The plumbing for the aquaponics system is not too complicated but we have used a few basic principles to help make the system as efficient as possible. We use a small 600lph electric submersible pump in one corner of the fish tank which takes the water up to the growbed. The water then flows through the growbed and exits in the opposite corner to which it entered. As the water then flows back to the fish tank it pushes any solid waste over towards the pump, ready to pulled up into the growbed.



We also use something called a bypass ball-valve on this system. This diverts some of the water from the pump straight back into the fish tank. This is so that we can control the amount of water going into the growbed, and the diverted water also creates some water movement in the fish tank as well as additional aeration.



In this system we are using 13mm PVC pipes throughout.



Initially we will start with the growbed and the siphon that we are using there. First, we need male and female threaded adapters. (Photo 2). Drill a hole in the right place in the growbed - you need to make sure that the female adapter will fit between the wire mesh squares. The hole should be about 6 or 7cms from the edge of the container in each direction. The hole should be a snug fit with the threaded male adapter.



Place the male adapter through the top of the growbed and then fit a rubber O-ring onto the threads. Then screw the female adapter onto the male adapter until you have a nice snug (and waterproof) fit. You can add some silicone to the bottom if you want to, but not strictly necessary. We then use a reducer on top of the male adapter. This is a 25mm to 13mm reducer.



This whole piece is called the standpipe and this is how the water will exit the growbed. We want the overall height to be about 1 inch under the top of your growbed media and so you will need to cut the pipe down so that it is the right height for you. Now let the silicone dry if you have used it.