Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Alright folks, I've lurked over this site for days before joining. I am very interested in the AP systems but I am lacking the greenhouses that many of you have. I have plenty of basement space, though.

I would like to raise crayfish (I think you call them yabbies). I also would like to raise lettuce with an AP system. Can a system be designed that would allow for a basement installation? Is anyone else using a similar space-restricted AP system?

In welcome you thoughts and ideas.

I can't imagine why not - I do believe that some people here have modest size units - and probably inside. You will most likely need some kind of grow light.

There are people already growing in basements, they have grow beds inside and outside. During cold weather they do not pump water through the outside growbeds.

There are many options and the sky (or the pocket book) is the limit!

I already have a cheapo grow light arrangement since I start seedlings for the garden in the basement. My biggest concern is keeping the crayfish alive through the various seasons. Would I need to heat the water?

I have access to an almost unlimited supply of plastic food-grade plastic drums (55 gallon). I am hoping these could work as a fish tank. Or else something else that is shallow since crays don't need anything deeper than 12" of water...

Welcome Steve!

Which part of PA? I am in Cashtown outside Gettysburg, Janet is in PA near Wilmington.

I am growing tilapia in the basement. I have grown plants under a 400 watt MH grow light, but stopped using the light to reduce electric costs. I started using it again this week. I plan to keep the tilapia in the basement and pump water out to an outside grow bed using a counterflow heat exchanger to not lose heat out of the water. See my threads here:

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 79&start=0

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 45&start=0

Hi Steve,

Like Dave, I also live in PA (although in Bloomsburg) and raise tilapia in my basement.

I have a system that has three growbeds (not large) and two 400 watt MH grow lights. The tilapia have grown incredibly well and, now that I have enought iron in the water, the plants are starting to take off as well.

Good luck with your project.

How are you two raising talipia?? I thought this was a restricted fish for the US... or shouldn't I ask?!

With talipia I think it depends on which state and what kind. I know that few companies will ship talipia to people in FL unless they have the proper license. I'm not sure about this but I expect that in many states they may not worry about them as it is too cold for them to naturalize if released.

How cold does the basement get? Are you planning to use local crayfish? If using local fish, I expect that they will survive the temps you get, especially if they are protected in the basement.

Aren't crayfish great escape artists? That might be something to keep in mind for your system.

Just as a quick FYI, something I discovered today. A pallet flipped upside down seems to work very well as a half barrel stand.

Good Luck!

The basement can get chilly in the winter. But maybe this is like a cray's natural habitat anyway??

Tilapia are fine in PA. They would not last in the wild during the winters.

I have cordoned off a part of my basement with curtains of plastic dropcloth and that keeps in the heat of the growlights. In effect, it's a greenhouse within the basement. (I put these up to contain a problem with fungus gnats in a worm bin but the increased heat in the grow areas was so wonderful, I just kept them up after the gnats died off.)

I also keep a single aquarium heater in the tank to keep the water in the lower 80's. It all works well.

Good idea RP, I bought a plastic drop cloth to cover the floor when painting but never used it! I'll add that to the list! Blue board on the basement walls helps a lot too. There is a thin white styrofoam with mylar-like foil on one side that is great for this too. It works as a reflector and insulator combined.