Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Greetings from Alabama! I am a bonafide new bee. I have been studying the aquaponics concept for about a year now via internet research. I am close to constructing a 20'x20' hoop greenhouse with 4-640 gal. (2420 L?) tanks. I am planning to use 55-gal plastic barrels cut in half, (longways) for my growbeds. I am trying to calculate how many pounds of tilapia I can grow in the tanks, and how many beds I will need to accommodate the fish.

i'm a newbie too, and am sure you'll get lots of great advice..
it sounds like you;ve got a great size to start with

my small system is 1:1 growbed to fishtank, flood and drain - 110 gallon fish tank, and 4 half barrel growbeds
i've seen some nice 2:1 systems, i think you need a sequencing valve, or CHIFT PIST

for every 100gallons of growbed you should be able to get 25lbs of fish (grown out size)

good luck, and looking forward to seeing your system progress..

oh, and nice nickname!

Very interesting name...

I guess the basics are to work out how many half barrels you can fit into your area, then people can give a better idea of how many fish you can have in your system. The amount of plants you have is your fish limiting factor.

Welcome Tallshort!
Barrels - They are cheap, sometimes free, and all over the place. But.
How many half-barrels makes 100 gallons? Plus building stands for each, and the plumbing? What's the footprint?

May I put in a "+1 recommend" for Rubbermaid Stock Tanks of at least 100 Gallon size. You do the plumbing ONCE for each 100 gallons of growbed consisting of one hole. No stand, as 7 leveled concrete blocks will suffice to support the growbed. It'll outlive you and me.
And the 100 gallon are on sale at a Tractor Supply near you. No, I'm not a stakeholder in either company. But I am delighted with the 300-gallon stock tanks I am using in my backyard.
<---- see, right there<------

You can fit a lot more growbed in your GH using these compared to the shallower barrels. They are awesomely deep, that's all usable nitrogen-cycle space (not to mention clearance for those probing roots) and that means MORE FISH.

The barrels can be used for great rainwater tanks or compost tumblers, but for growbeds I just have to put the stock tank concept out there for ya.

Have fun! See you around.

Rick