Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was thinking about starting off with a 5 gallon tank with goldfish and wanting to grow either some sort of leafy crop or tomatoes. I'll have artificial lighting and air stones. I've been doing a lot of research, but I still have a lot of questions.

How many fish should I have?
Do I have to put some sort of bacteria into the tank?
Will tomatoes work, and how many plants should I have?

If you have anymore useful information it would be mush appreciated.

Welcome! 5 gallons is pretty small, but technically doable, Kooter.

Given your questions, I'd say that you are new to fish-keeping. Given that, the answer is 1 fish. Start slow, get test kits, and learn about the nitrogen cycle. You can start things cycling faster with the addition of bacteria. You can purchase bacteria, but even better (and free) is to find a friend who keeps fish and get the gunk from their filter.

The plants you raise will depend on the light you can supply. I have tomatoes in my system, but they would like more light. I had trouble with lettuce needing even more light, and they would get so spindly they fell over and died. I would go with one tomato plant in a 5 gallon system, and maybe try some lettuce or other greens around the base of it. Anchor a string to the top of the window, and twist the tomato up the string as it grows. That will keep it from smothering the lettuce.

Welcome BG!

You might start by floating a raft on top of the water:
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 7260#27260

Hi Kooter

Could try one of the cherry tomatoes or pot roma's. You can keep them bushy so not the problems with frames etc. (besides they taste great and are good croppers).

Re what Janet said about the light.

So one goldfish will give a tomato plant enough nutrients? I'm talking feeder goldfish, $0.10 each

in a word............yes.

keep in mind that the amount of nutes will be related to the amount you feed.

Nitrogen for vegative growth will not be problem. to ensure you have enough P and K for flowering and fruiting use enough gravel so that you never ave to clean out any solids, thats where you're going to get your P and K

Kooter, my biggest objective in suggesting only one fish was to keep you from killing it while you learn the nitrogen cycle. imho, water quality issues are the number 1 killer of aquarium fish, and most new fish keepers give up the hobby because they never establish good water quality. Smaller tanks are harder to maintain water quality with, and harder to keep stable. (Why they make 2gallon Garfield tanks for children, I will never know!)

Since your tomato plant will be small at first, things will match up. After the system is well established, say in 2-3 months, consider adding a second fish.

kooter, just picking up from JP......................

Dont expect to just put a goldie in a tub of water and then circ that water through to a plant.

Have a Good read through the useful info section and then a look at some of the "small systems" in the system thread.

Proper understanding of the way aquaponics works is the best way to have a success first time out

Enjoy.