Tilapia in Isolated Stock Tank - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T08:09:07Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/tilapia-in-isolated-stock-tank?groupUrl=tilapiagrowers&groupId=4778851%3AGroup%3A29&id=4778851%3ATopic%3A1456&feed=yes&xn_auth=noRyan, I made a filter from a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-18:4778851:Comment:18332010-03-18T16:24:37.000ZRichard Wymanhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RichardWyman
Ryan, I made a filter from a couple of buckets, they drain down from the top. For a first season crop of fish I bet it would work with maybe just a little more maintenence than a bottom filling one. I spent a total of about $9.50 to make the one I have. A standpipe can prevent overflows in case of media clogging. You just have to check it occasionally. A sock and some filter fiber at the top catch most of the solids. One of the lids is the diffuser.<br />
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You could always use a cheaply made filter…
Ryan, I made a filter from a couple of buckets, they drain down from the top. For a first season crop of fish I bet it would work with maybe just a little more maintenence than a bottom filling one. I spent a total of about $9.50 to make the one I have. A standpipe can prevent overflows in case of media clogging. You just have to check it occasionally. A sock and some filter fiber at the top catch most of the solids. One of the lids is the diffuser.<br />
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You could always use a cheaply made filter this year and do it up nice and proper next year after the budget is back in line.<br />
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<cite>Ryan Rogers said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/tilapia-in-isolated-stock-tank?groupUrl=tilapiagrowers&page=2&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A1819&x=1#4778851Comment1621"><div>Unfortunately I think the whole system is gonna have to wait until next season. Now that I know what's involved in getting fish tank operating properly, I realize it's just not in the budget right now - I've already gone way over on building the greenhouse! Besides, I already have a lot to experiment with and grow in all my soil beds.<br/><br/>Next year, however, I see a true aquaponic system happening....</div>
</blockquote> Heres a link to someone build…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-18:4778851:Comment:18192010-03-18T03:19:13.000ZDavid Harthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DavidHart
Heres a link to someone building their own biofilter. I based mine 'somewhat' on this design. He uses a venturi to add air. I just ran an airline from my pump...added a few airstones in the bottom.<br />
This has lots of pictures....hope it gives some ideas.<br />
<a href="http://leisure.prior-it.co.uk/build-diy-pond-bio-filter.shtml" target="_blank">http://leisure.prior-it.co.uk/build-diy-pond-bio-filter.shtml</a><br />
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I run my water through a solids seperator 'before' going into the biofilter.
Heres a link to someone building their own biofilter. I based mine 'somewhat' on this design. He uses a venturi to add air. I just ran an airline from my pump...added a few airstones in the bottom.<br />
This has lots of pictures....hope it gives some ideas.<br />
<a href="http://leisure.prior-it.co.uk/build-diy-pond-bio-filter.shtml" target="_blank">http://leisure.prior-it.co.uk/build-diy-pond-bio-filter.shtml</a><br />
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I run my water through a solids seperator 'before' going into the biofilter. Unfortunately I think the who…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-13:4778851:Comment:16212010-03-13T01:27:25.000ZRyan Rogershttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RyanRogers
Unfortunately I think the whole system is gonna have to wait until next season. Now that I know what's involved in getting fish tank operating properly, I realize it's just not in the budget right now - I've already gone way over on building the greenhouse! Besides, I already have a lot to experiment with and grow in all my soil beds.<br />
<br />
Next year, however, I see a true aquaponic system happening....
Unfortunately I think the whole system is gonna have to wait until next season. Now that I know what's involved in getting fish tank operating properly, I realize it's just not in the budget right now - I've already gone way over on building the greenhouse! Besides, I already have a lot to experiment with and grow in all my soil beds.<br />
<br />
Next year, however, I see a true aquaponic system happening.... Great discussion! Boy, I lear…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-12:4778851:Comment:15512010-03-12T00:39:09.000ZSylvia Bernsteinhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/SylviaBernstein
Great discussion! Boy, I learn new things every time I come in here and "listen" to you guys. Ryan, out of curiosity, when are you going to hook up plants to your new tilapia tanks? Will make your life a whole lot easier....
Great discussion! Boy, I learn new things every time I come in here and "listen" to you guys. Ryan, out of curiosity, when are you going to hook up plants to your new tilapia tanks? Will make your life a whole lot easier.... If you were to say have the w…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-11:4778851:Comment:15362010-03-11T19:53:13.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
If you were to say have the water flow into the top of a bucket of media and have the drain in the bottom. With a very small container like a 5 gallon bucket in relation to a 100 gallon fish tank. Well You run dirty fish poopy water into the top of the bucket of filter media or even gravel, that media is going to clog up with bio-slime and fish poo and then the bucket is gonna overflow out the top rather than letting the water flow quickly enough down to the bottom and out the drain. To be able…
If you were to say have the water flow into the top of a bucket of media and have the drain in the bottom. With a very small container like a 5 gallon bucket in relation to a 100 gallon fish tank. Well You run dirty fish poopy water into the top of the bucket of filter media or even gravel, that media is going to clog up with bio-slime and fish poo and then the bucket is gonna overflow out the top rather than letting the water flow quickly enough down to the bottom and out the drain. To be able to flow in at the top and drain out the bottom, you need a larger amount of gravel than you have fish tank.<br />
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Think of it kinda like a waterfall filter like they use for ornamental ponds. Where the pump is in a skimmer box or down in the pond and pumps water up to the bottom of the waterfall bin and then there is some filter material and lava rock or whatever and then the water flows out the waterfall spillway.<br />
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But if you run the pipe from the pump down to the bottom of the bucket and put a few extra pipe fittings like T's on it to disperse the flow a little and then put the gravel on top and have it flow up through the media, it will keep flowing far better and be far less likely to overflow all over the floor and run your fish tank dry. Interesting - so the pump sho…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-11:4778851:Comment:15352010-03-11T19:41:58.000ZRyan Rogershttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RyanRogers
Interesting - so the pump should push the water up through the media as opposed to gravity pulling it through. Just curious - why?<br />
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Thanks for the bypass explanation - pretty slick...
Interesting - so the pump should push the water up through the media as opposed to gravity pulling it through. Just curious - why?<br />
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Thanks for the bypass explanation - pretty slick... to control the amount of wate…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-11:4778851:Comment:15332010-03-11T15:45:34.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
to control the amount of water going into the bucket (and do put big enough drains on the bucket so that you can get at least 100 gallons per hour going through the bucket if not more) simply run pipe out of the pump then above the fish tank water level put a T one feed will go to the bucket, the other feed will get a valve and run water back into the fish tank. The amount you open the valve, the more water bypasses the bio-filter and goes directly back to the fish tank. You can adjust how much…
to control the amount of water going into the bucket (and do put big enough drains on the bucket so that you can get at least 100 gallons per hour going through the bucket if not more) simply run pipe out of the pump then above the fish tank water level put a T one feed will go to the bucket, the other feed will get a valve and run water back into the fish tank. The amount you open the valve, the more water bypasses the bio-filter and goes directly back to the fish tank. You can adjust how much water the bucket gets by adjusting the bypass valve.<br />
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On the bio-filter bucket, it is best if you have the water go into the bottom of the bucket and flow up through some media and then flow out nearer the top and then go back to the fish tank. Jeff - thanks for the link to…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-11:4778851:Comment:15322010-03-11T15:37:16.000ZRyan Rogershttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RyanRogers
Jeff - thanks for the link to the compost water heater - pretty cool. I think for now I will go ahead and use some traditional electric heaters. I am already using electric to heat the entire greenhouse, and so heating the water shouldn't add too much, especially since the escaping heat will just go right into the greenhouse, ultimately cutting down on how much those heaters have to run.<br />
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TCLynx - thanks for the specs on the pumps - definitely puts me on the right track. And if I was planning…
Jeff - thanks for the link to the compost water heater - pretty cool. I think for now I will go ahead and use some traditional electric heaters. I am already using electric to heat the entire greenhouse, and so heating the water shouldn't add too much, especially since the escaping heat will just go right into the greenhouse, ultimately cutting down on how much those heaters have to run.<br />
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TCLynx - thanks for the specs on the pumps - definitely puts me on the right track. And if I was planning on wintering my system, I'd definitely look into catfish, but since I'm planning on shutting down the greenhouse Nov - Feb, I need the fast growing tilapia.<br />
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One more question: how do I control the amount of water going into the biofilter, to make sure that its not faster than it can drain out? Just a simple valve before the bulkhead fitting going into the bucket? That won't put stress on the pump will it? Air, You want an air pump tha…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-11:4778851:Comment:15312010-03-11T15:03:39.000ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
Air, You want an air pump that can deliver at least .25 CFM at 2 psi and an air stone and appropriate size tubing for that .25 CFM.<br />
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Water pump, well you need to move your 100 gallons each hour but I think a 100 gallon per hour pump would turn out to be too small for you. Something between 250 and 500 gallons per hour at a couple feet of head will probably be appropriate (and you can probably get it for around $30 or less and it will probably not use too much electricity either.) Remove any…
Air, You want an air pump that can deliver at least .25 CFM at 2 psi and an air stone and appropriate size tubing for that .25 CFM.<br />
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Water pump, well you need to move your 100 gallons each hour but I think a 100 gallon per hour pump would turn out to be too small for you. Something between 250 and 500 gallons per hour at a couple feet of head will probably be appropriate (and you can probably get it for around $30 or less and it will probably not use too much electricity either.) Remove any sort of sponge filter and you might want to put it on a timer to shut off for a few minutes each day to hopefully dislodge anything that will tend to block it up and slow it down regularly. You will still probably need to check it regularly to make sure it's still flowing properly.<br />
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I won't make any comments on heaters as I have not much experience there. I've quit growing many tilapia anymore cause I couldn't keep their water warm enough over winter and I wasn't willing to buy heaters. I have catfish now and they are great. Well there are many ways to h…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-03-11:4778851:Comment:15302010-03-11T14:59:22.000ZJeff Givanhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffGivan
Well there are many ways to heat the water without an actual heater, there is always solar to start with. You can also use a compost pile with tubing running through it. See this link at youtube to get the concept.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILzxOH6n7-c" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILzxOH6n7-c</a><br />
You just have to become Mr. Wizard Ryan :)<br />
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<cite>Ryan Rogers said:…</cite>
Well there are many ways to heat the water without an actual heater, there is always solar to start with. You can also use a compost pile with tubing running through it. See this link at youtube to get the concept.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILzxOH6n7-c" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILzxOH6n7-c</a><br />
You just have to become Mr. Wizard Ryan :)<br />
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<cite>Ryan Rogers said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/tilapia-in-isolated-stock-tank?groupUrl=tilapiagrowers&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A1524&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment1524"><div>Thanks everyone! I now understand much better the role that the bacteria plays in the system.. and thanks, TCLynx, for the tip on the netting..<br/> <br/>
So it sounds like there are 3 main pieces of equipment I need to purchase: heaters (600W total I think), an air pump with airstone, and a water pump (submersible?) to push water via tubing up to my biofilter. Any specific recommendations that would be appropriate for my size tank? I'd like to go more on the cheap side since this whole thing is a side greenhouse experiment...<br/>
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Thanks again to everyone...</div>
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