingerlings at the same time that I'm growing out a batch of fish in the main tank.

It features an innovative tidal arrangement where nutrient rich water is pumped up to the two flood and drain gravel grow beds. As the beds fill, the water level in the fish tank and the duckweed pond drop simultaneously.

Once the grow beds fill to a predetermined level, the float switch shuts off the pump and the water drains back into the fish tank. As the level in the fish tank rises, so does the level of the duckweed tank.

This action imitates the ebb and flow of a tidal estuary.

This microFISH FARM Aquaponics Unit is designed to produce in excess of 60kg of freshwater fish per year. It will also produce many kilograms of clean, fresh vegetables and herbs.

The duckweed tank will assist in the management of water quality and provides high quality plant protein for the fish.

[GaryD]

Hi,

At the heart of the new system, is the 1000 litre fibreglass fish tank. It was designed specifically for use in backyard aquaponic systems.

It is rectangular in shape and features a lip around the top edge to enable it to support a fingerling tank or a grow bed......vertical stacking.

This arrangement covers half of the tank.....for safety and for light and heat loss control purposes.....and is space efficient. It also saves on the cost of a stand for the fingerling tank.

The photo shows the tank half buried in the ground.

Gary

[Jonty]

GaryD,

Sounds like you have got a great system nailed down. All I can say is bring on the warm weather so we can get some fish.

Regards
Jonty

[nick]

all looks very nice, seems like a very nice neat little system to get people started with and easily expandable.

My question is more for murray than gary, so sorry.
But murray when will the 1000L tubs go up for sale on the website. I am very interested in the price.

Cheers and well done again,
Nick

[GaryD]

Hi,

These photos show the progressive development of my new system as it was set up.

The concrete pad is cleared off in readiness for the grow bed stands.
The first grow bed in place
Both grow beds set up.
The duckweed tank is installed
The major components of the system are in place.Gary

[doug.a]

gary,
well done very impressive a question or two how are you controling the flow from the pump through the gb and return to the fish tank and also the duckweed tank being shallower than the fish tank yet tied to it for drainage or pumping into the gb does it dry out or is the outlet some way up the tank?
dou.a:confused:

[sillyoldfart]

Question as well Gary.

When the tank level lowers as you pump to the growbeds what stops the duckweed from being sucked into the fish tank?

If the duckweed tank is filled from an outlet high on the fish tank, will it fill sufficiently before the next pumping cycle?

[GaryD]

Hi



how are you controling the flow from the pump through the gb and return to the fish tank and also the duckweed tank being shallower than the fish tank yet tied to it for drainage or pumping into the gb does it dry out or is the outlet some way up the tank?


doug.a......the pumping cycles are controlled by a float switch.

The water level in the duckweed tank and the fish tank are the same. The inlet/outlet in the duckweed tank is in the bottom of the tank and connects to the fish tank about 2/3 of the way down the tank.

As the water is pumped up to the grow beds, the level recedes in the fish tank and duckweed tank proportionately. The amount of water that goes to the grow beds is never enough to drain the duckweed tank completely - it only ever drains to about half the normal level.

When the grow beds drain (back into the fish tank), the fish tank and duckweed tank levels rise again......like a tidal estuary......with fresh nutrients flowing into the duckweed tank.



When the tank level lowers as you pump to the growbeds what stops the duckweed from being sucked into the fish tank?

If the duckweed tank is filled from an outlet high on the fish tank, will it fill sufficiently before the next pumping cycle?


SOF.....the exit/entry of water from/to the duckweed tank is a fairly gentle action so the duckweed is not stirred up at all. The ebb and flow action of the duckweed tank happens through a single point.....in the base of the duckweed tank.

I designed the system so that, not only did I have a means of feeding the duckweed, I could also reduce the amount of water that flowed from the fish tank on each pumping cycle. Instead of pumping 1/3 of the water from the fish tank, this system now only reduces the tank level by about 200mm.

It's pretty to watch.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

I'm currently working on a range of enhancements for my new system including:

A fingerling tank which will be supported by the fish tank.
Watering grids for the gravel grow beds.
A mini-greenhouse for the grow beds.
A security grid for the fish tank.
Cold frame covers for the duckweed tank and fingerling tanks.
Additional growing systems - to supplement the gravel grow beds.Photos will be available by the weekend.

Gary

[millie]

hi....this is wot ive bin lookin to find

ques.....wudnt it be better to hav a gap beside the grow beds....like that is a long way to reach to the middle and the dirt is loww of the cement...not good for small ppls

[millie]

sorry...in murrays u can walk al round them

[GaryD]

Hi Millie,


ques.....wudnt it be better to hav a gap beside the grow beds....like that is a long way to reach to the middle and the dirt is loww of the cement...not good for small ppls

By the time I'm finished, the pathway alongside of the growbeds will be the same height as the concrete slab......making it much easier for short people to reach across the grow bed.

This system was designed to be space-efficient......and another of its many innovative features is that it requires very little in the way of plumbing fixtures and pipework.

Gary

[Miki]

Gary, it looks great and the further plans even better! looking forward to the new photo's.

[gavinl]

Hi Gary

Can't wait to see the new photos. Would it be possible to get a few of the plumbing system...and perhaps a quick description? Also, just wondering what you reckon the max comfortable capacity would be (grow beds) for the fish tank and pump.

gav

[GaryD]

Hi GavinL,



Can't wait to see the new photos. Would it be possible to get a few of the plumbing system...and perhaps a quick description!

The photos are on their way.

There's no a lot to say about the plumbing in my system......because there's not much of it......by design.

I have a one metre run of 25mm clear plastic tube from my pump to the grow bed. The water is directed by a Tee to a PVC watering grid in each of the two grow beds.

It returns to the fish tank through a PVC gravel guard and a PVC weir.


Also, just wondering what you reckon the max comfortable capacity would be (grow beds) for the fish tank and pump.


The fish tank would support another three or four grow beds.....in terms of the nitrate production of which it's capable......particularly if it was densely stocked.

The current pump is certainly capable of supporting at least one more grow bed.......and probably a second one.

It's likely that I'll use other growing systems......like nutrient film technique........while relying on the gravel grow beds to achieve the production of nitrates.


Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

Here's some photos of my new system....as of today.

The first image shows:

A mini-greenhouse for the grow beds - 42 square feet of tropical growing space.
A 250 litre fingerling tank - supported by the fish tank.
Cold frame covers for the duckweed tank and fingerling tanks.The second image shows the new watering grids and the other plumbing.

The third photo show the rest of the plumbing...and an aluminium security grid. This grid provides something to attach air lines to and prevents access by children and animals. It also allows the tank to be completely covered to avoid heat loss.

Gary

[Quietly]

Very nice Gary,
I like the modular approach. You could add another fish tank and modular the other components as required. I am guessing that the current setup covers about 70 sq ft (7.5 sqM), nice and compact. Now to add the rest of the production line......

Quietly :)

[GaryD]

Hi Quietly,

You're on the money.....the system has a footprint of about 7.5 - 8.0 square metres.

My goal is to demonstrate that a small system like this can meet the fish and vegetable needs of an average family. I still have to add some additional growing systems.....probably NFT and some coco peat trays.

The system is efficient....in terms of its use of space and energy.....and it should be highly productive.

Gary

[sillyoldfart]

Looks nice and neat Gary

[fishfood]

Gary are you and murry still running cocopete if not why not i am setting up new beds thought mite give it a go

[GaryD]

Hi FishFood,

I know that Murray is still running a 500+ litre grow bed full of coco peat and, the last time I checked, it was growing well enough.

I've been running trays and satellite pots full of coco peat and it was doing fine until the sub-zero temperatures gave everything a flogging.

We've just pulled our tomatoes out....they were doing OK until the fruit froze.....and the growth of the silver beet, herbs and lettuce in the trays has been curtailed during the past three or four weeks.

The brassicas.......cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli.....seem to be the only thing that likes this very cold weather.

I think coco peat is a great media. The only thing that we have lacked is a means of giving it very short feeds several times a day. I haven't found a timer which will enable me to switch a small pump on for 10 - 15 seconds at a time (several times a day) which is what coco peat seems to respond best to.

Gary