New System for Fred

[Murray]

This system is being installed at Daybro. 1 x 2300 ltr tank and 4 x grow beds etc
Will be a good one.
Fred has made a really nice area complete with concrete floor for his Aquaponics adventure. The drain pipes for the grow beds are running around the outside of the slab back to the sump.

Muzza

[Murray]

A couple of more photos of the system when it was being installed.
The system is 1 x fish tank + 4 x grow beds + sump + pumps + header tank and all accessories.
More Pix when Fred has the plants in and the fish delivered.
Muzza

[Murray]

Planting the new system at Fred's place. Also some shots of the Practical Aquaponics system.

[sillyoldfart]

Murray, looking at the photos it appears that all the growbeds drain to (presumably) piping buried below soil level and around the slab to the sump.

It looks like there is a ninety degree bend, upright riser and then another bend entering the sump tank.

How is the water from the beds drained to the sump tank. Is it pumped from somewhere?

Can't quite make sense of it?

[Murray]

The water from the grow beds goes into the grey 40mm pipe underground to the 250 ltr sump that can be seen in the third photo. The water drains into that sump by gravity.
So long as the top of the sump is below the bottom of the grow beds, the water will drain to there by gravity.
There is always water in the 40mm grey underground pipes coming from all the grow beds, but it does not matter as the water is moving all the time on it's way back to the sump from the grow beds.
The sump pump can be seen...in the third pix.....it lifts the water back into the fish tank and the header tank.
Muzza

[sillyoldfart]

ok. And the purpose of the "header" tank is?

[Murray]

The header tank works as a water "Top up" mechanism for the system.
The system is run off float switches.
As the plants use up water, about 15 to 20 ltrs a day (varies depending on how many, how big etc) eventually there comes a point where the sump pump will not fire because there is no more water coming back into the sump from the grow beds. There is therefore not enough water in the main fish tank to fire the main pump float switch and send water to the grow beds, so the system stops.
The header tank provides a buffer water supply to the main tank to keep the system running. As water in the system is used up the water level in the header tank gradually runs down. If you want totally auto refill then a float switched pump from your rainwater tank can be fitted in the header tank to top up the header tank.

I find that I only top up my header tank about once every week or so.

As the header tank is 250 ltrs it provides a good buffer for the system.
Another view showing the header tank sitting on top of the main tank and the sump tank can be seen off to the side of the main tank.

I hope that is clear enough....if not I will attempt to explain further.

Muzza.

[AquaNZ]

Love the system muzza looks brilliant!
I see a lot of planning, time and money went into setting up this system.

What type of fish are you using? and where abouts did you get your grow beds and various tanks from?

[Murray]

Hi AquaNZ,
Fish used are Silver Perch.
The Grow beds and tanks etc manufactured by "PAFE" and can be seen here http://www.aquaponics.net.au/index.htm
Muzza.

[sillyoldfart]

Googled "PAFE" Murray, but couldn't find any manufacturer by that name.

Could you list contact details and where they are located. Do you know if they have a NSW branch or agent?

[Murray]

PAFE We have just adopted that name for our products. It is an acronym for "Practical Aquaponics For Everyone"
It will appear on our website and products soon.

[nick]

i think what you are looking for is that murray who runs the site is the manufacturer of the products. He is located in brisbane and as far as i know does not have a supplier down there, but would more likely than not be happy to frieght down whatever you want to buy.

[Murray]

Thanks Nick,
I did not think that through enough to answer the question properly. Yes, I have been manufacturing F/glass tanks and grow beds for about a year now and we are still developing and extending that product range.
The system you can see for Fred is one of many that we have installed up until now. We have sent our grow beds and tanks to all points in the eastern states and have even had inquires from the west, but freight is the killer on that one.
Muzza

[sillyoldfart]

So what sort of cost are we looking at to get say a 2500ltr tank and three growbeds plus freight to Swansea NSW?

[Murray]

About 250.00 (freight)
We have a system going to Cooranbong (that is close to you) soon but I can't remember exactly what the freight cost is, but it is that approx figure.
I am in Toowoomba tonight seeing my grandkids, so I cannot tell you exactly, sorry...

[sillyoldfart]

Yep, that's about directly opposite across the lake. Could you PM me contact details of the customer. Like to have a look at the setup and sday hello sometime.

Are you going down to install the system Murray?

[Murray]

Fred has just emailed some photos of produce from his system.
Harvesting right now..... I am really envious of those tomatoes Fred !!!!
Fred has just ordered 2 more grow beds for his system. He will be running 6 grow beds off his 2300 ltr fish tank.
I hope Fred won't mind me saying, he is in his 80's and enjoying every minute of his Aquaponics system, and obviously enjoying great success!!!! (Fred just had another birthday).