So it's been about a year since I have really been on here and I finally got around to constructing my system within the last couple of weeks. So far it seems to be progressing as I expected. The pH in the system is currently fairly high (9.0+) but the ten comet goldfish i put in to help cycle the system seem to have no worries so far. Phosphates are still low (-.25 ppm) and nitrites are still pretty much zero.
As I understand it, it seems that the plants will rely more on the nitrites/nitrates and phosphates for their growth so I may have been a bit premature to add two small grape tomato plants to the system. They cost me $4 so i figured, "what the hell!?". Ill include some pictures of what I got so far.
The system uses a 100 gallon fish tank and a 50 gallon grow bed using largely lava rock as media as well as large aquarium gravel in the planters. I plan on filling the two vertical columns seen in the picture with some ceramic media purchased from the fish store (used in canister filters) to minimize the obstruction of the water flow and still give the strawberry plants I plan to plant in the side of the tubes something to hold on to.
The pump I am using is a submersible fountain pump that pumps 1250 gpm which seems to be maybe just a tad on the strong side for the system but appears to be working out.
I plan on replacing the goldfish with Mozambique Tilapia once the system seems to be fully cycled and will add a tank heater with a thermostat to keep the water warm during the winter. Will probably add a green house on top of it as well to extend the growing season.
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