Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi

I am just embarking on my maiden aquaponics voyage, with a 60 litre tank. I was planning on filling this with guppies and a few similar small fish that should breed. I haven't been able to find much information on which guppies are suitable.
The tank is all glass and will be sitting in a window to catch the sun light, so i am expecting algae issues. I was thinking of adding maybe three or so small fresh water crabs and a couple of small sucker fish to deal with this problem.
Someone told me that bottom feeders and the like will be eating all the precious waste the plants are after.
So my question is basically, is this a dumb idea? and can you have several species co-inhabiting the small eco system?
Basically i wanted to have a bunch of fish so i can give them alot of silly names...

Cheers!

Any fish you'd usually use in an aquarium would be fine to use for AP.
When I had my aquariums in front of windows I just didn't clean the rear pane of glass and eventually the algae that grew there shaded the tank and prevented further unwanted algae growth. Maybe this would work for you? (Assuming that you wouldn't find it unsightly). Otherwise you could use one of those backdrop pictures that pet stores sell to block the light coming through the rear of the tank.
And the scavengers wouldn't waste the nutrients, they'd use some of it but it shouldn't be a problem.
Welcome to the addiction!