Dufflights larger system

[Dufflight]

This is the larger system.

3120ltrs gravel/river rock
260ltrs bio balls
6 large goldfish(up to 30cm)
43-47 silver perch(up to 26cm)
200ish mussels
was 80 yabbies but they tussle so there probably 20 left.

[Outbackozzie]

That is looking good :)

[Dufflight]

Added a 200ltr swirl filter to one of the beds. Its made from an olive drum so I can keep it under pressure. Was thinking of an open one but it would have to be 5mtrs high to keep the pressure in the system. Got enough stuff to make another 4. Didn't use the large one because I like to keep the pressure in the 2in main line for the GB's.

Also put a T on one of the outlets with a 40mm pipe going to the bottom of the pool with a right angle at the base. With the open 40mm top it still manages to suck air to the bottom and stir things up. Will see how it goes.

[Dufflight]

Got a pic of the swirl filter. Going to make a larger one. Something that I can have the 10000ltr per hr pumping into. Looking at small tanks. I've got a large swirl filter but it does not have a top and I want this one to be pressurized.

[Dufflight]

New fish. Its going into the large swirl filter.

[Dufflight]

Another 200ltr swirl filter installed today. Thinking that it might be easier to install a few of these and tackle a larger one later.

[Dufflight]

Haven't seen George since he went into the swirl filter with 4 air stones. But the crickets I usually clean out of there every day have disappeared.:D
Seedlings are coming up in the new GB's but I still need a lot more plants.

[Outbackozzie]

That be nitrate :eek:

You wont need any seasol.

[Dufflight]

Installed a 90mm diverter for the down pipe to the shed. This will allow for adding water and flushing the system a little every now and then. To help with the cycling I dropped the water level a half meter. This will allow me to bring it back up without having to deal with de gassing all the chlorine.

[Dufflight]

This is the diverter. The other pic is of a 90mm PCV pipe I dropped inside my current siphon chamber. It allows the GB's to work with less flow. I use a 10000ltr per hr pump and have the GB's filling in 5min draining in less than 2min. But as I add more GB's and don't need the bacteria to work as hard when the system matures this way I can cut back on the flow without having any problems with the siphons. And if I need the high turn over later I just take it out and kick the pump up a notch.

[Dufflight]

Got some more duckweed for the system. Will make a floating raft for it to grow and block a little more light in the pool. Almost ready to install a few more GB's. Thinking of another 3x 380ltr Gb's on stands. Idea is to pump to the higher GB and have that auto siphon to the bottom gb and then siphon back to the pool. Gives the water double the amount of exposure to the gravel in one pass. Will lose a little pumping volume on the head hight but double its use.

[Dufflight]

Almost finished the cycling. Only major difference I see in the larger system is the amount of time it takes to cycle. Don't know if anyone has done any testing of the bacteria density of different size systems. My guess is on larger systems there is a lot more bacteria working due to the volume of water.

[GaryD]

The greater the surface area to which the substrate (in which the bacteria grows) can attach the more bacteria that can colonise a system.....assuming that there is adequate food to sustain the bacteria population.

Of course, the bacteria is to be found in the water, too.....and the air for that matter.

[Dufflight]

It has been interesting to run a small and larger system. Has anyone looked at the bacteria under the microscope? Or have a picture to compare how far along a system is maturing.

Going to add a few more GB's and may replace the half drums with a 380ltr one.

[Dufflight]

Picked up another 4 x 380ltr GB's. One is going on the ground like the others and then I might play with the rest on stands. Top GB siphoning into the bottom and then back to the pool.

[Dufflight]

1 380ltr filled and seeds added. Later I'll find out what I planted. Busy at the time.:D

[Dufflight]

Water diverter worked will. Added about 150 to 200mm to the pool before I turned it off. Then the rain we got over the next couple of days put in nearly double that. Fish are very happy and growing. Will get the other GB's online over the next week. Still playing with the layered GB idea. Just not sure on the layout. If I use the open swirl filter then have the over flow go through 90mm PVC to the top GB's I still will have to divert a little of the flow. Depends on head.

[Dufflight]

Added 50ish catfish to the system today. Mainly for cleaning the bottom and keeping any solids moving. Plus they look funny.:D Another 20ish yabbies that I threw into a 380ltr tub with my spare PVC bits and an air stone. George the cod gets any that get damaged.

[Dufflight]

Another GB getting installed. Because my Gb's drain out the side I've modified the siphon to allow the outer PVC to turn so I can clear roots. This is a 40mm siphon that will have a smaller center added later to adjust the amount of water needed to start the siphon.

[Dufflight]

Starting to show a little color on the Am, Ni tests. Decided to give the system a little push. So I emptied some of the blue drums into a 380ltr. Now instead of the media in the drums filling and draining slowly they now do a flood and drain inside of 10mins. Now I don't have to worry about them running properly. Will change over the rest of the drums. Because the media in them is the oldest the bacteria should be well established. Won't waste the drums, will set them up on a separate timed pump and maybe put some trees in them.

[Dufflight]

Can see the bottom now. Been sweeping it a little but there does not seem to be much of a build up. The fish must be keeping the solids suspended and the pump gets them.

The little catfish are working out what pellets are after I've been throwing a handful to them when I feed the rest of the fish. Now more of them are heading for the deep end at tea time.

[Murray]

Hi Dufflights,
Where did you get the cat fish?
I think I will get some for my Jades tank...

[Dufflight]

Namoi Valley Aquafarming
Narrabri NSW 2390
67921212

[Dufflight]

My first run at a SFG. Well it's more a round garden bed that floods and drains. The SFG is like my raised beds outside without a grid in them. This is more based on Gary's design. One that I prefer to the grid one.

The drum was an AP GB so converting it was not hard. Filled the PVC with river rock to help keep it draining. Will leave a jug in the bottom drum to water from. AP water will be used unless the salt is too high. A pump will be added if I kill too many plant by forgetting to water them.

[GaryD]

Hi Dufflight,

I'll watch your progress with interest.

Gary