Colum's System

Colum Black-Byron

Hi all.

I've been poking around this forum for a week and a bit now, so I thought I'd better show off my system. And apologies in advance. I like pictures!

I discovered first hand how much fun it is digging a big hole in the ground.

My first gardening project involved very long beds built up by sleepers. It failed due to me getting sick of watering/irrigation systems failing - $500 water bills/invading grass-weeds and horrible clay adelaide soil. I originally went with a no dig garden bed, but the amount I always needed to top up was crazy. So I have a massive amount of sleeper to put to good use.

The pond liner + water. I had a few problems with my SLO not being big enough, so I added another two on either side, and after a few fixed leaks, I had it all working.

I then welded up a lid for the FT, not so much to save the fish from the birds, but more to stop my dog from going for a swim.

Colum Black-Byron

Sorry, hit enter too early.

This was the first GB I built.

Notice the base, I thought a waterproof flooring used in bathrooms would be suitable. I was wrong.

A new pond liner later, and way too much shovelled gravel and I had the system up and running.

Copper tape around all the legs to stop the snails/slugs from climbing up. Apparently it electrocutes them.

And here's two weeks worth of growth on the lettuce seeds I sprinkled over the top.

And I'm always one that thinks bigger is better, and I had so much wasted potential with my pump, so I started building my next two beds.

This one is going to be my DWC floating raft system. I want to compare side by side.

And this one is for passionfruit. I want to compare it against the ones in the ground.

I coated it with epoxy resin + cotton tops, then sprung for chop sheet to stop the leaks.

And filled it up.

Today I threw in my passionfruit cuttings, the plant they came from aren't very old either, so I'm curious to see which grows better! Time will tell.

And my wife would shoot me if pipes were going everywhere and visible. So I dug everything into the ground. When the grass comes back (I covered it all with dirt from digging out the pond), it should look invisible.

Next part is I've got to finish off my DWC bed. I'm waiting for a new pond liner to arrive. I tried to repair my broken one, but no love. Then I've got to figure out this filter business. I didn't think about it building my bed, so it's tricky to get it from FT - ST. I'll figure out something.

It's only got a 7 goldfish in there at the moment. I'm planning to get some Murray Cod or Sleepy Cod mid January. So I've got till then to get it sorted!

mattyoga

looking good - will be interested to hear how you find the copper tape works.

Can you drain from the gravel beds into the DWC? I know it might involve digging up pipes, though would save the hassle of making and installing a filter - might need to shorten those legs on the DWC stand :whistle:

Colum Black-Byron

So far the copper tape seems to work. I've usually got snails over everything. I'll usually have a rainy day and they are swarming over everything. And I haven't seen any snails in the system. Plenty over my fish tank though.

I was thinking about that with the water from the gravel bed going to the DWC. But I think I'll need a filter system anyway, I don't think the gravel beds will be able to hold up to the all the Cod poop.

Charlie

Great first posts, we love pics!!

System looks great and you have done a great job. Welcome aboard!

Gabe

Very nice - looks like you have been infected by the aquaponics bug - copper bands dont keep the aquaponics bug away :support:

Keep the pictures coming.

Colum Black-Byron

I do plan for more beds. Another three or four. However much the pump can handle. I figure if I'm paying for the electricity, I should get as much as possible out of it (I'm still having to pipe some of it directly back to the sump). It's a 8000LPH, low energy use one.

Although, I'm still holding out hope on the copper tape. Probably not the most scientific, but:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osZXETdJ4mw

I'm not sure how well it'll work once it's been weathers for a few months though.

Jislizard

Looks nice.

Any chance that during heavy rain, water will flood into your sump or fish tank and contaminate the water supply?

Colum Black-Byron

Nah, not really.

I'm in Adelaide, and in the 7 years I've been here, the rain has never been that hard.

Colum Black-Byron

I've got to say, I'm really impressed at the ability of the plants to hold up to an Adelaide 40C+ heat wave (105F+ for you Americans). Usually little seedlings would be gone for. But nope. they are pushing on strong.

I do have a question though, how normal is it for there to be a stack of bee's in the system on a hot day? I counted almost 30 hovering around, going in for a drink. It's hot, so I can't blame them, I just don't want a bee next starting in my back yard. Unless it's in proper boxes I can harvest honey from.

It's hard to take pictures of them, but...

Although, it means I'll have the best pollinated tomatoes in the area.

Also, I've almost got my DWC bed up and running. Just waiting for the pond liner to arrive, and it not to be 40+ outside. I got a proper cut foam:

What I'm curious about. What's the best size to space the pots (I was going for the 50mm net pots)? And best way to cut the holes out. I was thinking of a coat hanger shaped to the right size, then put into a soldering iron, and pushed through.

Thanks!

Colum Black-Byron

I've got my DWC bed up and running.

I'm still curious about the spacing for the pots if anybody could help? I want to keep it interchangeable with different plants, and fit as much in as possible. Is there a rule of thumb for spacing pots?

Colum Black-Byron

I got my new trellis up and running. Just more square tube. It should hold all I can throw at it. I've got some tomato clips coming in the mail, so hopefully it'll work out well!

And my water has cleared up fantastically, I can see directly to the bottom. Is sparkling!

I'm still really impressed with growth rates. And whoever said tomatoes don't work until you've got a mature system needs to rethink it. Mine are powering along.

And I got net pots in the mail. I've got half planted out with more tomatoes/basil/lettuce/strawberries. I've got some Cos, and a few other varieties in the mail at the moment, hopefully they'll go well.

And I think it's safe to say that the passionfruit cuttings are taking. They've been in there for a week and a bit now, and no wilting. Now I can race them against their clones in the ground!

Colum Black-Byron

A quick question.

I'm going to need an air pump for when I get the Cod, I'm just not sure on what I'll need.

I still need to pipe it into my DWC bed, and i'm planning on additional 10M x 1.2m beds, which will be 12m worth of floating raft beds. So how much air will I need for those?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/65L-Min-Elec ... 794&_uhb=1

Will that one work?

And how loud will it be?

I'm trying to keep it as low wattage as possible. Keep ongoing costs down.

Dave Donley

Nice welded tube frames, they look really sturdy!

Colum Black-Byron

Tube steel is good stuff. Straight, strong, and easy to weld. Can weld up the entire frame in an hour

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Colum's System

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Backyard Aquaponics A place to discuss aquaponics

Colum's System

Who is online

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics