Phalaborwa Aquaponics

[Biggles1212]

After a lot of researching and planning huge aquaponics greenhouses I did the sensible thing. I started small. Actually on the spur of the moment I brought home some Tilapia I caught at a fishing competition, popped them in a 210L barrel and set off the next day to see what I could find at the local hardware store. Nothing like good planning eh?



I awoke the next day and worked some more on the system to get it going. It worked well, but still no fish. I just wanted the system to work well mechanically first. Got my two boys to add some special ammonia to keep the plants happy.



To expand, I dug a hole for a 210L drum as the fish tank and cycled the water to the Grow Beds on a frame. The levels in each of the Grow Beds is balanced with a balancing pipe, but only one Auto Siphon is used. Auto siphon does prove tricky to setup and regular cleaning of the pump filter is necessary. It seems Tilapia like to poo a lot. 7 Mozambique Tilapia are in the tank.



I got brave and bought two 5000L tanks. I made two new grow beds on the left and moved the fish into the big tank after a week of cycling the water. Added KOI to the system and everything ran well. Got sick and tired of the Auto Siphon and used a Cistern Flush Valve (No maintenance required so far after 8 weeks) to control my flood and drain.

Added +/- 300 Red Breasted and Nembwe Tilapia mixed bunch of fish. Build extra Grow Beds using Black Rough Tote Tubs (on right of picture) and improved the flush mechanism. I've lost about 50 fish from the transport, but they're fine now.



Unfortunately I added Malachite Green into the system so I'll have to phase out the fish and only use them for breeding. The Tilpia are very friendly and like to nibble on my fingers. Some are up to 450mm in length and look like German U-boats in the tank. System is extremely stable so far. Tilapia are very sensitive to strangers and hide when new people try to come and have a look. When my family and I are peering into the tank, they swarm inches away from us.

[badflash]

Nice! You'll recover just fine. Mistakes like yours will save others a lot of hassles. We've all had setbacks. I remember the time Jackalope salted his sick fish only to wipe out his plants. Stucco had his bout with soft water, and I've killed countless tilapia in my learning curve. Just keep learning and sharing!

[Biggles1212]

Thanks, I'm in the process of getting the green house up. Thereafter I will start on my three growing areas. I'd like to use the gravel, DWC and a modified raised bed to grow different veggies and fruit. I'm not trying to build a pure aquaponics system because nature isn't one. I see nature uses various systems to deal with different problems. What we're doing is to try and emulate nature. On the farm where I got the Tilapia the owner has huge lands full of beautiful veggies watered with water from his massive fish dams. I saw that and thought. Hey just place a liner under it all and recover the water that filters down and recirculate it. I most probably will feed the water through the 20mm gravel beds first and then through to the DWC. The raised bed will only be water in the morning and afternoon.

[Oldandfound1]

Hell-o Phalaborwa,
Thought I would look up where that is and discovered the many pictured link to your home town.
It is Africa after all.
http://www.google.com/images?q=Phalabor ... 22&bih=520
Dennis
Oldandfound1

[Biggles1212]

Hi Oldandfound1,

We're right at the gate to the Kruger National Park. So we see our fair of game. The mines around here have dropped their fences so I often see elephant, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, a lot of buck and the odd big cat. Baboons are of course plentiful and always fun to watch. Other than that we're famous for our big open cast mines. Aptly called the "Two Summers" it's always hot. Mozambique is a stone throw away via a drive through the park and is a great place to go.

[Biggles1212]

Got busy this weekend and made some tanks. I bought some 4mm HDPE sheeting to make tanks for a friend and myself. Unfortunately for me, only my friends plastic was in stock so we his tank on Saturday. The tank is 1.95m in diameter and 1m tall. We plan to sink the tank 800mm or so into the ground. It was quite a lengthy task but a very rewarding one. In my system I managed to get my 5000L tanks fairly cheap, but I would much have preferred to make my own tanks now that this one is complete. We used 4mm plastic HDPE sheeting. Welding was done with a LEISTER hot air welder. It quite tiring if your not used to crawling around a lot. Next weekend I start my grow beds for my system as well as buying steel for my greenhouse. I didn't get the welding quite right the first time so I had to weld some leaks closed. Currently the tank is doing an overnight test full of water so we can have the tank perfect before burying it in the ground.

I'd like to make smaller systems to sell later on, but for now it's still school fees.

Here's a view of the tank from above.



We loaded it onto the back of the bakkie and went to drop it off. Here's a pic of the grow bed aswell.

[Oldandfound1]

HI Biggles 1212,
Great going on the tank. What is your water source? If it is city is it treated?
That son will be riding that scooter around the rim of that tub after a little practice.
Dennis
Oldandfound1

[Biggles1212]

Hi Oldandfound1

I use water from the tap. Our tap water is potable. I normally let it turn over for a day for a new tank before adding fish and haven't had any losses so far. I also top up with the same water.

[Biggles1212]

Working on the Grow beds. I cut my panels on my DIY cnc. Running Mach3 controlling software on an old P4 computer. The CNC was setup to cut wood, but flies through plastic. I'm really excited about using the cnc because panels can be easily cut and I'd like to design and finish a custom swirl filter with a cone at the bottom. This will be the water used for my potato, carrots and fruit trees.

I built the CNC after I had a good go at removing my thumb with the table saw. Fortunately it was just a small nip, but I've got a small chamfer on my right thumb to remind me to be careful. It's wonderfull to be able to dial in the dimensions you want and just what it cut for you while you stand safely out of harms way. Previously I cut out 3D puzzles from plywood for the boys. It's a case of "If you can dream it, You can make it."

Next week I need to buy some wood boards to make a proper table for the machine. I use a lot of jigs so I normally work without a table.

At one time the whole family was busy in the garage today. My wife and I have four boys and I think in time my Garage is going to be too small.

As I've said before I'm welding my own Grow Beds out of 4mm HDPE plastic sheets. I'm already very sorry for having bought the tanks. I could have made them for a 1/3 of the cost I paid for them. My friends tanks took a while to get right. I didn't quite get all the welds perfect so there were a few water tests before we sealed things properly. I eventually got the hang of things so my welds are quite strong and leak proof. I do three welds over the joints to make sure though.

The wonderful thing is that from now one I don't have to scavenge from the Plastic Bucket store anymore and my stuff is purpose made.

I've been thinking of build an auto siphon like Affnan's swirl siphon. Has anyone tried it. I've used an auto sphon before with great success, but as I'm already locating my flush control outside the growbed, it might be something to try and wondered if anyone else has had a go.

Setting Up the CNC to cut the panels for the grow bed. I had two little helpers, Daddy's Little Helpers #1 and #2.


Cutting the panels for the ends on the Grow Bed.


My eldest boy sweeping away the shavings. Cutting plastic is much better than wood, no dust!


Welding in one of the side panels. #1 is doing all the photo taking.


Daddy's other helper #3 is also giving a hand. Fortunately son #4 is too small to be in the Garage, it's getting crowded in here.


Close up of welding with speed nozzle.


Two sides welded in, I'll continue tomorrow.

[Big Al]

hi biggles1212, that plastics welder looks pretty cool i want one of them. nice job on the diy cnc milling machine very nice. my little helpers need some lessons from yours but mine are 14 & 15 so i think theres no hope. good luck Big Al