Hydroponic 500l tank filter setup system

[skareb]

This is a 500l tank hydroponic filter system using drain gutter, 9kgs of aqua clay as plant medium and a 1000lPH pump.


A fiber glass tank was chosen to reduce weight as the tank is placed on a balcony. Size of tank 48" x 30"H x 30"W.


PVC Gutter was chosen as filter due to flexibility and light weight.


PVC gutter filter completed


Wood planks to cover the fiber tank cosmetically (ok I'm no great woodsmith)


First water test failed, the gutter was leaking everywhere despite using silicone seal on all the joined. Gutter brace are produce for a reason and after installing 6 of the braces and re-seal then it finally runs.

 

[skareb]

1" out flow


1/2" inlet pipe and a raised 1" pipe security outflow (in case the original outflow got stuck)


Wood covering completed


A sponge first stage filter to reduce debris trapped


A simple PVC mesh to stop aqua clay from flowing into main tank

 

[skareb]

9kgs of aqua clay



Have to stripped all the aqua clay as the water level rise beyond control, the tight medium was blocking the water flow. A 2nd method was thought up, Placed cut to size undergravel plastic at the bottom of the gutter to created an underground river to speed up the flow.


A nice and neat cover was made to prevent the clay ball from returning to the main tank.


The result, perfect flow!!!

 

[weirdfishlover]

Awesome build from across the causeway

But for the mechanical part of the filter, is it a lil too small

What stock are u planning to keep coz a 1000L pump seems awfully small ?

 

[skareb]

A slower flow was installed as I figure when the fast growing vegetation roots fully penetrate the clay balls they will extract the waste unlike normal filtration flow without plants. The plants need an optimum flow where only a quarter of the clay balls are submerged and keeping the surface ball permanently moist. I could be wrong with my calculations but rectifying this is a small problem, change the pump!


Moist Clay balls

 

[Squirtle919]

Looks good. so your system is constantly being fed a source of tank water at a low rate? or are you filling the gutter up with water for X time then it drains back to the tank for Y time and cycles again?

I think this is the way to go with filtration, people keeping aquaponic systems are able to get away with few water changes and the water is remaining prefect + the system is creating food !!

 

[skareb]

Looks good. so your system is constantly being fed a source of tank water at a low rate? or are you filling the gutter up with water for X time then it drains back to the tank for Y time and cycles again?

I think this is the way to go with filtration, people keeping aquaponic systems are able to get away with few water changes and the water is remaining prefect + the system is creating food !!

the gutter is running on a 1000lPH pump, water passing through the gutter gets absorbed into the clay balls.

 

[cpm6t]

Nice idea man. I'm sure you'll get great results with this. My 300g outdoor pond currently being setup has mainly plant dependent filtering too. Please post more pictures with the plants set up.

 

[Inglorious]

Looks good so far. What kinds of plants are you going to use?

 

[skareb]

Nice idea man. I'm sure you'll get great results with this. My 300g outdoor pond currently being setup has mainly plant dependent filtering too. Please post more pictures with the plants set up.

Looks good so far. What kinds of plants are you going to use?

I just grabbed something from the store and put in the seeds on plastic sponge