Frustrating

[JCO]

Roger, it truly isn't rocket science however there are some hard and fast rules that pretty well govern AP and once you learn them and work within them it will all come together.

Don't give up the ship 'til you see the whites of their eyes or something of that sort

[Roger L.]

While I was reworking the system I hard piped the pump and added control valves, and a bypass that I figured I might as well run through a homemade filter. Yesterday I bought 4 new T8 fixtures to put above the grow bed and I have 1 spotlight and am going to get 3 more to mount one on each side to use as needed. Now I just need some nitrates.

[Aloha Don]

I like your setup...
I do not see any fish in there...are they hiding...
I may have missed it but what type/how many fish do you have?

[Roger L.]

I have 16 guppies, water test fish, and then added 30 Tilapia. I have lost 6 Tilapia for unknown reasons and I squashed one trying to net him. All had nice words said over them before I flushed, an extra few for the one I squashed. Largest is about 4" now.

[dead_sled]

Tell us about the filter. I can't quite make it out in the picture.

[Roger L.]

I used 2 old peanut jars that I had sitting around. Ran a stand pipe in the top one that feeds the bottom one. The bottom one has an outlet pipe about 2/3 up the side. Initially first stage should capture solids and if not hopefully the bottom one will. If neither captures them then I'm no worse off than before and legitimizes years of drinking beer and eating peanuts.

[Aloha Don]

I may be thinking about this wrong but...
Wouldn't you want the filter before the GBs so no particles would clog your holes there or get into the GB?
Just asking....

[JCO]

That was my question but you beat me to it.

[Roger L.]

Yes it should be. It was a last minute thought and figured taking out some anywhere in the system was better than nothing. When I add another grow bed I will be adding it in at the appropriate position. Will probably make a bigger one when I do that to slow the water flow more.

[Roger L.]

YAHOO!!! I finally have nitrates up above 40ppm. I, in my perpetual state of impatience, thought it would never come around. Thanks to all who have guided me though the rework process. Fill and drain working well and have doubled my lighting with spotlights on each side of the grow bed soon to come.