New Set Up

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hello all,first I'd like to congratulate all involved in this great site.I hope to use your combined experience and knowledge to get my system up and running.I live on the central highland's of queensland and can encounter extremes in the weather from frosts in winter to mid 40's in summer,so I built a poly pipe shelter with a lazer lite roof in satin cream which block's 99% of uv and lets in 50% light.I am hoping this will block out the killer heat in summer but affording enough light to grow my vege's.The veg'e dome is 7m by 4m and I've got hold of a 2500L fish tank.I am going to use the flood and drain method with electronic timing and incorporate a 12 volt back up system.I am not to sure as how to drain the grow bed's as far as the low level drain,and am coming to grips with the in's and out's of building my set up so if you have heard these questions a million times i ask for forgiveness.Any input will be greatly appreciated.
all the best Brett

[GaryD]

Welcome BB,

You'll find the answers to most of your questions in here somewhere so start reading. If want you want is not easily found, start to ask questions.

You can use an electronic timer to control your pumping cycles (here's a good example (http://www.aquaponics.net.au/prod36.htm)) or you could use an autosyphon. If you go down the electronic timer route, draining the grow bed is easy using a standpipe arrangement.


GaryD

[djs-sa]

hi brett just wondering the name, r u into barramundi for ur system

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

G'DAY, DJS -SA, the barramundi bit is just an old knickname I acquired in cairns a few years back.I will certainly be looking at growing some barra later on down the track,I will see how many jade perch commit suicide on me for my first batch of fingerlings,I have alot of work to do before then though.
Hoo Roo Brett

[GaryD]

Hi Brett,

You'll find Jade perch a much more forgiving fish than Barramundi to start out on.

Gary

[Hamish]

Hi Brett,

You'll find Jade perch a much more forgiving fish than Barramundi to start out on.

Gary
Yes - I havent lost one yet - touch wood :)

[djs-sa]

well i'm running 900 barra and also touch wood havent lost 1 yet

[Jim Bedford]

Hi Djs-sa,
What's your overnight water temp there, mate?
Jim B

[djs-sa]

we have a fully enclosed shed and totally insulated water temp is at 26 to 27 all day and all nite so sweet, but my grow beds are set up to run to waste, using the water changes as food for my vegies. not a full ap system as such

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hi all,have been trying to post some pics of my progress,but seems they are too big,does anyone know how to shrink them to fit this format.I have built a poly pipe igloo with a lazerlite roof,put the 2500l fish tank in place,built the sump with attached plumbing,ended up using a galvanised bin for the sump and buried it in a formply box coated in liquid flash,cant make any more progress as I am waiting for the 6 grow beds to arive from murray,ordered them 7 weeks ago so hope they get here soon.Will post some pics when i learn how.HOO ROO Brett

[GreenCow]

Download this free resizer and you are on your way...
http://www.download.com/PIXresizer/3000-12511_4-10607499.html?tag=mncol&cdlPid=10791772

[Hamish]

Hi Bret - if you find the file on your computer. Right click on it. Select 'Open With' choose Paint. When it opens in Paint choose Image, Resize/Skew. The enter a percentage in the Horizontal and verticle box - the same in each or it will distort the pic. You can do this a number of times until it is the size you want. I normally resize it untill it fits in the screen - for me that is about 40% but depends on the starting size of the image.

[Hamish]

Download this free resizer and you are on your way...
http://www.download.com/PIXresizer/3000-12511_4-10607499.html?tag=mncol&cdlPid=10791772
That is a good one GC - just downloaded it and tried it. Nice!

[notable]

Hi Bret,
just to add to Hamish info
set the resolution to 72 dots (pixels) per inch
and the picture width to about 600 pixels
You can also use the software that came with you camera, or use Windows Paintshop
cheers
Rodney

[fishfood]

Still think the whey i do it is easier just download off camera to my pictures and then send them to me [automatic resizing when they come back save to one spot [all fish pictures all there already on size]

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Thanks for the info one and all.I did a bit more work yesterday and set up the back up pump for my sump,I used a 500g per hour marine bilge pump wired to an automatic bilge sensor,just attached the sensor at a higher point than the on position for the float switch on the 240 volt sump pump,in event of power failure and the grow beds are still draining the rising water in the sump will activate the sensor starting the pump,this way I have eliminated the need for a power relay and one less connection to the mains power.I have given it a test run and it works a treat and am very happy with the result,next job is to set up a relay connected to an other bilge pump for main fish tank to provide emergency airation,both back up's wil be ran off an deep cycle battery monitered by a CTEK smart battery charger,which can be left connected to mains power for months keeping the battery in prime condition,will keep you all posted,bye Brett
ps: I tried too download pixshrink but cant,might have something to do with security ,also e mailed myself and tried to insert to post but still too big,frustrating.

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hi all,i am going to keep all my posts on this thread from now on as i have threads everywhere.A lot has happened since my last post here,my system is fully operational with 150 jade perch added last wednesday and they have more than doubled in size already as their appetite is insatiable.the 10 goldfish get amongst the feeding frenzy an are packing on the size as well.One of my female redclaw is all egged up which blew me away.The two catfish in my tank must rate as the worlds toughest as they have survived through being blasted with urea,and off the scale ammonia to huge ph shifts and chlorine soaks as well,they can hang in my tank forever for that effort.I have planted in all six grow beds but probably should have brought a grow bed online with the rise of nitrates,there is just not enough nitrates for all 6 grow beds at the moment.Any way that is the news for today Bye Brett

[GaryD]

Hi Brett,

I also have a redclaw female with eggs. She's in a glass aquarium and her eggs are due to hatch any day now. Keep us in touch with your Redclaw's progress.

Gary

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

No probs gary,she is in my big tank,I just hope when they do hatch the jades wont eat them,hopefully the jades are too small at the present.