Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello everyone,

I am considering starting my first AP system and I had some questions.

1. I am considering this system here: http://www.bluaquaponics.com/collection ... nic-system. It will be a completely indoor system. I'm guessing I will need some grow lights since it will be indoor and I dont get too good sunlight inside (plus its cold here in Chicago). Do you have any recommendations for lights? Ideally, a standing lamp so I dont have to build something on top of this stand? Any thoughts on this lamp? http://www.amazon.com/Trademark-Global- ... s=sun+lamp


2. I am probably going to get a 20 gallon fish aquarium? What fish do you recommend? Any edible fish would fit in this aquarium? How many fish do you recommend?

3. I am considering growing herbs, grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, and maybe strawberries. Would that be ok or do you suggest anything else?

Thanks in advance for your time and expertise!

A cheap way to do lights, which there really are few options, is a five head floor lamp.
http://www.amazon.com/Room-Essentials-5%252dHead-Floor-Lamp/dp/B000WUXQAY/ref=sr_1_3?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1389420317&sr=1-3&keywords=lamp+stand

You put some CFLs with 5000k or higher light temperature, and that will be your cheapest/best bet. You can go high output (HO) fluorescent, but it will be much more expensive when you see your next power bill. An example of a high end CFL on Amazon is below.
http://www.amazon.com/KAEZI-Watt-Studio-Light-5500K/dp/B00BISL11U/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1389420427&sr=1-1&keywords=CFL+5500k

Unless you feel completely unskilled with some 2x4s and screws, I wouldn't spend 200 bucks on that product by Blue Aquaponics. The price point for that system just seems a little high if it doesn't come with an aquarium. However, I am definitely DIY minded.

As for plants, basil, chard, and kale would be my first recommendations for a first system. If you have more questions, feel free to continue the thread!

GOOD LUCK!

Well Chicago gets very cold so you will want some sort of heat system even if a wall heater either LP or natural gas and perhaps a couple of heat lamps. Many people are using florescent lighting as it is very bright. The radiant gas wall heater is great if you have a loss of power and the heat lamps provide heat and light when power is not an issue.
Will you have sky lights? This is a good source of light and heat on good sunny days. I thing if you are planning on edible fish, you will want a 300 gal. tank especially if you are eating fish 2 or 3 times a week.

I agree with penman, 20 gallons is too small to be raising edible fish. I guess you could have max 4 tilapia, but I imagine that you would be doing a good deal of water changes when they are about harvest size due to high ammonia. Two things about this. I have had tilapia survive some incredibly high ammonia levels, but I wouldn't recommend it. Also, if you are doing constant water changes on a 20 gallon. You'll probably diminish your nitrates as well as ammonia. This leads to less growing capabilities.

If you can get out to woodridge, this tank is a good deal. I always buy my glass tanks off craigslist.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/for/4271771796.html

There are a variety of cold water plants and fish out there if you don't want to spend all the extra cash on heating. I imagine your lights will already be driving up your variable costs!