JT's GH AP System Thread

countryboy

Very nice work, JT!!

Looking forward to seeing you get the system planted!!

The inspection panels/removable sides are a nice upgrade, too!

CB

DecalsbyJT · second bed ply and walls 5-09-10 001.jpg [ 418.85 KiB | Viewed 2602 times ]

thanks....

I managed to salvage more of the old GB's.... had to cut them down length wise a little, but saved me a bunch of material....

I pulled the previous side walls out and looked them over and found that the termite damage was mainly surface... so will re-use them also.....

trying to get the second bed up and running before re-building the FT....

jT

Privatteer

As someone who lives in a termite prone area you may want to be careful you don't provide a termite path past the barrier into your house.

DecalsbyJT

thanks...

this system is attached to the south side of the garage..... but will keep an eye on it

jT

DecalsbyJT · second bed ply and walls 5-10-10 001.jpg [ 402.82 KiB | Viewed 2482 times ]

little by little.... didnt get as much done as I wanted to, but im still moving forward....

hope to get the second GB online by wed... then I can use thur and fri to build the new replacement FT... then saturday, swap out the FT's....

but the best laid plans of mice and men.....

jT

DecalsbyJT · second bed ply and walls 5-11-10 001.jpg [ 375.34 KiB | Viewed 2364 times ]

rushed a little today to get the liner thrown in the second GB.. we were to get rain and since I only have temp GH plastic covering the system, it leaks here and there.....

we got a little rain.. but nothing to worry about... more rain tomorrow in the forcast....

jT

DecalsbyJT · siphon install 2nd bed 5-12-10 001.jpg [ 422.14 KiB | Viewed 2264 times ]

got the second GB hooked into the system.... its not full of media yet, but the affnan siphon worked first time and every time since.... I kinda like this affnan siphon... dont have to worry about back pressure, kinks, having enough water in the pipes etc....

will post my step by step siphon construction and install.....next message.....

jT

DecalsbyJT · 2nd bed finishing up 5-14-10 006.jpg [ 417.97 KiB | Viewed 2209 times ]

finally getting the second bed finished

to do.....

finish putting in the media
put the finishing top cap on

did a water test yesterday

temp 70f (21c)
PH 8 (been high since system re-start)
amm .5
nitri .5
nitra 5

so been working on keeping the water temp down (its been in the high 80'sf here and feeding the fish every other day at the moment... I think it might be due to the small filter I used for for a month..... I have to vacuum the tank and see if that helps... I ran the
pump for a couple hours straight last night above the normal cycle and will do so again today and see what happens...

I will be rebuilding the fish tank in the next few day or so...will be starting from scratch..

think I will be adding some plants in a few days.... finally.... seems like the system has been down for months, but it hasnt....

all that bodged plumbing you see in the background is temp. just enough to get to both beds... with the new FT, the plumbing locations will be moved to their new locations

jT

TCLynx

Looking good.

With all the change ups and stuff, having some levels of ammonia, nitrite is not unexpected. Hopefully it all re-cycles before too long and the pH will come back down for you.

DecalsbyJT · siphon install 2nd bed 5-12-10 015.jpg [ 349.47 KiB | Viewed 2184 times ]

Here is my step by step siphon install....

if your building a ply and wood GB along with uniseals then this might help some out there..

they recommend a max of 1/2" (6.35mm) for installing a uniseal... so in my position, im using 2 layers of 1/2" ply for the base.... (no sag under media weight here)

I cant use a uniseal if trying to insert directly into the ply.. so I came up with this
alternative...

cut a piece of hard 1/4" plastic to size , lift up the liner and positioned the rock guard and positioned the plastic and marked
the outline for later placement

cut the correct sized hole for the uniseal your using

place the plastic back into position and mark the hole to be cut out

hole marked to be cut out to clear the edges of the uniseal

drill a hole that is at least 1" larger then the uniseal recommended hole size, this is to make sure there isnt any contact between the uniseal and the plywood

first layer of ply cut out....

Hole thru both pieces of plywood almost ready to install the uniseal

I beveled the edges of the plastic so the liner will have a gradual transition to the ply instead of a sharp drop off

showing the bevel on three sides... fourth side butts up against the inside wall of the GB

Plastic put into place and a couple screws to hold it in place and the liner back in place and I have cut it out to accept the uniseal... I cut the hole in the liner just a little smaller than the hole to aid in sealing

Uniseal installed

Next msg will have the completion of my GB siphon

DecalsbyJT · siphon install 2nd bed 5-12-10 025.jpg [ 374.38 KiB | Viewed 2181 times ]

part 2 of my siphon install

next step is to install the actual siphon... im using the Affnan since I have tried it on the large GB and didnt have a problem from first start....

measuring for the standpipe height

cut the standpipe to length, a chop saw makes this easy and square

bevel the bottom edge of the stand pipe so it will go thru the uniseal easier and without damaging the uniseal

basic standpipe setup for my GB.. yours may take a little different configuration

dont forget to lube up your pipe so it will slip in easily (use a human/fish save lube) NO SOAPS OR OILS

siphon inserted into the uniseal - mark the height on the bottom so you dont push it in to deep...once the standpipe starts to go into the uniseal, it goes quick

stand pipe down under the GB, will match up with out going drain pipe

under GB all hooked up and ready for testing

I had to drain this across the foot path... but its not in the way I have to step up onto the pump platform anyway

countryboy

Very nice tutorial and professional job!! Excellent addition to the knowledge base on here! Thanks!

CB

hydrophilia

Yep. Nice pics, nice looking system. Keep it up!

DéjàVoodoo

From the sign, I assume you will cover it all in stone? That will be soooo sharp!

Good job...keep the pics comming!

Mark

DecalsbyJT

thanks all....

actually Mike is supplying all the GB media, lava rock, river rock and crush and run for the floor

so I post his sign..... in return.....

FT is next....will get it pre-built and ready to go and transfer the fish to 55 gallon barrels along with the FT water tear it down and re-build it to fit the new AP configuration...

jT

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