Outbackozzie's Kalgoorlie Systems

[Outbackozzie]

HI all, thought I might come over here to do some posting, and help people as well :)

I first started doing AP in October 07, and have built 3 systems since. The first was a bathtub with 150mm PVC pipe cut in half filled with a mixture of Hydroton and Perlite. Goldfish and other ornamentals were the only fish in this system:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/207155522_RgcBG-M.jpg http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/209391298_oMJry-M.jpg

This evolved into some more PVC:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/207156802_75A7H-M.jpg

And grew and grew, shade had to be added due to the fierce kalgoorlie sun making the water hit 40 deg c a few times :eek:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/209395843_Gj9cB-M.jpg

[Outbackozzie]

hmm 6 picture limit :D

http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/231175544_7XAUP-M-1.jpg

http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/220950270_BRkC4-M.jpg

It all kept growing...
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/231176145_JanaL-M.jpg

Even Corn grew well in such a small amount of media.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/231177289_mwXTv-M.jpg http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/239494749_eWuqV-M.jpg

[Outbackozzie]

http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/239494519_QLjDm-M.jpg

http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/239495282_UUNyV-M.jpg http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/239495617_N3tjP-M.jpg

Remember, all this growth was happening in less than 75mm of media :eek:
Water was pumped from the bathtub, through 13mm poly tubing with small holes drilled in it, into the 'beds'. Those of you who have tried 13mm tubing before will know what happened next. It all got blocked up, and I had heaps of trouble getting enough water to the plants in the kalgoorlie heat.

In the meantime, I was given permission from the minister of finance to construct a second, much larger system :)

[Outbackozzie]

A whole heap of gravel was washed...
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/242401961_384vp-M.jpg

Blue barrels procured:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/242402665_VsDKL-M.jpg

And siphons built and tested:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/242402949_gCskN-M.jpg

Barrels were cut open, and about now the wife said 'just how big is this system gonna be' ....
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/242404931_duz6i-M.jpg

[Outbackozzie]

A whole heap of hydroton was purchased, then transported to kalgoorlie from perth.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/250757700_WKvPf-M.jpg

http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/250757900_qmAf6-M.jpg

A rather big hole was dug...
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/242405829_VqSy8-M.jpg

and dug...
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/250758261_eLxek-M.jpg

and dug some more, all by hand in clay ...
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/250758872_yWVYu-M.jpg

[Outbackozzie]

IBC's were purchased and fitted to hole with 25mm poly piping to connect together - too small in the end...
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/250758552_zSAUu-M.jpg

Meanwhile, corn and cucumbers were being eaten from the bathtub system:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/250764905_6K5ks-M.jpg http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/250764245_npFY3-M.jpg

The big system was filled with water, and 200 Silver Perch were transported from Jurien bay to Kalgoorlie.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/277931703_MdBrH-M-1.jpg

Grow beds were fitted, and planted with plants transplanted from the bathtub system.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/277931733_Rkx73-M.jpg

[Murray]

Absolutely excellent OutbackOzz !

[Outbackozzie]

The bathtub system had become very blocked up during the build of the big system, and was loosing a whole tub full of water every day due to leaks.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/278250667_WgHKi-M.jpg

So it was also given the blue barrel makeover:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/278252493_iSzaL-M.jpg

The big system was still being added to bit by bit.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/278732028_NQap8-M.jpg

Trout were purchased and transported from bunbury to kalgoorlie (8 hours!)
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/288401484_VEmd3-M.jpg

Vegie growth in the big system was great.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/288608258_2En2K-M.jpg

[Outbackozzie]

Got heaps of beans:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/288607226_vsK63-M.jpg

Lettuce and spring onions.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/288607739_KanK9-M.jpg

Trout decided that Silver Perch looked tasty :rolleyes:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/288693769_7b8wD-M.jpg

Capsicums do well.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/288721331_u8bxZ-M.jpg

[Hamish]

Looking good OBO - looking forward to the pics of how you have used the drill rods.

[Outbackozzie]

Some 4800 LPH pumps were purchased, which helped greatly with water flow, and also used less power than the previous ebay cheapies.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/298415221_kUAaA-M.jpg

Large system diagram:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/307689178_6jL46-M.jpg

Built a bit of a retaining wall, had a few drill rods to spare...
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/300954890_CGo2J-M.jpg

http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/314019335_7SjP6-M.jpg

The beans grew bigger:
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/314046126_ajSVG-M.jpg

[Hamish]

What sort of lettuce do you have in those photos?

[Outbackozzie]

And due to winter i had to add some lights for after work tinkering.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/316974307_agfMJ-M.jpg

Looking good now...
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/317521303_qq534-M.jpg

Had some problems with leaking IBC's so decided to pull them out and build a lined pond.
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/323427322_THET2-M.jpg
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/323433688_ZhGDC-M.jpg
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/323435706_tNd9e-M.jpg
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/323452419_jfTEs-M.jpg

[Outbackozzie]

And this is what it looks like currently :)
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/324601615_PTGQy-M.jpg

Any questions :D

It has been great fun, front (bathtub) system now has an IBC as main tank with bathtub as sump (CHIFT PIST), big backyard system is now 8000 liters :)

[Outbackozzie]

Hamish, that was Cos lettuce, very tasty :)

[Jim Bedford]

Good work, OutBack.
That looks sensational. Great for a beginner like me to see the progression...especially the use of the barrel growbeds. I bought mine and they arrived today. My Minister for Finance nearly died. I heard the truck and pulled 3k out of my pocket to pay for the SEMI TRAILLER LOAD!!! 196!!
She calmed down when I told her that a lot of them are pre-sold, and when she sees your great system she'll be fine.
Cheers Jim B

[Jonathan Dyer]

I take it you are a driller?

[Outbackozzie]

Exploration Diamond Drill Fitter :)

$15 each isnt too bad Jim, I got mine for free however :)

If i did it again, I would make long growbeds out of lined drill rods, much quicker.

[Hamish]

Hamish, that was Cos lettuce, very tasty :)
Wow - those Cos lettuce are huge!

My cos lettuce seem to have got to the size in the attached photo and have stopped - not sure why. (Can for size comparison) They still look very healthy.

The tag on the seedling tray says 6 weeks to grow. Mine are 4 weeks old. Perhaps they will have another growth spurt? Or am I doing something wrong?

How old are yours in the photo OBO?

[inzane]

Nice Work!!! Did you line the wood frame with ply before lining?

[Outbackozzie]

Its not wood, its steel, and I didnt line it with anything except for 5 layers of plastic liner. Holds water well sofar :)

Hamish, around 6 weeks, they went to seed shortly after.

[Hamish]

Hamish, around 6 weeks, they went to seed shortly after.
Ok - that makes me feel even worst - what am I doing wrong? Cant imagine mine getting to that size in another 2 weeks! What is your pH running at? I am thinking it is the pH thing as lettuce seem to like pH of 6 and my system is running at 7.6

[GaryD]

Hi OBO,

Anyone who can dig holes like you can is welcome in my backyard.....anytime. Excellent work.

Gary

[DaveOponic]

Hey OutbackOzzie,


I was a teacher at EGSHS in Kalgoorlie back in 1983. Your photo brings back memories of Kalgoorlie corrugated iron homes and red dirt.

Great system. I am in Brunei and also making grow beds from barrels. Sold my first Aquaponics system a few weeks back. My barrels are 200 litres and I cut them lengthways, not through the waist like yours.

200 litres is good for a beginner system but I'm now looking at a 1000 - 1500 litre home for my growing fish colony.

Maybe I should do a sortie around the drilling rigs (Oil that is) up on the Sarawak border... maybe I can find some free PVC.


Is Andrew Corbyn still running the environment bookshop there in Kal?



Dave Emerton

[Outbackozzie]

Dave, I find it easier to cut them through the waist, easier to support. I am afraid I dont know anyone from the bookshop.

Hamish, my systems stay at 7.6 ph, I think its all the sand that was in the gravel (I didnt wash it much). Only thing that I add except for fish food is a fair bit of seasol, and dry urea to try and get some nitrates.

Gary, next time it is being dug with a digger - takes too long by hand, and I no longer have enough spare time.