Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

Beginner here. My experience with aquaponics is simply that I've watched bunch of youtube videos

I plan to setup my hybrid aquaponic system in my side yard.

Due to the limited space, I cannot afford to have a sump tank.

I have enough space for

1. an IBC fish tank
2. 24 feet for NFT pipes, 3 in parallel; so a total of 72 feet.
3. Some narrow space for smaller tanks, say swirl tank, if necessary.
4. Prefer the grow bed on top of the FT. Not comfortable with elevated FT.
5. Wish to have as much fish practically possible with a 1 IBC tank.

If I need to go with the above requirement, I have the following questions.

Do I need a swirl filter? Is a 5 gallon swirl good enough? Does the swirl filter need to be after the GB, before the NFT; or, the swirl filter need to be before the GB?

Thank you for your time.

you'll need more than a swirl filter.. you need surface area for nitrifying bacteria (usually provided for in the form of "media" or rocks in the growbeds)... you need to filter the water prior to it entering the nft tubes or you'll have problems with solids accumulating on your plant roots..
a good starting point is the ibcofaquaponics (link at the top right part of this page)

It is a bad to push stocking densities early on. A safe number to start with in an IBC is about 20 fish. PROVIDED that your biofilter area can handle 20 fish. Later, once your system's biofilter is well colonized, and your fish keeping skills are more honed, you could increase the numbers. Do not try to stock 100 fish in 1000 liters. That is a ridiculous and inhumane expectation, that very regularly results in a mass unplanned fish die off.

When you say surface area for nitrifying bacteria, you are talking about the growing bed on top of the fish tank, right? Yes, I plan to have it. I just did not mention is since it is on the top of the fish tank, so no extra real estate needed.

yes, the growbed with media (like gravel, hydroton, shale etc)