Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,
Am very new to this and currently putting a system together. So far I have a 1100 litre round poly tub, 2 grow beds 500L each a pump, a bit of pipe and a timer. The question is what media do I go for, expanded clay or river pebbles?
Is it necessary to have a roof over the system? ( I live Gods country Sydney of course Northern Beaches)
I plan to get some trout as my first try.
How long until it is safe to introduce the fish? ECT, ECT, ECT
Any help from the wise would be much appreciated.
Buy the way I am a Plumber and Rainwater Tank supplier so If anyone needs any advise in these areas please drop me a line.
Regards to all
Darrell

The best thing to do (in my opinion anyway) have a read of other people`s systems some have lots of pics and info from other experienced APers, in one nights reading You`ll have a good idea where your going with what you have. Remember this No one person is right or wrong (a pinch of salt from all) as your system is not theirs

Thanks for the reply
I will suck it and see. I have kept fish for years so have a little knowledge of keeping them in healthy water, adding the grow bed factor will be a new thing to adjust to but will ease into it and see.

If you're going to use a timer based pump/growbed fill cycle Darrell... then you might as well use an overflow standpipe arrangement.... gravity fed back to the fish tank... if you can get your growbeds above the tank level... otherwise you'll need a sump and another pump to pump to the fish tank...

Suggest you have a read throught this recent thread... particularly the photos of the overflow standpipe... and the bell siphon...

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5424

No substitute for reading. I'm a noob myself and I've been reading for 7-8 months now and still haven't even scratched the surface. Start with the member systems and just scroll through the pictures until you see something neat, then read about it.

Here's my favorite threads:

Taz's System http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5305. I found this to be one of the best and easiest to understand examples of CHIFT PIST, small, simple, and very detailed pictures.

Faye's System - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1622. Such a inspirational setup and she takes awesome pictures.

Janet's System - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=735. Her system inspired me to build mine.

And many many more... start with the pictures and if you like it, read how they did it.

Either sinking your tank, or raising the growbeds is the easiest way to go - 1 pump, simple plumbing.

You dont need to use hydroton - but if you can afford it, it is the nicest media to use. Otherwise use a neutral ph gravel.

Roof not required.

You can add fish a few days after the system is running, give it time to clear up and settle, and to make sure that there are no problems. Too many people loose their first lot of fish......

Reading to get a thorough understanding of the different designs is the key. I used to be able to keep up with every post, but there are simply too many everyday now.

Thanks for all the info. I have made a start today clearing a spot for the system now off the the landscaping yard to get some besser blocks and some river pebbles. Sore back here I come!!!

Hi and welcome to the forum, i'm a newby too just finished setting up my system using a bell siphon system works well.
I'm a ex plumber too living near Parramatta, murray from aquaponics HQ says put your fish in about 2-3 weeks after the system starts.
Also someone told me Sydney might be too warm for trout, don't know i'm trying to decide which fish i will get for my setup, so far i thought silver or jade perch as they say they are very hardy little creatures.
Anyway if you want to talk or need any help give me a call.

Jade Perch , western Sydney ,, NO ..... not without heating.
Silvers will be ok.

Trout should be perfect if tank etc buried ..... ground temp around 16-17 C.

I'm a lot closer to the coast ( Miranda) ,, so warmer ,, but still think trout ok.

Jade Perch... are definitely not a "hardy" fish....

They are strictly a tropical/sub-tropical fish... like Barra.... and will not survive a Sydney winter.... in fact they struggle to survive a Brisbane winter.... (without heating)

Silvers will.... and trout should be at edible size before the Sydney spring/summer temps threaten them...

AHHH great minds think alike

It is also illegal to translocate (import) Barramundi and Jade Perch into NSW from Qld...

Barra are available within NSW... from accredited disease free stockist that are already located in NSW.... ie Taylor Made in Port Stevens...

But unless you're prepared to heat them for 6-8 months... forget about them...

But faster fingers get there first... obviously....

Hi Terryd
Thanks for your reply. Trout are on my list for sure and I have been dreaming all sorts of ways to extend the grow cycle for as long as possible. All of you long time AP ers have probably herd it all before but this is what i intend to do.
I will get Trout soon as my water temp is sitting around 15 d c at the moment not cycling through a bed. I put my tank in October last year for the Kids to swim in but they woudlnt go in to mid Dec as the water was too cold. Early Dec was still under 20 deg c so I think I will get at least till then before I have to harvest the Trout, longer If I can get the cooling system to work. I have sunken the tank about 100mm into the ground and will bury a 50 metre coil of 25mm poly pipe about 200mm under the ground in a spot that gets no sun. This Line can have a small pump circulating water through to cool the water. the second option is I have a large bait freezer that I was thinking of running a coil of poly pipe through to circulate the water through , stainless steel might be better but I will have to play around with it. My mate has a Ice maker that he uses for his fishing business,and he has mentioned that he wants to get a new one so perhaps if it is cheap enough that could be an option also. As for the Barra well grand plans are already being hatched. My brother just got solar heating put on his pool which has a thermostat which could be interesting to explore. Has anyone tried using a pool solar system?
Thanks to all for their comments, please keep them coming.

Yeh , your not wrong thousands of ideas floating around.
Take a look at Ruperts thread ,, similiar to a pool type solar heater.
I don't think you need and ice-maker ,, ground temps around 16-17 Feb - December should work to your advantage if tank in ground , sump /grow beds in ground and no pumping on warm days etc.

I am ( and have been for a LONG time) working on two systems ,, one that will hold 25 C + and another to hold under 20C

Barra / Jade Perch ,, and Trout.