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Growing Fish in a Recirculating System: Advanced Teacher’s Workshop. An Inexpensive Recirculating System Blan Page & PJ Waters. System Components. Three (3) 100 gallon stock watering troughs Two (2) 55 gallon barrels Pipe, valves, fittings 1.5” 1.25” 0.75” Special fittings
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Growing Fish in a Recirculating System: Advanced Teacher’s Workshop An Inexpensive Recirculating System Blan Page & PJ Waters
System Components • Three (3) 100 gallon stock watering troughs • Two (2) 55 gallon barrels • Pipe, valves, fittings • 1.5” • 1.25” • 0.75” • Special fittings • 90- 0.75” x 5/8” hose barb • 0.75” threaded Tee • Submersible Pump • Cable Ties • Garden Hose 5/8” • “Light grate”
Where To Get it?? • Troughs • Purchased at local Feed & Seed store for under $80.00 each. • Can find for less, just have to look in your area • 55 gallon barrels • Donated by Coca Cola • Pipe, valves, fittings, Light grate • Local plumbing supply and hardware stores • Pump, Bulk Head Fittings, Bio Media, Mechanical Sock, etc. • Aquatic Ecosystem • Other places/ideas exist
The Tanks • Come with threaded fitting (1.25”) • Make sure the BHF in the tank is tight • Many times they will leak b/c they are not secured at the factory • DO NOT over tighten
The Barrels • Have a 0.75” threaded fitting in the tops • Not used in this instance, but could be to put an external pump in place • Make sure that you ‘chock’ the mechanical filter when you get it installed • Use a 2x6 on each side • Build a box frame • Etc.
Simple instructions • You can start where ever you want • We started with the mechanical filter and a tank to get good measurements
The Mechanical Filter • Two 90s (1.25”) nested • One tail piece to go into barrel • Pipe height will determine water level • WHY?
The Mechanical Filter/Pump • Opposite end of the barrel • Cut out for pump
The Mechanical Filter/Pump • Insert Pump • How to attach • Catalog indicates a 0.75” outlet • Doesn’t fit? • Improvise
The Supply Side • Use a threaded 0.75” tee, a 5/8” X 0.75” threaded 90, and 2- 0.75” valves • Why 2 valves?
The Supply Side • Here you can see the Mechanical filter (lower left corner), one of the 2 valves you just installed and the pipe leading to the biofilter
Supplying the Biofilter • Measure carefully • Use the model
Supplying the Biofilter Trace out the inner circle of the BHF gasket Carefully cut out line with jig saw. No need to look for a hole saw.
Supplying the Biofilter • On the inside of the supply side • BHF to nested 90 turned up
Supplying the Biofilter • On the inside of the supply side cont’d • Up to Nested 90s • Down to bottom of tank
Flood Prevention Step • No guarantees, but drilling a small hole in the center of the nested 90s will allow for a siphon break in the event of a power failure. • Keeps the water in the barrels and off the floor
Supplying the Biofilter • Once the hole is drilled • Install and cut a length of pipe long enough to reach the bottom
Draining the Biofilter (inside the unit) • Use a BHF (1.5”) • MPT X SLP • Tee • 2 Caps • Measure carefully • Try to center tee • Cap the ends • Use slotted pipe to screen biofilter material
Draining the Biofilter (outside the unit) • BHF to MPT X SLP • Nested Valve • This valve is screened inside so biomedia will not leave • Can be plumbed further to drain where needed
Supplying the Tanks • The Biomedia we are using floats • Screen the supply line so it doesn’t escape • Just like the drain • Measure carefully to center • Allow arms to be long enough to just fit inside the barrel • MPT X SLP to BHF
Supplying the Tanks Cont’d • Further contain the biomedia by adding a piece of lighting screen • Sometimes easier to cut 2 halves and then connect with cable ties • Makes it more difficult for unoccupied hands to access and subsequently spread media across your hatchery
Supplying the Tanks • This shows the system with 1 tank (capped end for expansion) • MPT X SLP • Nested 90 down turned • Into 45 to sloped pipe • To Tee, down turned (could use sweep) • Valve at every tank for flexibility • Then continue to next tank • MEASURE CAREFULLY • Your are relying on gravity here and need to not have uphill
Draining the Tank • This is the end tank in the line • Cap on down stream end allows for easy expansion • Leave enough room to cut then glue new piece • MPT X SLP • Nested Valve • Nested Tee
Draining the Tank • Tanks flow into central drain line • Into stand pipe • Design differs from photo here • External stand pipe is lower for more reasonable water level
Design Changes from Model • Supply Side to tanks • Recommend moving supply side to a position over the mechanical filter • Provides better access • Centralizes plumbing • Pump Selection • Pump provided will run 3 tanks at ~ 1 turnover per hour • If you desire more flow or are going to add tanks consider adding a stronger pump