Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Still a very very long ways off from my dreams but i am quite smitten with this entire concept ^_^

Been reading the forums for a few days and want to make sure i have the basic idea down

I want to use a CHIFT PIST as this seems like what came to mind when I first heard about all this.
From what i gather the basic idea is to have a sump that holds the runoff from the growbeds and then pumps it back into the fish tank which then overflows and repeats the cycle..Now if you guys wouldn't mind i have a few gaps in my understanding that i was hoping you could clear up.

1. Would the water flowing all the time like that not cause root rot? I understand that if you keep enough oxygen in the water that it wont occur but i did some light hydro before and i thought i remembered keeping them wet all the time being a very very bad idea?

2. Is the sump just to hold the water or does it need some gravel in it to act as a biofilter? thought that was what the grow beds were for?

3. For the grow beds i should fill them 12" with gravel and some worms and keep the water level right beneath the surface of the gravel?

4. for the tank overflow i should have a pipe stuck into it where i want the water level to stay and link that pipe to the growbed?

I know there are many more widgets and such needed for all this but that part comes very easy to me just looking to make sure i have the basic concept down. Also instead of fish to eat could i fill the fish tank with say very expensive fishy that rich people like to put in their tanks at home? i raised some fish small scale and sold them to pet stores around back in the day but most of the people where i live are tbh a bit daft so i might be better off just selling some type of yummy fish to the sushi places about town. i'm sure they would love fresh fish.

Sorry for the long first post hope to be seeing you all around 8)

Hi Looming welcome to the forum

1. The growbeds have autosiphons in them which drain the water away quickly, the bed refills, drains away quickly (flood and drain)

2. sump is just for water, or maybe even some shellgrit for pH buffering

3. 12" deep with gravel, set your drains to allow the water to fill to an inch below the surface of the gravel

4. yes, I think so

Any fish you feel like is good. If you make some money on the side, good

thanks

Sushi fish are all salt-water fish.

Ornamental koi can fetch good money if you can develop a market for them.

Yep just like Jaymie says Looming.... and welcome to the wonderful world of aquaponics and the best forum in the world.

I will definitely second the "best forum in the world" vote.

watch out , you'll be an addict soon like the rest of us

thanks ^_^ now if i could just get my hands on a cheeseburger tree i'll be set lol