Aquaponics Solids Filters & Biological Filters 🐟🌱🍓🥬

[@Bigelowbrook]

@12:00 You're correct that dumping the water in through the top will create all kinds of horrible turbulence in the stilling well. The diffusion plate that I put in does a great job with removing the turbulence. The main reasons why mine comes from the top: 1) Didn't want to poke another hole in the side of the tank for the plumbing, 2) I like to experiment. 😜

[@RobsAquaponics]

I really like your set up Rob & it does make sense to be able to have it rigged up that way. 👍 I* have co9ntemplated doping the same in the large cone based drum I have to play around with.

[@jamess1787]

The water tests helped bring clarity to the stages you have setup 😇

[@RobsAquaponics]

I'm glad the video has helped you out some James. 👍

[@RobsAquaponics]

Learn MORE about Aquaponics 🐟 🍓🍅 with my "Backyard Aquaponics for Beginners" Guide for only US$19.95. You can see the guide in action on my website, ► www.bitsouttheback.com/aquaponics-guide Or, buy directly here, ► bit.ly/AquaponicsBeginnersGuide Don't forget to click the subscribe button if you enjoyed the video, bit.ly/Subscribe2Rob & share the clip around if you think it may help others too.👍 Cheers all & have a top one. 🐟 🌱🍅 Rob

[@vanissaberg5824]

My old aquaponics system I used the swirl filter barrel design to collect the solid waste. Then for added biological filtration, I threw in a whole bunch of those plastic mesh fruit bags we get at the supermarket for apples and oranges rolling them into "apples" (my diy pot-scrubbie type filter media) floating in the same barrel. They helped slow down the flow and prevented waste from coming up and exiting to my grow beds. Saved a lot of space with less plumbing parts needed. I really liked that system.

[@WildManDanWMD]

Rob, amazing video as usual. So much great information. 👍👍

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Daniel. 👍

[@isaaclloyd8792]

I've watched several of your videos and they have all helped a lot. This one especially has answered a lot of the questions I couldn't find answers for. Thanks you.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Am glad it has helped you some Isaac. Cheers mate & have a top one.

[@johnnosprads5883]

Great vid Rob. Excellent explanations!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Johnno. 👍

[@bryanpaynechefbrybry1067]

Thanks Rob for the update. I really enjoy these kind of vlogs . Always great to see how other people's systems are.. Cheers buddy til the next one.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Mr Bryan.👍 Not sure how I missed this one.

[@karimhayes3134]

Here in boddington so so cold. I wonder if i will ever have a problem with ammonia because the bacteria slow down so much when its cold.. great work rob

[@RobsAquaponics]

From my understanding they will still process waste through the cooler weather but they won't be as active. That's one of the reasons I think a little bit of caution be shown in stocking densities & over estimation of grow bed/biofilter can't hurt either.

[@jessfercomendador9917]

lots of idea learnt from you .. GOD BLESS YOU ROB... THANKS SO MUCH

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad I could help some. Cheers JC.

[@jamesjdowling8744]

Always great videos Rob! Good job!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers James. 👍

[@brianbarnett1380]

Thank you so much help bc I just set up the solid waste barrel

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hope it works well for you Brian. 👍😁

[@brianbarnett1380]

@@RobsAquaponics thank you so far so good

[@DiscontentKiwi]

I just have to say, I've been following you for a bit now, and I'm so happy that you are the perfect combination of someone who is DIY with a touch of hippie (in the best way possible!), and someone who follows the science, who optimizes with engineering and technology etc. Rather than being the type that goes "naaah, they didn't use filters 500 years ago, why would I??" or does things by feel just because "it's how it's always been done", or avoiding them scary chemicals at all costs just because you don't know what they really are. You're just not woo-woo, if you know what I mean. You understand what's going on in your system on many levels, and adjust and optimize accordingly, and you're not technophobic or sciencephobic. I like that. Thank you for plenty of interesting videos!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks for the kind words Annie. 👍 I do try my best to be open-minded on all topics I take an interest in. Cheers & all the best.

[@DiscontentKiwi]

@@RobsAquaponics same to you 😊

[@LooksFabFashion]

Try Natural Bog filter system to manage solid waste from fish

[@RobsAquaponics]

If I had the room & time I'd like to try a half dozen different filter systems. 😉

[@LooksFabFashion]

@@RobsAquaponics small one or your friend who does same can try it and you make a video on it. To show how effective or not effective it's is in acquaponic. I suggested it bcoz I had seen some made Bog filter as small as bathtub. Like your effort in producing stuff and trying new stuff. As I like to try by myself but time, space and money is way limited to try. So for now I am know just absorbing knowledge and suggesting to some whenever i feel appropriate. Thanks for taking the time to reply :)

[@joecanales9631]

Great advice Rob. I don’t have a moving media bio filter but do have a bunch of bio media the water flows through before the sump. I’ve put 6 bags of media floating in the top of my settler put together much like yours, each bag with an air hose bubbling air. It only disturbs the top 5-7 cm. of the water in the 55 gal. drum (~200 liter). Low air flow bubbles. Then the water falls 5-7 cm. Onto more bio media above the water in the sump (hung a bigger bag of media above the sump water level). From the sump water flows to the media beds before cycling back to the fish, but going through more bio media. Haven’t had an ammonia issue in the fish tank. Got 3 air pumps supplying air, plus the water returning to the fish tank is sprayed along a pipe with small diameter holes which shoots the water initially horizontally given the water an angular momentum. The stock tank with the fish is wide and shallower than an IBC tank, with enough air to water surface area to ensure adequate oxygenation if the power goes out for an extended time. I’ve got a unique system, but the fish seem happy and always have too many plants. I’ve incorporated more dirt grow bags in flood trays. I like to use the fish solids in the wicking beds and dirt beds, although a mineralization tank looks interesting. I like the design of the one from Bigalow farms. Excellent advice video! Cheers 🍻

[@RobsAquaponics]

Nice one mate. I would love to see a video of your system at some point Joe. Visiting for a gander would be even better. 😉👍

[@joecanales9631]

@@RobsAquaponics I might have to clean up the garage 😆

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@joecanales9631 🤣

[@Melike1hit]

I built a pond for my ducks, right now the pump sits in the water and pushes the water into a 20gallon filter of cotton/sponges/lava rock then back into the pond- worked fine when it was dirt floored but I was loosing water so I put a liner in it- lasted 1 week and I had pea soup waited 2 weeks never clear so I dumped the pond. I want to add a swirl filter before the 20gallon, and at some point get some grow beds going with spinach. Would this help lower the duck poo and pea soup issue?

[@tonyrichmond9428]

Kyle, I'm struggling to keep my duck water clean, too. I'm in the desert, so not having a liner was never gonna work. I've tried swirl filters, radial settlers, gravel and sand, polyfill. Ducks are tough. It's not a lot of water, but it still overwhelmed my tiny grow bed. I'm working on a 3x7 right now, planning on some regular grow beds and a worm farm to make use of pond water so I can change some of it out regularly. Please do post back if you find any success.

[@Melike1hit]

@@tonyrichmond9428 I have 16 ducks, 10x15x3-about 4000gallons-pump does 8000 an hour, worked fine when I had no liner, turned into pea soup within a week with the liner

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Kyle. Adding some media beds will help a lot as they will also help capture any solids that escape the filter. You'll probably find that the water will never be crystal clear even returning from the beds from what I've seen in videos like these two, kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4C6d6msjq1lebc kzbin.info/www/bejne/laCWZ5SQfbCNopI Hope you post a video or two once you set it up. 👍👍

[@tonyrichmond9428]

@@Melike1hit hey, I'm following up. I still haven't turned my ducks loose (they get a kiddie pool to splash around in with clean water every day). I started some seeds in the grow bed (in pots) and i got the green soup even though I'd been abble to add ammonia, turn it green, and have it clear up the next day. I figured nutrients from the dirt. I've been transplanting the seedlings straight into the bed and starting more seeds in the dirt. Wife takes some water from the filter buckets for her other plants and we top it off every few days. Water went clear over the weekend. CRYSTAL clear. I can see the threads in the drain through about 2 1/2 feet of water. The bed is cinder block on a 4x8 torsion bed (leftover from construction) with a pond liner, giving me the 3x7, and has river rock on the bottom (leftover from the septic install) and pea gravel above that. Mabe 2-3dozen plant starts. I'm letting the ducks into it this week.

[@RobsAquaponics]

B & I have taken an interest in keeping some Muscovies & the first thing she said after watching the video was "DUCKPONICS".🤣🤣 Hows are your systems going folks?

[@Pigeoninformation]

Thanks for Sharing

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks for watching!😁👍

[@victorzelayasandoval2113]

Cuato tiempo dejas oxijenando los desechos en el barril para despues usarlos

[@familywilliams4058]

I have a 120 gallon fish tank with 10 adult goldfish and 2 juvenile plecos (originally the fish were in separate tanks, and I have been unsuccessful in rehoming the second pleco as of yet, though I will continue to look for a good home). They get 1-2 tablespoons of Wardley Pond pellets throughout the day in separate feedings. I have a canister filter and sponge filters that have prevented any issue with ammonia or nitrites, I have a bed of aquarium gravel in the bottom of the tank, which sits on my floor, and no room for a solids settler. I am having difficulties calculating the volume and planting density in grow beds/rafts. I always have an excess of nitrates, so I have to siphon off water and vacuum the gravel, but I also have deficiencies in pretty much every other nutrient. it doesn't seem worthwhile to supplement the other nutrients if I am having to constantly siphon water off to control the nitrates. I do have limited space in my apartment, and I know the goldfish can potentially live for decades (they're only about three years old). Would it be worth it to continue to try and sort out grow beds, or would I be better off just keeping it as a decorative aquarium for now until I inevitably move, hopefully into a bigger space? Do you think installing undergravel filtration tiles would be useful?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I have seen folks with nitrates well over 100ppm with goldfish & koi FW. What levels are yours at?

[@familywilliams4058]

@@RobsAquaponics I've had them reach 150-200ppm, which is why I siphon off the water, as I'm concerned they may get fungal infections if the levels remain that high.

[@MrZH190]

Great stuff!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Harper.

[@rudykharmawphlang4131]

Hi Rob what is t size of t Solid lifting outlets.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I run 50mm/2" drain pipes Rudy. 👍

[@ByrdRecords]

How often do you remove solids from the mineralization tank? Is it necessary?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I Haven't as of yet BR. I'm thinking they could probably stay in there as long as they're not affecting the aeration capacity of the stones.

[@jadeswormfarm]

Bob you're a legend mate. I expect to see your name read out tomorrow on Order of Australia Award 😊👍 Thanks for sharing your awesome knowledge mate

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad I can help some Jade. 😁👍

[@angerainbow9200]

I really like how you include the graphics Rob. Also I was wondering if you have ever made a video of a meal you have made from the yard? I made the worm paste from one of your older videos and it was gone in a few days. I must say it worked so much better than what I was doing before. Thankyou for the videos . They are very informative and helpful to our family and friends 😀

[@elenidemos]

Rob has several videos of meals he has produced. Not really a cooking video, more of this is what I've put into it type videos. In most, he mentions what ingredients came from his garden. The fish, herbs, ginger, greens etc. He also has shown how he processes his ginger to store frozen for long term storage.

[@angerainbow9200]

I remember the ginger as I didn't know it could be frozen. Yes a few videos he mentions different things eaten from yard. Thee stupermarkets comments make us laugh.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I do have a few recipes over on the site if that helps, www.bitsouttheback.com/grow-your-own-food I've been "cleaning up" the site this week so the layout may look a bit disjointed. I also just tidied up this playlist here on KZbin to just show recipes & food processing. Think I have a few more I can add to it as well. kzbin.info/aero/PLBcWprMIwYYjsxGg0eYZPZXOqSqTlgqg0 Hope that helps.

[@RiskyR1CH]

How often do you clean the filters?

[@RobsAquaponics]

The Radial flow settler gets cleaned once a week through the cooler months when the fish aren't eating much & every 4 or so days through summer when the Jades are smashing the feed.

[@jenniferjsaracino]

Good info as always! I hope you’re staying dry’ish, word is your having another deluge!

[@RobsAquaponics]

We have some blue sky this morning which is great to see Jennifer. Cheers. 😁

[@wizzzard_ponics]

hey rob another great video, do you want me to seand you my video on my 200l brush filter, 20x 1m brush in filter, which again adds double the bio filtration..

[@RobsAquaponics]

That would be great thanks Dazza. 😁😁👍 I got some stock pic's of gutter brush & my sisters aquarium but that's it on that side of things. Hope life's been uneventful for you mate. Cheers mate.

[@wizzzard_ponics]

@@RobsAquaponics 0-9op all i can say is yeh, hum.. ill edit the video and send you a link..

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@wizzzard_ponics Cheers mate. 👍

[@fanaticforager6610]

Thanks 🙏 🐨 for Sharing 🌅🌿☂️

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers FF. 😁👍

[@Aquaponic.Atheer4051]

Hi boB what is the nutrient additive what carbon do you mean

[@RobsAquaponics]

Different forms of sugars are used by most but I have seen folks also use old wheat flour as well. Basically anything that is high in organic carbon for the bacteria.

[@gyoda1tiger]

Great channel. I have a question about tank size for solid separator and moving bed bio filter. What size tanks would you recommend for 200 gallon tank with 40 fish, my goal? Lastly how much moving bed media should I use? I think I seen where you were using 30L of media in 8 gal.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I like to base it on retention time so ideally I should have a 50gal drum for the bio filter to give the nutrient rich water 6+minute in the drum before passing through. The same amount of dwell/retention time I like in my solids settlers. 👍 For us in our climate we need 1L/quart of the media we use to process the ammonia generated by a 500g/1lb fish. The same should be true for tilapia if you're growing them as they have a similar metabolism. Sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

[@darenand1608]

Hi Rob do you think it is a good idea to have your solids flow into a shrimp thank before it goes to the solid filter

[@RobsAquaponics]

I think using the nutrients as a feed stock for the shrimp would be a great idea Daren. 👍 I have seen others pop the smaller cherry shrimp in brush filters to help with cleaning.

[@craigshoemaker2492]

What do you do with the reclaimed solids? Trash or are there any uses for the waste?

[@RobsAquaponics]

They get fed to the fruit trees at the moment but they we're being mineralised in an offline drum. The water was then added back into the system after the solids were allowed to settle to the base every time the solids settler was cleaned out.

[@J.K-n2z]

Question: is the solid waste a possible source of feed for wax worms?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I'm not sure sorry. I know compost worms & black soldier fly larvae smash through i in no time flat.

[@stanmondzelewski9253]

Would a radial rlow settler work with a small backyard duck pond?

[@RobsAquaponics]

It can do Stan. It would need a fairly long retention time as a lot of the solids will be fairly fine.

[@stanmondzelewski9253]

@@RobsAquaponics so a large container with slow flow?

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@stanmondzelewski9253 I would look for a 6 min retention time minimum. To wok out retention time divide the filter drum by the flow rate per hour then multiply by 60. e.g 200l drum / 1500lph flowrate = 0.1333 0.1333 X 60 = 7.998 minutes or close enough to call 8 min. .

[@stanmondzelewski9253]

@@RobsAquaponics thanks

[@Goodellsam]

For DWC, how many gallons of nutrient water, do I need to support plants. Is it figured by volume of nutrient water, volume of grow bed, number of plants, or a combination.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Most folks I know will use a 12"/300mm trough for their DWC Sam. As for flow rate, most will run at once an hour exchange rate maximum. I know one chap that like a 3 hour water exchange rate in his DWC. Sorry for missing your comment at the time.

[@henra0940]

Any tips or ideas for someone trying to do aquaponics in 5 to 6 climate zones? (Gets down to -26c in the winter) Do I just have to only run it in the summer? Or do you think a small greenhouse set up could work? Also it gets up to 26-35 in the summer. Would a heater in a green house be enough? Or even worth it?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I do know folks that run the fish inside & have the greenhouse outside. They wind the greenhouse down over winter & the fish slow right down as well. You could also grow indoors as well, either part time or just through winter if you have enough space in the basement or garage.

[@henra0940]

@@RobsAquaponics thanks for the info, great informative videos also 👍

[@victorzelayasandoval2113]

How long do you oxygenate the waste in the barrel to use it?

[@RobsAquaponics]

The biofilter only has a short retention time of about 4 or so minutes. If you mean a mineralisation tank that you puit the solids waste into, idealy it should be bubbling/brewing for about a month before you draw off the mineralised water to add back into the system. It doesn't have to but that's best practice. This video cover mineralisation a little better, kzbin.info/www/bejne/pombqnVqYst9gtU El biofiltro sólo tiene un corto tiempo de retención de unos 4 minutos aproximadamente. Si se refiere a un tanque de mineralización en el que deposita los desechos sólidos, lo ideal es que esté burbujeando/preparando durante aproximadamente un mes antes de extraer el agua mineralizada para volver a agregarla al sistema. No es necesario, pero esa es la mejor práctica. Este video cubre la mineralización un poco mejor, kzbin.info/www/bejne/pombqnVqYst9gtU (google translate)

[@jaswindersoin4410]

Rob I have a fish pond I wish to stock with Tilapia. Since it’s in the ground, I need to pump the solids into a filter containing sand/ stone and fine fabric. Question: can I then move it to a grow bed? Or would it need more treatment? I am thinking of adding Biofloc tech but don’t know how.

[@RobsAquaponics]

It would be fine to have the filtered water go into the grow bed. 👍

[@jenniwilliams4795]

Hello from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe following you and in process9f building a radial flow settler. Done have 150 pipe for the well can I recycle plastic containers?? The ones that you buy drinking water in. I have a 150 x150 joining 3 5litre ones

[@RobsAquaponics]

Sorry I missed this Jenni. Those jugs/bottles should be fine as they're food grade. 👍

[@supergrandimperialx]

What size of pipe that suitable for this scale aquaponic?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I use 2' / 50mm for gravity flow drains on these smaller 1000-2000l DIY systems.

[@supergrandimperialx]

@@RobsAquaponics is it good enough if i use 32mm pipe sir?

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@supergrandimperialx That depends on your flow rate. I think 40mm would be OK for gravity flow rates of up to 1200lph but no more. 32mm would be a bit small.

[@supergrandimperialx]

@@RobsAquaponics allright. Thank you Sir for answering my question.😁

[@DCogsdil]

Do we need grow pots in grow the grow beds? Hubby retired and this is his baby. Only got three IBC totes starting out. He loves your channel. Debs from Texas

[@RobsAquaponics]

There's a few different ways you can set up the grow beds Debs. This recent video looking at our new aquaponics build mentions a few of the different types of systems, kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKW9c2eQn6ifb5o I am looking at doing a more in depth look at different grow methods for plants after I finish our new system build. I hope the video above helps you both out some.

[@jaswindersoin4410]

Hi Rob. Can styrofoam pellets be used as bio filteration media to trap bacteria?

[@RobsAquaponics]

They will tend to float so not much good sorry. I have seen folks use plastic bottle caps if you're looking to use recycled materials.

[@cevolyh]

Hi Bob, Yan here from Logan, May i know how much k2/k1 filtration material you used for your moving bed and also what is the size of your moving bed?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Yan. For our climate 1L of the PE03 / K2 (5 spoke media) will look after the feed load & waste from a 500G fish. My drum is too small at 100L & should be 200L to have a better retention time. Hope that helps some.

[@thecookeman]

Has anyone found a good supplier for this bio media in Aus? Looking at a 200ltr pickle barrel would 50Ltr be enough or should I aim for 100? Can you have too much filtration?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Again. 😂 A 200L drum can take 100L easily. 👍 You could try these folks Nathan, freshbydesign.com.au/aquaponic-aquaculture-products/biological-filtration/mbbr-bio-media/ I'm not sure they're the cheapest but they were the only folks I could find that did bulk on the east coast last time I checked. Hope that helps.

[@xthemadplumberx7110]

I’m a plumber, and I strongly feel like dual solids filters should be plumbed with symmetry, starting from the tee you split them up. One will be getting more use than the other, possibly defeating much of the purpose of having two filters.

[@xthemadplumberx7110]

I say I’m a plumber, because it relates to twin water heaters hooked up together parallel.

[@yukisohma]

Hello, thanks for the video; subscribed. I’m using a Matala bio filter for an outdoor koi pond and for several months the filter pads would have a ton of mucky poo waste to clean. However recently I noticed there’s none of that but I see a lot of tiny tiny particulates (probably algae-based) that pretty much flows through, straight back into the pond. As a result the pond water has been looking pretty dusty and green despite trying to clean the filters as best I can. I also have a barrel filter with the white plastic pieces to help, but it doesn’t seem to be filtering well either. Do you know what could cause the poop to change form to barely anything solid?? Thanks

[@RobsAquaponics]

Mechanical action & the bacteria breaking it down will cause it to form smaller particles. Are you still having issues?

[@jmartin015]

Hi Rob, still going strong I see.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Trying my best JM. 😉🙄

[@nicolaiitchenko7610]

Since I have a limited budget, I have used alternative media for my moving bed bio filter. The little white balls available from the aquarium suppliers work wonders and are very, very good but I am currently using some 3000 (ish) milk bottle tops collected over some eighteen months by myself and family, and have had no issue with nitrite/nitrate levels. It is a bit noisier but seems to work just fine...What do YOU think of this as an alternative microbe surface media? Thank you

[@ryansmith5355]

This is a great option, milk bottle tops will have less of a surface area than the white media BUT it comes down to if you use a slightly larger area of them you will see the same result AND recycle a plastic product them may have otherwise ended up in landfill (in most places in Australia at least). I personally have found that small bottles of water (600m or so) tend to have a lot of thread and a corrogated outside meaning more surface area, although I tend to not be patient enough to sort down to one type so I run tens of thousands of completely random lids and they have been going well for a couple of years. In Queensland, Australia, the 10c refund for collecting drink bottles does not include lids (most councils send these to landfill) although I know my local "containers for change" point that has real people counting rather than machines keep all the lids that slip through and are more than happy to give them away free to people that can put them to good recycled use so it may be an option for people go go along and have a chat with people like this and they could save some dollars and some space in landfill.

[@RobsAquaponics]

A mate of ours sued the caps as a media in his trickle/bio & worked well from all accounts. 👍 They're not neutrally buoyant like the professional media but do provide surface area.

[@drrahilakurdi5943]

🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@RobsAquaponics]

😁😁😁😁

[@kebekongolosapalata9433]

hello

[@RobsAquaponics]

👋 Hi.

[@ramoneoliveira5851]

Like

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers Ramone 👍🍻

[@mcmastertube]

Besides @Bigelowbrook, any US based channels/creators you recommend? I am in USDA Region 6b, so winters can get pretty cold... Cheers!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Not that I know of aquaponics wise sorry mate. Have you asked Rob over on his channel? I know he's in touch with quite a few growers through the association.