The Queenslander

[GaryD]

Hi Scott,

After a fair bit of research but absolutely 0 practical knowledge it seems that a small continuous flow, media based system that can be deep-flow (or mixed deep flow and media) adaptable makes the most sense to me.

I admire the integral food supply/waste management "holistic" approach to this design.

One of the strengths of The Queenslander design is its versatility. The basic unit (as described) can support more hydroponic growing system (of virtually any kind)....and/or non-aquaponic systems.....like wicking beds.

What general ratios of tank volumes would be a good starting point before I introduce living things?

The only real issue is ensuring that you have sufficient bio-filtration capacity for your system. We ensure that our bio-filtration capacity is at least 25% of the volume of our fish tank (aside from any growing systems that we might have) so that we can disconnect the fish tank from the growing system if we need to.

I guess the sump will not need to hold the whole growbed with continuous flow so it can be smaller.

The ability to use a smaller sump is just one of the benefits of continuous flow. The subsurface continuous flow regime that we used is really another (final filter) solids capture device......and, because we use this grow bed for short cycle crops, we are able to give it a bit of a clean up after each crop.

Duckweed tank could be shallow but how much surface area? Similar size to the growbed or fishtank?

The duckweed tank we used on our 4 tank system was about 2 square metres in area.......and it was hooked up to a 950 litre fish tank. The important thing is that it should allow for a sharp decrease in the water velocity coming out of the fish tank.....so that any sedimentary solids can settle out.

[wakamole]

Gary
will you oxygenate with a venturi or the like or will you need to use a separate pump?

Funny, in my mind my first system would look like this and then I see it already made:



http://www.earthsolutions.com/Farm-i...ix_p_596.html#

[GaryD]

Hi Scott,

We'll use an air pump to provide air to the fish tank and to the filter/clarifier. The water will also get aerated by being recirculated through the trickling bio-filter.

Gary

[SunCoaster]

I have an RSS subscription to Microponics blog but for some reason it wasn't pinging me. I went back to it recently and found all this good stuff about the Queenslander (amongst other great things) and am keen to track this thread now also.

Also saw your link to Dr Brett Roe and his work with integration. I read his dissertation and know where I'm headed now but in the meantime, have you any thoughts on making the sump a "wetland" with redclaw and mussells eating the solids etc and thus you don't need to feed (per Dr BR's findings)?

[GaryD]

Hi SunCoaster,

I'm at a bit of a loss when it comes to RSS feeds, pingbacks and the like so I'm unable to explain why your RSS thing went wrong.

Anyway, thanks for your kind words......and I'm pleased that you find my work useful.

I assume that your question about the Redclaw and mussells is still linked to The Queenslander design (as distinct from the Vermiponics thread).

If so......the whole thrust of the The Queenslander is toward the capture and removal of solids so any further processing (regardless of the organism or process) would occur outside of the system......at least initially.

If I was to include Redclaw and mussels, I'd probably set up a parallel system and, only when I had confirmed that I could do so without compromising water quality, would I connect that system into the Queenslander's water column.


Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

I've been waiting for several weeks for some new fibreglass grow beds and sump tanks to be made......but sometimes delays can be a good thing.

It's given me a chance to revisit my new system......and it's always much easier to make changes before the glue dries.

The overall design doesn't change much.....just the layout of some components. I'm also thinking of integrating what would have been two systems (one 2300 litre and one 1000 litre) so that they both run off the same filtration system, pump......and back up system.

I've also made the decision to house the fish tanks and filtration system inside the shed (rather than immediately outside of the shed) to make way for other integrations.

When I consider the benefits of having a single solids removal/filtration system to serve two fish tanks, I wonder why I didn't think of it earlier.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

The 2300 litre fish tank for our new system has finally made it into the shed in readiness for fitting out.

During the past few weeks, we've harvested all (but one who escaped) of our jade perch. We now have 19 barramundi (almost plate-sized) and one jade perch in a mega bin recirculating aquaculture system.

The supplier of our outstanding components (eight grow beds and two sump tanks) has undertaken to fill the order in mid January. While they are not normally so busy, our order followed on the heels of a very large order for a South Australian tuna farm. That, coupled with the onset of the silly season, conspired to create a delay of several weeks in getting the new system together.

I'm looking forward to making some useful progress.......and more fish dinners.

Gary

[drewb]

thanks again Gary every time I read a post from you I learn so much more. I would really love to see this system in action or even if you know of others I could look at would be great
Cheers Drew

[MarkEinOz]

Nice work Gary - keep the pics coming!

[GaryD]

Hi,

The earthworks that have been ongoing over the past several months have required that we move our various "treasures" around from pillar to post.

In the latest round, they made it onto the levelled section where the grow beds for our new system are to be located.

Since we're expecting the new components to be delivered any day now, another move for the treasures is very much on the cards.

I'd love to say that the inside of the shed is in much better shape than this lot but it simply wouldn't be the truth.


Gary