I ordered my pump today, went for a Hozelock Cascade 4000 Submersible Pond Pump. Just got to wait for it to be posted now.
Buried the conduit last weekend and set up an old space case for the back-up battery, air pump and power points. Also added the drain piping to the bath tubs, another trip to Bunnings is in order for some more bits and pieces.
Hopefully it'll be at cycling stage in a couple of weeks.
Hi LV,
You've obviously researched your pump well......it costs several times what you'd have paid for a similar Chinese pump in popular use.
I note that, in the UK, these pumps have a 3 year warranty. Do the local distributors offer the same thing?
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
Gary,Originally Posted by GaryD
it does come with the three year warranty, that was one of the factors in buying it as well as the 44w power consumption.
I'm a bit concerned that my bathubs have started cracking in the enamel, the weight of the gravel on the steel frames could be the beginning of a headache.
At present I plan to silicon over these areas to 'seal' everything up.
Hi LV,
I guess your biggest issue there is that, after a couple of seasons, they'll begin to leak. Would fibreglass bath tubs be a better choice perhaps?I'm a bit concerned that my bathubs have started cracking in the enamel......
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
My second system is finally cycling away, still needs a few glitches ironed out.
Two of my five beds start to 'trickle' drain as soon as they start filling I'm assuming my leak holes are too big. I've blocked one with bluetac and it seem to fill and siphon ok.
I also assumed my beds would totally drain once they siphoned, they seem to retain maybe water to a depth of 50mm.
The main tank overflows occasionally as the return line to the sump and the overflow to the grow beds don't move water quick enough. I have added a tee piece from the pump line with a tap to allow some flow to immediately return to the sump.
Next step is to get all the taps set so they are flowing just right.
Hi LV,
Auto-syphons can be fiddly but it sounds like you've got yours under control.
Don't be too concerned about having some water remain in the growbed. So long as it is below the root zone of your plants it won't do any damage (and it will shorten your fill and drain time)
If I understand you correctly, you're just bypassing some water from the pump (in the sump) back into the sump. Right?The main tank overflows occasionally as the return line to the sump and the overflow to the grow beds don't move water quick enough. I have added a tee piece from the pump line with a tap to allow some flow to immediately return to the sump.
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
You've got it correct Gary, I've added a tee piece and tap so I can divert some of the flow back to the sump.
Hi LV,
Surplus water flow can be used to good effect to boost aeration in the sump.......immediately before the fish tank.
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
It's been a really long time since I've posted on how my aquaponics is going, I'll plead work commitments as my excuse. Out of the 230 days I spent at work this year I was away for 101 of them. My lovely wife kept watch over the aquaponics, bees and gardens.
I was ready to pull the second system to bits as it seemed pretty static for about 8 months. Since around October with it warming up it has really taken off and I happy with how it's going. It would be nice if I didn't keep loosing produce to the rats in the area.
So far we've harvested 8 out of our 10 original Jade Perch and restocked both systems with more Jade Perch fingerlings. I'm keen to try barramundi in my smaller system next time around, just need to sort out heating for winter time.
Some photos on how it's going.
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