Mespe's 50 Gallon Aquarium setup in Progress

[mespe]

Keith!!! I need to speak with you,,, I need some food, I tried calling around but cannot find where you got that food from.

I planted some beans yesterday in the GB, and I need to add some fish, but don't want to do that until I can locate somethign to feed the fish.

[keith_r]

i've still got food.... see your pm

[mespe]

Still using the 2 liter bottle system, but this time I put a 100 lb nylon pull string inside of some tubing, sorta like a bicycle brake cable, and it seems to work more repeatedly than the pully system first used.

I've got several plants (seedlings) in the GBs already, most just popped up from last year, not sure what is what, have a feeling there's some marigolds sprouting. I planted some bush beans, and one decided to sprout already, so that's a start, and I stuck some type of twig in one of the GBs last fall, not sure what it is, but it's got a couple green leaves and new growth.

Unfortunately, we're expecting freezing temps tonight, so I'll probably have to cover everything up tonight.

Added 4 more BG's to the FT, we're up to 10,,, 50 is the goal this year in a 50 gallon tank (most of the BGs any ordinary angler would throw them back in to grow up, but not me, I need them for their pooh.

Also planted some lettuce in the trough, haven't decided how I'm going to fix the overflow problem when the lettuce grows a good root system, I could probably just stick in a 1/2 pipe inside the trough on the bottom to ensure an unrestricted path for the water to flow.

hope to have some pictures soon.

[mespe]

Here's a couple pictures I snapped yesterday

Here's whats growing.
[attachment=2:1qgt9sxa]aquaponics3-26-12.jpg[/attachment:1qgt9sxa]

Freeze warning,,, good thing the dryer vent is under that tarp.

[attachment=1:1qgt9sxa]covered3-26-12.jpg[/attachment:1qgt9sxa]

I put this strawberry in the GB last Fall, it stayed there with no water in the FT all winter and now it's got some flowers.

[attachment=0:1qgt9sxa]strawberry.jpg[/attachment:1qgt9sxa]

[mespe]

Not happy with the 2 liter bottle switchover, anyone got any suggestions?

[Bioritize]

Bell Siphon

[mespe]

And how can I rig up a bell siphon to switch a valve from one GB to another?

On a side note, apparantly, with frost and overnight freezing condition, AP systems are ALOT more tolerant than plants in the ground. Seems that the heat from the constantly running water keeps the area warm enough to not cause freeze damage. I don't know how much below freezing it can get, and I suspect it depends on the FT water temp as well.

[mespe]

I'm attempting to use vacuum to switch between the two GB's

I'm using a few Mercedes Benz central locking system vacuum elements and 1/2 of a 2 litre bottle. This might work alot bette than the 2 litre bottle and a string.

I maintain that I want to plug in only one device, and that is the pump, well the FT heater when it gets cold, but nothing else.

[mespe]

So far the vacuum switchover setup is working great. It toggles flawlessly.

Here are some pix.

First the accumulator

[attachment=1:1rj33ffj]vac2litre.jpg[/attachment:1rj33ffj]

now one of two actuating elements

[attachment=2:1rj33ffj]vactoggle.jpg[/attachment:1rj33ffj]

And finally the toggle element hooked up to the valve.
[attachment=3:1rj33ffj]vacvalve.jpg[/attachment:1rj33ffj]


and I might make this my next FT

[attachment=0:1rj33ffj]well.jpg[/attachment:1rj33ffj]

[mespe]

Made a video of the toggling between the two grow beds. I was rushed, so I think I'll do it again, just a little better this time.

It is here -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g35cJm8t ... WQ&index=2