Tomer from Karkur

[Tomer]

hello good people
new here on the forum, and just happened to read about Daniel's graywater system. sounds great. i just wanted to tell about something i added in my home, which is a fat seperator for my kitchen water.
the water from the sink flow into the bottom of a blue plastic barrel (120 liters i think). the water exiting are also from the bottom of the barrel, but there is a physical seperator between the inlet and outlet (just a piece of plastic). this causes the water to flow in, rise a bit (maybe 20-30 cm) and circulate some before they exit through the out pipe. as oils, soap and fat in general have a lower specific gravity than water, they will float and accumulate at the top of the barrel, to be removed into the compost bin once a year or so. it's very simple, really, i can send a sketch if any are interested.
from the seperator i have the water flowing by gravity into two consecutive old bathtubs filled with gravel, and planted with papyrus, reeds, lemongrass and a type of bamboo. i do not have a clearwater pond before my water flows to an avocado tree, but it is a good addition, with fish, watercress and freshwater mussels as the best indicator for water quality you can get.
it's a great feeling to do the right things...
keep true to the 3 main R's - Refuse (what you don't need), Reuse (what u can), Recycle (all the rest)
regards,
Tomer

[DaveOponic]

as oils, soap and fat in general have a lower specific gravity than water, they will float and accumulate at the top of the barrel, to be removed into the compost bin once a year or so.

Huh? Why would you put fats and oils in the compost bin? Golden rule of composting .... no fats or oils.... they stop the rotting process.

[Tomer]

Hi
well, although the "rules" say no meats, fat & Dairy products, i find that is for 2 main reasons: 1) not to attract animals, vermine, etc, which can be solved easily enough by covering your pile well, and 2) not to "overheat" the pile, meaning having to much of a good thing. this can be solved by building the pile carefully with lots of dry leaves or dry grass laid upon the layer of kithcen waste (the carbon on top of the nitrates). i also find spreading a thin layer of local earth every few layers gives good results. anyway, for me it works fine, but you are right - some care should be taken, so i put extra dried leaves and do not put the whole fat-cake (that is what it resembles) as a whole but break it down a bit. there is a fantastic mulch of micro-organisms that is easily prepared and does wonders for the compost pile, i will happily send you the 'recipe' if you wish. it is an blend of phototropic & lacto bacteria, together with yeast and sugars, that acts as a catalist to the whole process.
Tomer

[Murray]

Hi Tomar,
Where is Karkur ?

Searching Google Earth it comes up in Sudan ?

[Tomer]

Hi Murray
yeah, i does come up in Sudan.. well, i'm not that far off. Karkur is a small town in the upper parts of Israel. dry climate most of the year, dusty, breeze from the mediterranian... olives, dates, figs.
i am very keen on getting my own aquaponics system going as i watch with envy (of the good sort, the kind that motivates you) the systems posted on the forum and on your website. unfortunatelly, Downunder is a long way from here...
i have managed to get a 1700 litre plastic round black tank, and for growbeds i cut in half a 1000 litre white plastic container, the kind that is cased in a metal cage, so i guess i have 2 x 500 litre growbeds (before i add the substrate, which i thought would be Tuf, a brownish airy lava pebble). still deliberating which pumps i need, and what size the sump tank need be. will very much appreciate any advice. by the way - has Gary's new edition manuel come out yet?
regards,
Tomer

[Murray]

Very interesting Tomer.
Where you live will benefit very much by the introduction of Aquaponics.
Yes Gary's second edition is now available and has been well worth the wait. Comes with a CD with additional photos etc.

Pump sizes can be quite small. Our newer systems are all running on much smaller pumps. The use of auto siphons in your proposed system will keep it very simple and reliable.

[Tomer]

Hi Murray,
as you say, our little part of the world is at a need for smart, productive, water saving aqua / horti culture methods. there has been great improvement over the years in these fields, and aquaculture becoming a big business. nowadays there are even a few farms that grow fish organically, or at least they do their best at it.. nothing beats growing your own at home, though. i am aiming for Tilapia as my starting fish, them being durable and tough + quick growth rates. other popular fishes are mullet, carps, baramundi and sparus auratus (sorry don't know the common name).
in my area especially peoples are realizing the neccessity to return to a communal healthy life style, we already organized an organic produce market - day once a week for 150 families. if i can spread the word of Aquaponics, and motivate home grown produce, i've done my share, or that's what i reckon.
I will be looking forward to recieving Gary's manuel, that will solve many problems, i'm sure. but can i ask - what do you mean by auto siphons?
regards
Tomer

[anniefish]

Hi Tomer,
Your ideas are interesting, you obviously think outside the square - you don't just believe what you are told. I think you'll like it here, there are a lot of people like you. Let us know how your system is going.

Ann

[Tomer]

Hi Ann
thanx for the support .. i know i would LOVE it in Australia, i spent a fantastic 6 months travelling all over your beautiful country, and took a ramblers oath to return. one day. one day..
what can i say? the modern square is becoming so unbalanced and well, plain silly, how can people not think outside of it? who can eat those waxy tastless fruits in supermarkets? processed meats? fish pumped with more steroids & hormones than a WWF wrestler?
but i'm barking up the wrong tree here, all of youz share these same thoughts.
i'll gladely send photos and surely ask many a question.
be happy
Tomer

[Hamish]

there is a fantastic mulch of micro-organisms that is easily prepared and does wonders for the compost pile, i will happily send you the 'recipe' if you wish. it is an blend of phototropic & lacto bacteria, together with yeast and sugars, that acts as a catalist to the whole process.
Tomer

I would love to know more about this Tomer. Would also love to see some photos and a sketch of your grey water treatment system