I am actually really glad I ran into your channel! We have been thinking of starting a small aquaponics setup for our place and we have been using your videos to get more inspiration as well as learn more about how they work to aid in designing our own! Keep up the good work!
Hi Rob great video. I have same water quality issues. When all my filters are clean the water is amazingly clear. As soon as the filters are dirty the water is cloudy. The polishing pads really do a great job of cleaning the water and providing beneficial bacteria a place to live.
Hey Anthony. Am hoping that the shade cloth & floor scrubbing pads in the new filter will be doing the same for our system. Cheers & have a top one mate.
you should try a NFT tray with perpindicular ridges and run the water over it. the solids would probably settle along the ridges. if you put a hole on the NFT tray before the water inlet for the tray is place and mounted the tray on a see-saw then when it is tips the other way it would purge the channel pretty good. if many were mounted in a zig zag fashion and tipped once or twice a day that might work
I found it easier to increase the flow through the tank & that looks to have done the trick. I covered it in a more recent clip if you're interested in sussing it out, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RHO7llpAYi0.html Cheers.
One day I want to get into this. I think I want to get better at hydroponics first and maybe aeroponics. Looks more complicated. But really fun. But where I live I get snow sometimes so it gets kind of cold so I would have to be able warm it and everything or do it inside lol don't think my wife would do for that. Have a great day.
@@greatskytrollantidrama4473 I have a little aquarium that's why I'm not jumping at it yet. Hahaha course if it was helping me grow my food I might be more into it. But good advice
@@theoverworkedgardener5648 Super, depending on where you are, consider your treatment conditions for the water in your small tank. Then extrapolate up to 1,000 gallon. Now, take that, add all the plumbing problems of a home, and waterborne problems of a pond, throw in pest problems of an outhouse, and a dash of dodging snakes, wasps, bees, ants, and anything else thirsty, and the effort of keeping a fence line clean. If that sounds like fun, I say go for it. It's just money, effort, patience.. just like growing anything.
@@theoverworkedgardener5648 planning can mitigate alot of it. I didn't mean to spook you. I built a "small scale" system to get started. 750 gallons. Minimal fish, only a few broccoli and a bonsai willow for funsies. I will be doing a total rebuild with better planning in a year. Lots of gravel, weed barrier and power. Always more power.
I've had a few problems with water clarity myself. Since you've helped me out so much, figured i'd share. In the states I use a product called API accu-clear. It works well because it makes the debris in the tank convert into solids in the bottom. From there it gets sucked up in the radial flow filter. One additional thing that's helped out is I have a plastic soap dish at every area water enters the tanks, with green brillow/sink scrub pads. It filters large, small solids, but also probably works as bio-media because of the surface area. I switch the pads out once daily. I can get a completely murky tank from adding new clay media clear in about 2 days using this method. Hope it helps.
Hey Andrew & thanks mate. All it took was to increase the flow rate after the new filter was placed in the sump & the water has been clear since. 👍 Need to drop a camera down there to see how the water looks now the flow is up to 820ish gal per hour. Chewers & happy farming mate.
Have moved the air stone and reworked the water delivery & that looks to have helped even further Rob. Will be doing an update on it's going as well as an update on the fish in this weekend's video. Cheers mate.
LOL I Know it is not an aquaponics thing Rob, but I wanted to update you on my experiment so far on the super worm casting tea and my plants. So far I got 4 squash growing with no worm casting and 12 started with worm tea. Had to start early due to preparing the super worm food one day and some of the seeds started growing in the squash.(I couldn't forgive myself letting a seed go to waste) Everything is being done inside due to its winter. Trying to rush to get grow lights and a few other things I need to get things going.(With medical things with the Misses and my work) You have inspired me to do this and I thank you. For information you sent me a while back has helped me a lot. My friend recently got a job at an aquaponic fish farm and fertilizer place in my state. Keep on growing Rob.
Hey mate. How's the trail going now? Was going to start some squash off here but think I might wait for the end of summer now. 👍 Am glad the info helped some as well mate. Cheers mate & happy growing.
@@RobsAquaponics well not as good as I thought lol. Had about 6 sprouts that got to about a foot long and then died. Lol wrong sign and didn't know that they are a shade and 6 hour of sun plant. More research and trials are going.
Hi Rob It won't help that you were dumping the water from the filters right on top of the pickup for the pump, any solids that make it through get pumped straight back into the tank. There is a lot of turbulent water, which does not allow any fine solids to settle. I would have a smaller 500L IBC purely for a settling tank and put the last fiter outlet into that. Water can then overflow from the settling tank into the pump tank purely by gravity, any fine solids should stay in the settling tank. Use the IBC drain valve to flush solids out and into the garden every couple of months. Great to see you are getting there, I really miss my old system but just don't have the room these days. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing matey.
The water flow is split between the beds so about ½ the flow is being deposited there where the solids can settle out. 👍 It's basically the same set up as I had in the large system I had with the 2 fish tanks Dave. Not sure if you've seen the most recent aqua clip ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RHO7llpAYi0.html but the little filter has been doing a great job & I think increasing the overall flow rate has helped a lot as well. 👍 Cheers mate & have a top one.
In the wild, regardless how muddy, fish would have pretty much no contact with ammonia because of the much greater water volume in a river. It's why discus keepers like myself are doing 2-3 large water changes per week, discus must have clean water, they come from the Amazon - massive difference between a tank that holds 400 litres and the mighty Amazon.
That's my issue with the basic CHOP2 aquaponic system & why I have the biofilter inline before the sump.😉😁 The jades come from a muddy river system so they aren't very particular about the amount of particulate in the water, still would like to have the majority of it out & the water clear enough to see through. Cheers Melody & have a top one.
I fond that increasing the flow helped the most. When I serviced the old pump I found that the impeller had loads of gunk built up around it (should have taken pictures 😕) I I think that reduced the overall flow rate & added to the problem. I don't think I'll have that issue with the new beast. 😉😁 Cheers mate.
I'm wondering if you could drain the growbeds to a second sump and only pump that water to FT. Filtered FT output would then only go to grow beds. Not a permanent solution of course, but until the solids are cleared. Second remark: are you sure your SLO is working correctly? It's almost as if the solids aren't leaving the FT but only the water is.
Have been running systems with these SLO since I started & this is the first time I've had issues. I had a feeling it was the flow rate not handling the increase in feed so rectified the issue,. Did a bit of an update on it in the latest clip,/ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RHO7llpAYi0.html Cheers & happy growing. 👍
Great video rob! How often do you recommend cleaning the k2 pieces in the bio filter? I would think maybe every 6 months or so. Keep up the great videos! They help us out alot:) don’t let the negative comments bring you down brother
They shouldn't need cleaning as all as the movement from the air would stop any solids from settling out. The air stones sit on the base in this one so that shouldn't be an issue at all. 👍 I did need to clean the media in the old MBBR a few times a year as the venturi was set off the base & this allowed solids to collect under it.
Very good demonstration video of micro solids removal I usually use a big thick sock on the out let of the pump pipe for this purpose the micro solids removal and it does wonders . The sock gets huge cakes of micro particles that is then fed to plants in my small garden as organic fertilizer . You should try this method too and do experimentation on this method. One question brother . Have you ever used broken earthen pottery and brick chips as bio media after the complete solids removal . It is said to be more effecient than MBBR . ??
Hey DK. I have used the socks before in a similar-sized aquaculture system & found they needed cleaning daily. With this one, I can leave it a week before I need to clean it out (which I should be doing today.....). All the much from that goes to the small garden under the Lime tree so doesn't go to waste. 😉 With the bio, the settler doesn't take all solids out so there will be some that accumulate in the bio. The beauty of the MBBR is that the media self cleans & any solids are moved on to the next filtering component. 👍 I'm not sure about the brick chips but in one biological surface area chart I saw had clay media with a biological surface area of around 250-300m² per³. The PE03 I'm running has a BSA of around 800-1000² per m³ but I think it's probably closer to ½ of that as the movement of the media would be knocking the bacteria off the outside of the media constantly. 👍 Cheers mate & sorry for taking a while to get back to you.
I'm sure you said at some point, but I missed it. Why did you choose to go with a split flow system this time? What do you feel are the benefits of the split flow vs single loop? I appreciate that you keep your fish's water quality in such high regard.
if you want 1 loop and only 1 pump evry growbed has to be at a diffent hight and with split you have more options in hight and to expand is pretty "easy"
Hey Trisha. I went with the split flow with this build as all the components are at different levels & spread out a bit. Ideally I'd have the FT at the highest point then run the water down by a 10-15cm / 4-6" drop to the radial flow settler then drop it down about the same to the grow beds that would all be in a straight line. One of the next builds I'll be making will be a simple split flow as I found it to be the easiest to run & think most folks just starting out would appreciate the simplicity. Hope that helps some & sorry it took a while to get back to you.
Hey mate, could that airstone you have in the fishtank be your issue? might be worth bringing it up midway, it may be effecting the flow in the bottom of your tank and stopping the solids from making it to the SLO.
Hey Jason. Have moved the air stone position and altered the water inlet and it looks to be helping. Will be showing the results & an update on the fish in this coming weekend's video. Cheers 👍
Hi Rob, Can I suggest a 60 micron stainless filter? My pond has a 60 micron drum filter - which does a fab job of cleaning the water. that with the two moving bed filters means I have crystal clear water in the pond. Granted my fish density is a lot lower than yours. Love the vids - please keep up the good work!
the drum filters are super nice pre filter's but they clean themself evrytime they clogh up, thats why they use sutch fine filters but yea only the price i saw was the problem :(
Hi Davis. I'd like to play around with a mesh filter (bought some 100 & 200 micron screen to play with) but I don't have the space around this system to set up another filter. Might have a crack at something in the next build. Cheers mate & have a great one.
Loving your videos! Really well done and informative. You mentioned setting up another system that will be direct flow. Any advantage to this or is this just an experiment?
Our first system was a single loop system where the water went from the filters out to the beds & it ran just fine. 👍 The split flow set up is better for systems like our current one as the beds are spread out a bit & are also set at different heights. Hope that helps some Alexis.
Hi Rob, I made my system like yours 600 lts, i had some plants like spinach, arugula, sweat pepper, tomato, lettuce they are 3 weks old. I got the contact to buy tilapia alevins! Im so excited!!! Now what should i put first, the fishs? The plants? The whater was circulated trough 1 wek. What I have to do? ....
You can add plants straight away while you're cycling the system. 👍 I wouldn't add any fish until the system is cycled & you have a bacteria colony in the grow bed. Generally it takes between 4-10 weeks depending on your climate. How's the system going now? Sorry it took a while to respond. Cheers.
im really curious to know if introducing clams/ mussels into the loop would greatly improve the whole thing, while being able to harvest them as food, or fish feed.
i have 3 clams (i think) in a tray where my water enters my growing bed, i dont think they inprove water quality alot unless you have like 20 but yea they are nice to look at i also put 1 in my aquarium
@@jaylodewijckx2898 i was thinking more like an equal sized tub of clams vs fish, in a condominium fashion, basically hang long netted bags filled with clams/ mussels. am thinking, a modified radial settler to accomodate the hanging bags of clams/ mussels.
Have seen systems with fresh water muscles in them & they still get water quality issues from time to time. I know some also require fish to attach themselves to as part of their life cycle so I'd look into that before adding any as well.
I always thought that the bio reaction would be right after the fish tank then to media beds then out to a filter then sump..mabe I just don't know why or all the reasons why you filter then bio reaction thats why I watch
The solids in the water will hamper the efficiency of the biofilter (be it a grow bed or stand alone biofilter) so it pays to remove them first. Hope that helps some. 👍
Hi Rob, I have a system very similar to yours, same filters etc. Water pH seems fine though if I dig in my media beds I have very fine suspended solids. My beds are constant flow as my sump isn't large enough to handle flood and drain. If I scoop some up there is no bad smell nor does there seem to be a rising pH. Fish tank is clear. The system has been running for over 12 months without cleaning media beds. Am I right to leave things be or is an annual clean of media beds standard practice? Thanks for all you do mate, you do a great job. Should be proud!
Hi Ren & thanks for the kind words. 👍 Fine suspended solids through the media should be no issue & I get them in our system as well. I think if you keep an eye on the pH & do a bit of a smell check every so often you should be able to catch any issues before they become a problem. Maybe a drain of the bed & a quick dig through the media for a visual check every 6 or so months couldn't hurt if the fish are going through a bit of feed. Hope that helps some.
Hey rob where do you get them grommets or uniseals you talk about i am in Florida .I can only find ID 3/4 .OD 1 inch on Amazon .thank you very much. I have been watching your videos . They are helping me with my moms pond aquaponics in Florida
Hi Josh & sorry for taking a while to get back to you. I have some listed on my *Amazon influencer page if that helps, www.amazon.com/shop/bnbob01?listId=7XUW22JNCA00 Might pay for you to shop around a bit as I'm not sure if you might find them cheaper elsewhere.👍 Hope that helps some mate. *Amazon would like me to tell you that I will receive a commission if you buy through that link. 😉
Have played around with some fine SS mesh but that's about it. Not sure I'd go as far as an RDF but have contemplated setting up a basic screen filter using some of the 200 micron mesh.
Not really needed here Antonio as the water is constantly moving on the surface & breaking up any floating scum. I used to have a skimmer to collect the scup build up in our first system but that was plumbed up differently. Cheers mate.
Hello Rob, new subscriber and love the videos ! I’m very interested in Aquaponics and I am I no-till raised bed kind of Farmer for my backyard garden , and had a question for you. I see people use dual root zones by adding organic soil to the top for heavier feeders in a separate pot with extra holes drilled. Do you think it’s possible to use say a raised bed or a 4x8 flood tray filled with hydroton, and stack another tray on top with the entire bottom cut out of it to where the hydroton is completely exposed, add burlap across the whole bed and then high quality living soil on top of that ? Creating two different living systems in one?
Hi Dom. I think it is doable & can see some benefits from growing that way. I'd like to go one step further & have the base of a flow through wicking bed irrigated with water from the aquaponics. 👍 This playlist form a RU-vid mate might help you with a few ides along those lines, ru-vid.com/group/PLHTAKZk76G3EQbZDez9zhDuSIK9tiv4fm Hope to have a few beds hooked up in this manner down the line. Cheers.
I am having a difficult time understanding what the valve between the fish tank and the first solids filter is accomplishing? What purpose does is serve? I am building one similar to yours and am about ready to start the plumbing. Also, what size is the square bucket you use as a solids filter? Lastly, the kick pipe in the fish tank? Can slots be put along the piping to capture more solid fish poopies? More efficient? Or is there a reason you don't add any?
The valve allows the water flow to be stopped so you can clean the filter without the flow string up the muck. I don't use the square bucket anymore as it is a bit wide. I would base the radial flow settler on the first 2 videos in this playlist, ru-vid.com/group/PLBcWprMIwYYjjZIXxx8GZxm_55Fjs0mOF The opening at the base of the solids lifting pipe is enough to gather the solids from the base of the tank. The only time I've added small slits is due to having fingerlings & needing smaller openings to gather the solids.
I wouldn't recommend you use a UV in an aquaponics system. It can cause issues with the availability of iron boron & manganese to the plants. Mechanical filtration would be the best option I think.
The mob that made them shut down I'm sorry to say. They aren't quite the right tanks for fish keeping. You're better off with a height to with ratio of 1:2. Try looking up aquaculture tanks in your local area & something might pop up Steve. Sorry I couldn't help you there mate.
It's hard to say without knowing more. If you system is young it may not have enough nutrients to support all the plants yet. In that case seaweed additive may help a little but I wouldn't go adding any nitrogen/ammonia based additives in case the bacteria haven't built up enough to process it yet.
@@RobsAquaponics it is new and still developing. I also have a terrible milky cloud and can hardly see the fish, the cloudiness wont go away. I don't know what to do it's been about 3 weeks, I put in a mechanical filter and am using some uv light to try to discourage algea growth. I'm not sure if its algea or bacteria bloom, but I thought it would have cleared up within a couple days. The fish are still alive, so it can't be to toxic.
@@Bigbagadoosh The UV light can cause issues with some nutrient uptake by the plants so wouldn't run it for too long. I would say at a guess that the bed is just over planted at the moment. 👍 The cloudiness could be a number of things though.
@@RobsAquaponics I wondered about the UV light. I think I will try to find a place that can test the water for biological components. Thanks for the response.
All doing well now thanks. Posted an update on them a few weeks back if you want to suss it out, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RHO7llpAYi0.html Cheers.
So why not just run the water through the grow beds first instead of sending some water back to the fish? Wouldn't that eliminate the need for a bio reactor.
That certainly would but the system as it stands doesn't lend itself to that due to the height of the components. 👍 I could have build stands but I wanted a quick easy build system & it's running great now I have the flow rates sorted. Cheers.
Hi Gerowyn. I got them from Kennard's hire at Bundamba. 👍 www.kennards.com.au/pad-floor-polisher-400mm-polish-white.html?trackParams=371-2-5-99.95 They have them at the B store as well but they were dearer. The Amazon page is set up mainly for folks in the US, sorry about that. Probably should pay it some attention soon. Hope you folks are doing well & got a decent drop this week.
@@RobsAquaponics excellent Thanks Rob 👍 And unfortunately now that we are in the Lockyer Valley we missed out on most of the really good rain... I think we got around 30mm over the last few days which is better than nothingbut we need heaps more... a long time local said we haven't even hit normal average rainfall for the area yet 😞
Hey. Nice video. Yell me order info on your ammonia test kit. Mine is so subjective i cannot use it. The color chart is poor. Yours looks more accurate. Currectly i just use saltwater aquarium test strips. They read well over 200 for nitrate, zero ammonia, zero nitrite. Thx. Cheers
Hey Glen. I use the API Freshwater Master test kit. I have it listed don my *Amazon page www.amazon.com/shop/bnbob01?listId=JK0CLK814GTA&fbclid=IwAR3SoEEyHUHuRj6Pu886Flwkw070Xz3wo21OQPoAm4x-ykl0AQCm65i8190 but you may find it cheaper closer to you so shop around. 😉 Sorry it took a while to get back to you. Cheers mate. *I get some commission if you use the link to buy 😉👍
good day rob. have you done a water test for coliform and ecoli in your system? i did a test on mine and tested paotive for coliform and ecoli and just curious what others ate doing to maintain a safe practice to ensure that the food that is produced from the system is safe for consumption. cheers
I'm personally not concerned to tell you the truth. We wash all food that comes into the house which I think is a great start to limit the exposure. I would think there would be a greater risk of the soil beds I feed with horse manure containing more. We also have a good population of e coli always present in our bodies the trick is to keep it in check by having a healthy diet. Cheers
This tank came from a company that has now closed down I'm sorry to say. Try searching for "aquaculture tanks" locally & a supplier may come up. I'd also recommend that you look for a tank that has a height to diameter ratio of 1:2. That will give you better water circulation & solids collection from the centre drain than my taller tanks. IBC caged totes work as well & are much cheaper than the larger specialty tanks.
@@RobsAquaponics im from horticulture background but want to go aquaponic setup. Ill be doing a ibc style setup first to get the feel for it. Looking at 6 bed 2 ibc main tanks and a sump tank system
I'm have a 60gallon (100x50x50cm) canvas tank where I keep my talapia and turtle,I'm trying to use as aquaponics + NFT, I'm having issues figuring out to introduce a sump tank with split flow since is a canvas tank I can't elevate the tank :) higher, should I just forget the idea of sump tank ? :)
