Charlie's First System

Charlie

Read back a few posts Zman, and your input is very welcomed..

Zman

Yeah i read it Charlie.

What i mean is to link the 2 IBCs at the bottom so both tanks are interconnected. Its a little bit different to what you had thought of i guess.

If you did it that way you will still use only 1 pump but because the 2 FTs are interconnected the fluctuation in the FT water level should be split between the 2 tanks.

Charlie

Oh I see, woops, my bad :lol:

I had thought about this but assumed that the water circulation wouldnt be as efficient, combining the two tanks is in reality what I am trying to achieve (increasing over all water volume). Kinda figured a SLO would be the best way to transfer water from the bottom of the FT of one to the top of the other, creating a more effective cycle through the systems.

Hope Im not over thinking all of this, If its as simple as joining them both at the bottom and it still be effective I will go for that. The FT water levels will always remain equal this way too.

skipd

Im with Zman,
You could have both GB into 1 FT and then pump out of the other to ensure 1 is not stagnet. Run the system continuous flow so you have constant FT water height.
If you want to have diff fish sizes in tank maybe some sort of grate over pipe to stop acess between tanks.
Just my 2 cents worth.
2 sep systems means 2 pumps and double the power, IMO. :wave1:

Charlie

Your right, which I was trying to avoid Skipd (2 pumps).

Can you explain constant flow or is it the same as constant flooded?

A question about constant flooded, are the stand pipes just straight pipes or they need to have a tapered fitting to create a syphon effect. Still trying to get my head around CF.

skipd

Well I am no expert in this but I can only tell you how my system is set up in that,
Yep I meant constant flood and I have my standpipes as normal Flood and Drain. ie couple of small holes in bottem of standpipe to drain out but as I have it on constant flood water flows straight down top of standpipe I guess a certain amount of water flows through bottem of standpipe holes.
I was running flood and drain but switched to constant flood to increase airation in FT, which it does considerably.

Jamey

Charlie wrote:

Ok jamey, you've got me thinking now with a different angle.

So as I understand the 2 barrels would be connected by say 90mm pipe at the max water height, a SLO from each FT feeding one barrel each and then a pump in each barrel feeding the GB's? Or one pump in either one of the barrels?

I would imagine you would have the pump sitting on a brick or something to keep away from solids?

I could easily sit the barrels side by side between the IBC's so that would be fine. Would this work with just 1 barrel? if not can you help me understand why pls.

I may need to up grade my pump, its a pondmax 2400, would that handle the influx of water from an auto syphon? should I convert both GB's to CF?

Sorry, lots of questions but would like to get it right before I purchase all the plumbing as you could understand.

Just finished this and I see your post EB, maybe your right, gettin a little complex, I was trying to prevent buying another pump but I suppose its little cost compared to what it could blow out to with piping etc??

Cheers for your help :thumbright:

Hey Charlie,

No brick needed , pump will pull the solids up, id upgrade to a 3000 or 4500lph pump as this would definitely help,
That barrel is in the perfect posi if you could plumb it in and then have the barrel take up the volume of your GB (may need 2) then run Timed F&D cuts down on power usage and $$$

BullwinkleII

arbe wrote:

I am with you Charlie. Wiggles or High 5 and I will be in the tank with a large rock to drown myself - I could only watch the original High 5 with the TV on mute and then only for Charlie Delaney. :love7:

yeah I see what you're saying re Charlie Delaney, But I know someone who knows the moon face in mullygrubs. Was it mullygrubs. That fell out of my head without thinking so I'm guessing it was. Perhaps it's Charlie Delaney!. That would be cool. Nothing like combining two fantasies

I dont even have kids BTW

Is that why we are all here in Charlie's thread.... just in case...

BullwinkleII

Charlie wrote:

Your right, which I was trying to avoid Skipd (2 pumps).

Can you explain constant flow or is it the same as constant flooded?

A question about constant flooded, are the stand pipes just straight pipes or they need to have a tapered fitting to create a syphon effect. Still trying to get my head around CF.

I think constant flow describes things like growing lettuce in holes in PVC pipes with a tiny trickle or "film" of nutrient rich water flowing under to just tickle the roots. Nutrient Film Technique I think it's called.

Constant flood is when you pull your bells off your siphons, and just let the water overflow into your standpipe.

earthbound

It's funny watching some of these conversations go round and round...

Yeah yeah, I clicked on that link but don't see what is impressive about Charlie Delany :confused1:

?

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I still say by far the best thing is to keep them as discrete systems. By the time you buy all the fittings and bits and pieces you need to join them, or to make an elaborate design you could have bought another small pump and have it's power costs paid up for a couple of years or more.

Having two systems does not mean higher running costs and or less fish, you would only need a 20-30W pump in each system... But most people don't like to go the boring simple route..... :lol:

Charlie

Yea just another thread going of track EB.

I suppose your right, Never wanted things to get complex and for the cost of a small water pump it will be done in a couple hours as I have enough piping to run it seperate. My air pump is large enough to do the both easily.

The main aim was to seperate the species, just thought I could benifit from combining the two. Keeping them seperate, I can take a little time with a fishless cycle etc to get it going.

Im sold. :thumbleft:

Jamey

Heres a small trick for you to try..... (More ideas i know i know)

They can be one system with 2 pumps so to speak (this will keep the nitrates in the growbeds, even when say silver perch are wintering and not feeding while your trout are producing heaps.....)

Pump from Tank "A" into Growbed "B" Which Drains into Tank "B"

and vice versa

Pump from Tank "B" into Growbed "A" Which Drains into Tank "A"

Ok Ok i'll stop now :shifty:

Charlie

I like your thinking Jamey :think:

You would still have to have a connecting pipe between the 2 IBC's at the bottom to keep the water levels even because if you had tank A's cycle working say a little bit faster (from fill to drain) eventually the water level would rise over time. It would be hard to match them is what Im trying to say.

Interesting thought though...

Charlie

Got a bit more done today.

Used all the media out of my old system, beautiful stuff, full of worms and poo, should go well.

Got the water aerating at the moment to de-chlorinate.

Charlie

threw one of my buddies in to test the water for me..

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