Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Your setup is starting to take shape now, it's looking great!

I managed to get my clay balls at a good price but had to drive about 100km to collect them. I just filled my car with as many as I could.......

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White spots on plant leaves and very very hard water could just mean it's winter!

There's only two different brands I've seen around here, the ones that were pictured by the pallet load that Keegun bought are the same brand I have bought then there is another that is sold at a few home improvement stores in much smaller quantities for much more money. I looked to see what they would charge to ship hydroton to get a better price online and one place I saw $28 a bag would ship for $35 a bag... even though they were shipping from my state... uhh no thanks... another I saw would ship a pallet load ($22 per bag x 33 bags) for $150 so that's only about $5 a bag if you had a way to use or get rid of the rest of the pallet that you didn't need its probably good price.



At least you have your priorities straight! I didn't call it a waste I don't think... I have come to appreciate how easy it is to work with clay balls so I'll probably be converting more beds over to them as I can afford to buy them...

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Rob
My greenhouse / aquaponics adventure
My DIY PVC Hoop House

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Always live on the green side of life
My indoor & outdoor systems

WOW very nice job. I hope one day that will have something like that

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The second hobby that I love a lot is making awesome food on my electric smoker for my family and friends. All my advice and recipes you can find on my blog on this link http://www.electricsmokerguy.com/

So I got most of the media in the beds. Does anyone know how well you are supposed to rinse the hydroton?


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it needs rinsed pretty well or you'll end up with red clay water. if you don't have fish yet and have an easy way to clean your sump you might be OK just running the water (shut it off from the DWC beds so it doesn't recirculate in to those beds) then clean the sump out.

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Rob
My greenhouse / aquaponics adventure
My DIY PVC Hoop House

Well I rinsed as best as I could but to do it properly I would have spent more time than I had. I think I am going to build a trommel with a spray bar if and when I need to do it again.


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Well fish tanks are wrapped and only a couple more small things to button up before water starts flowing! Does everyone else get this excited/anxious when they start up a system... Alot of $$ time and hard work so I hope this baby runs. Guess we will find out soon!


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Hi Keegun,

initially I thought you might be better splitting the system in halves in the event of a catastrophic stuff up (which is not too uncommon) but seeing you're as addicted to this as many of us are I'm guessing you'll eventually want to expand into all that spare square footage. At that time I would suggest assembling a separate system.
Great job so far.

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Pete.

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Pete

What do you mean by split the system? Please elaborate as I am eager to learn.

Nice wrapping. That would solve some problems I'm having. Thanks

I didnt want to paint the thing now as I have fish in it and dont want to paint them.

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My system

120 THINGS IN 20 YEARS - My blog about my learning adventure

My skills include being able to move slowly forward in time, and if I really concentrate, I can sometimes tell what I'm thinking.

BullwinkleII

Thanks. I can't take credit for the wrapping. I saw it on a youtube video and thought it was easier than painting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXyGXj5 ... 3s&list=WL

There are lots of components and subsequent growths that hound Aperists and their systems. Having a single large system is great for economies of scale providing all stop valves, isolation, bypass abilities and constant monitoring is adhered to.
For most of us it seems after a couple of years when the GBs get into full swing issues with root blockages, flooding, air supply, pumps, electrical supply, bed foundations, solar degradation, fish health etc. become the result of not so careful monitoring.
A split system is one where if something happens to one system it doesn't effect the other. Smaller systems are less complicated and problems are easier to resolve. Your system has two FTs and four beds that could have been split. Had they all been media beds I would have definitely recommended it but I suggest doing it when you expand.

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Pete.

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Pete thank you for the response. I will keep that in mind for the future as it seems that is some next level thinking.

Well winter is still hanging on here. 13 degrees this morning and snow on the ground in April. Going to try and coax the electrician into working today and get the power situation buttoned up. After that it's probably time to shut this thread down and start a new one. Thank you to everyone for your valuable input. On to the next step.