CHOP 2 - A revised CHOP

Someone asked me about CHOP 2, I  never practice CHOP so it will not be a write up from a first person point of view. I did wrote about CHOP somewhere in 2010, a brief overview of it : Here and the difference between CHOP and CRAFTS : Here

Improvements or corrections to a system are usually made after experience gained, user feedback or maybe problem or it could be a simpler way to do it. It is normal evolution in Aquaponics to make things better, easier and most important reliable.

Area of problem that I suspected in earlier CHOP system is the water feed to growbed which is using gravity overflow from fish tank and the returning water from sump tank. This arrangement is not an easy way to control constant flow for growbed operation. I did experiment with this style of water feed and I found it quite challenging to get right over long period of time.

So with this problem in mind, CHOP 2 was made which eliminate all those that I mentioned earlier. Diagram below is a simplified schematic of CHOP 2 and it is self explanatory.

CHOP 2 has a sump tank where a single pump located, output from the pump is split one part to growbeds the other to fish tank. The growbed return to sump with normal bell siphon arrangement and the fish tank return via an overflow keeping the tank height constant.

That's about it the basic CHOP 2, obviously you can make it more complex by adding more tanks or some sort of additional filters here and there but above is the baseline of CHOP 2.

Now where do this system derived from, please refer below.

Most Aquaponics system are derived from somewhere, CHOP 2 is no exception above diagram show a simple Growbed over a fish tank in this case a sump tank and a separate loop feeding a larger fish tank. This kind or arrangement is normal if you want to put an aquarium further away from the system.

Growbed over a fish tank diagram below  from : Here

What ever the system you choose to make it'll depend on your site installation. If you asked my honest opinion between CHOP & CHOP 2 then I will say CHOP 2 because it is an improvement over the older design. Between CHOP 2 and CRAFTS then it will depend on the space you have. If you have ample space CHOP 2 is more suitable, if space is the limiting factor then CRAFT or even Growbed over a fish tank is the way to go.

Just for reference CRAFTS is : Here

A Simple Installation Making use of An Old Fish Tank.

Over the weekend I help in setting up a set of two growbed Aquaponics using an old under use fish tank. I only provide two 25 mm siphon that I made few months back. These are the last few of this type of siphon, from now on I will make the newer model.

The place located in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia or PJ for us here. It is a very simple set as you can see from the photo above, nothing fancy. It uses a single 2000 liter/hour pump inside that fish tank in the corner and send it to the two growbeds.

Typical 25 mm siphon use for each of the growbed with an inlet split to distribute water from that single pump. This is the most economical way to use the pump capacity to maximum in Aquaponics.

The growbed are both empty, what happened is we run out of LECA stock here in Malaysia. Need to wait for a few more weeks for new stock to arrived, schedule early July.

Instead or running the 25 mm outlet all the way to the fish tank for return I decide to use a common 3" uPVC as the return manifold. It is easier this way.

2nd growbed returning to fish tank.

The owner is keen on doing it himself, I help in installing the siphon and get system roughly on site . This set is at the far end of the compound which otherwise not use. Later on the owner has to get some LECA and just dump it all in there. 3 bags each but best to use three and a half.

Abu Dhabi Both Growbed Done

Both siphon replaced, I am monitoring the set to ensure trouble free operation.

Thanks for watching.

Abu Dhabi Installation

Part 1 of the siphon replacement.

Part 2

Earlier unedited video

Neighbour's Setup - The Video

Completed setting up a simple aquaponics set for a neighbour and testing it out for constant flushing.

Thanks for watching.

Setup for a Neighbour

Last week was called to do some assessment on this concrete tank to see what I could recommend to minimised work required to keep this tank clean.

Above tank is about 900 gallon capacity with few fish to ensure no mosquito breed in it. I recommend growbed over this tank to minimise algae growth and keep it as simple as possible. Earlier today all items purchase by the owner and I just provide siphon installation and final tweak.

First of the two growbed, this tub is fibreglass and it's smaller than I normally use. I gave a shopping list, its owner purchased item so, just do what I can. The rack were specified for the blue plastic tub which is slightly bigger than this.

Not properly supported, the length and width need to be reduce by 3 inches to ensure better support. It then rains cat and dogs, that reduce my time to get things done. Oh well... there always another day.

Water outlet angled to create some water flow within the tank making a swirl to let solids settle near pump.

Water inlet a simple pipe at the moment, it rain so heavy I cannot complete the water setting to ensure good siphon action.

By the time this second growbed done, it's already quite late and i's time to stop. Water inlet for this growbed I put a temporary Ball Valve to get water balance right. The distance from pump to growbed is not equal, so need some adjustment and pump is also higher capacity.

Need to continue tomorrow for the water inlet adjustment, then it should works without much problem.

Steven's Aquaponics

Who would have know that an Old Folks Home located in Seksyen 18 Petaling Jaya is teaming with life, the inmates may be old but it's management is keen on Aquaponics.

Update : Dec 2014
I was informed that Mr. Steven Wee has stop his Aquaponics activity due to commitment on other area of his business.

All sort of Aquaponics set up are there and been tried, from Dutch Buckets to Vertical Towers. Mr Steven Wee the owner are very passionate with aquaponics and I must say it's a very complete setup and ideal for school kids looking for an Aquaponics place to visit.

 Growbed style Aquaponics with seedling and Turmeric.

 These are made from IBC and raised for planting with fish tank located few feet away.

NFT with lots of growth.

 More on NFT below.

 Couple of Aquaponics Malaya members, enjoying the visit with Kopi "O" in hand.

Vertical tower with Pak Choy I think, can't really catch the name.

Tilapia powered Aquaponics

Mr Steven Wee is very passionate with his work, it a show case on what are the potential for Aquaponics in Urban Farming over here in Malaysia.

From this and earlier post on Mr. Perng setup in a Condomonium/Apartment will make an eye opener for more Malaysian to try out Aquaponics filling the empty space and time.

Perng Leng Chuah High Rise Aquaponics System

This setup belong to Mr. Perng Leng Chuah of Aquaponics Malaya group, it is in a Condo setting on its balcony. This setup was done in June 2013 and has been running with a single water pump and an aeration unit.

It is a small setup, with 2 growbed over a fish tank. This is what we consider a basic media base setup but sufficient to provide all the knowledge of a bigger sets.

Aquaponics is one method of planting that is suitable on high rise building and fish that comes with it is an added bonus. It's a good way to let kids get involved in planting and fish keeping even in with limited planting space. These next few photos is a joy to see, when we could give our children these activity.

So those living in high rise don't let space hamper your ability to plant and fish keeping, Aquaponics is the way to go in Urban Surrounding.

Photo courtesy of Perng Leng Chuah, check out his post in Aquaponics Malaya Forum

NASOM Installation

NASOM is The National Autism Society of Malaysia, this is a non government organization (NGO) that do charitable work for people with Autism.

Recently they contacted me, and are interested with Aquaponics as a source for therapeutic and stress relief for Autism and normal people alike. That part of Aquaponics never look at by anyone and I guess it is a very good idea from them.

So without much hesitation I agree to assist, they procured most parts with list that I gave and I made a couple of siphon for their installation.

Installation was done on 5th October 2013

For a start I am setting up a basic set, which is a two media filled growbed over a fish tank. Each of the growbed drained via siphon into the fish tank. This is the most basic to start with, and as they progress we'll see how it goes.

NASOM staff and Assistant General Manager En Osman Teh (far left) busy with rack installation. The angle iron are very well cut by their suppliers. Its a small setup but just nice as a starter and great to get others introduced into Aquaponics.

Typical siphon installation for their growbed.

Washing and putting hydroton on one of the two growbed.

Completed set above.

Tilapia provided by Mr. Shashi Kumar of Aquaponics Malaya FB Group.

Tilapia in the tank.

Mr. Shashi Kumar, Myself and Mr. Osman Teh after set completed. I'll let them run it for few weeks and make a visit again. However if they have problem then they are free to give me a shout.

Will post their progress from time to time.

Note : Some photos I pinch from FB Aquaponics Malaya courtesy of Mr. Shashi Kumar.

SMK Muhibbah Sandakan Sabah - Aquaponics Project.

What better place to do Aquaponics than in a school. This initiative is carried out by Teacher Mr. Fendi Hamid and pupils of SMK Muhibbah Sandakan Sabah. for Green School Award 2013 Project.

It's good for schools to get involved with Aquaponics, introducing alternative way of planting and fish keeping as in Aquaponics will make student aware of environment. It is also a way for them to learn a method that not traditionally practiced.

Follows are photos courtesy of Mr. Fendi Hamid on initial installation of their set up. I hope they will achieve what they are aiming for and gain useful knowledge in the process.

SMK Muhibbah is among the first school that take up Aquaponics for their school project. I wish them the best for this undertaking and hope other school will follow what this school is doing and I hope to hear more of their progress.