How my Fish Tanks Failed

[Jeremiah Robinson]

Originally posted on Cold Weather Aquaponics

The response and feedback from my recent talks make it apparent to me that - more than anything else - everyone loves a story.

The most popular kind of story, it seems, is one about a stupid thing that someone else did, and what they learned from it. I was glad to hear that, because I've got dozens upon dozens of those. More than anything else, that's what makes me a good teacher. I've done just about everything wrong that can be done wrong.

If bonehead moves fit in boxes, I'd need a warehouse to store them, with one of those high speed distribution warehouse forklifts. But then this would probably happen to me and then I'd have to teach about all the stupid things that happened to me with my forklift.

Anyhow, here's another story from my misspent aquaponic youth.  It'll help answer the question of why - in my fish tank pictures - the insides are black, while the paint I sell is white.

[Jim Fisk]

You're a lucky man. They don't cover here in the mountains. We are pretty much Verizon only but we have our own tower here in the valley with 4G high speed data so I won't complain. Thanks to the rural internet rules we have fiber internet as well. Whoda thunk? Passes right thru larger towns that don't have it yet. That must pto.

If you need help on making the the slo I can help. Just cover materials and postage and pu your own air stones at Wally world. Not talking much $ at all. 2 Tees and 2 90's and 2 couplings and shipping. I break them into 2 parts for shipping thus the coupling. If you have a chop saw I can provide you with drawings or photos. The "threaded on the side port" 1 1/4" Tees can be a bit hard to find as well but I just got 10 in as I said. $2 each as I recall. How many do you need as I can also give you the Ebay seller I get them from by the box of 10.

[Jeremiah Robinson]

Hey Jim.  Including a SLO is definitely part of my plan.  

No this was on a normal camera.  Do have the phone now.  Republic Wireless - $10/month, unlimited talking and texting. 

[Jim Fisk]

Ouch! Sorry to hear that but appreciate the share. It does look pretty nasty in there. While you are down perhaps you could install a real SLO with aerator boost. Cheap and very effective. I found a source on the threaded 1 1/4" Tees and have a box of 10 sitting here so I will be setting up a production line on the surface skimmer as well and I will post my results. Been just hand making them so far. There is a slim sweet spot between skimming off the oils and old food while keeping the new food in and that is the production part.

Nice vid. Is that on the new smart phone? Still haven't ordered ours. Verizon seems to have a glitch on their order pages as I cannot finish the order and no explanation why. Going for the Galaxy 4 which is free now with a 2 yr. Then expect some better vids from here as well if I ever get time to finish up with Winter coming and a lot more firewood to fell, cut and split. Sure gets us in shape tho.