Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,
I have been lurking on this site for about 6 months now.
I was inspired as soon as i first heard about aqauaponics, and some of the members sytems on this site convinced me I needed one.
The idea of being able to grow edible fish and veggies was too good to pass up.

After convincing the wife that we needed an AP system, I started looking around at some of the commercial systems available.
I was admittedly quite shocked by some of the prices for the turn key systems.
Unfortunately, a system made of readily available blue barrels and IBCs was also not going to cut it with the wife.
So to cut a long story short, I decided to build my own.

System will be a CHIFT PIST.
GB, stand and sump is a one piece unit (already constructed from TP and marine ply).
Frame will then be lined with pond liner.
Sump is at the bottom and gb directly above with some space for access.
Total dimensions are 2400(L)x1200(W)x950(H).
GB and sump are approx 300 mm deep = 860 L each.
Fish tank will probably be a round 1600 L rain water tank from B.

Here are the pictures

One of the long sides (remember its modular):


All together:


Now with ply wood base:


A few other views:



Total cost so far approx $500.
Just need some pond liner now.
Thoughts/suggestions welcome.

Thanks
Tim

Nice grow bed construction . I would be interested to know what your final cost for the GB is with liner. With all the timber hardware and liner it must be getting up there, maybe not the same cost as a comercially available GB but on it's way I would have thought. Then again your GB does incorporate a stand so you save on that too.

Nice looking Grow beds/sump there.

Now that looks like solid construction!

Wow too nice!

Thanks for the comments guys.
I did make it pretty solid, and the overall aesthetics was also one of my goals.
Cost with pond liner is approx $700.
This is for:
860 L GB
860 L Sump
and Stand

Most expensive parts were the pond liner (approx $200) and the marine ply (approx $250)

I probably could have made it for less, but I'd rather over engineer it.
Besides I had fun building it, I saved some money, and it looks good.

Not quite sure how i'm going to secure the pond liner to the timber frame.
Was going to use staples, but cant find any galvanised ones.
Any ideas?

Keep the comments coming, constructive or otherwise.

Puffer,
I'm into the aesthetics of systems too, so I'd finish your liner something like this;

The twisted shank SS decking nails with the dome heads look neat and if you predrill the trim angle, you won't get the "dimple" effect around the head if you don't hammer them in too hard! The twisted shank will keep them firm in your framing timbers.
The modellers angle can be obtained from the B store, or if worried about the Galvanising (Zinc) getting into your FT water, use aluminium angle. Don't forget to mitre the corners!.

Cheers IanK

Nicely done Puffer... welcome to the addiction of AP...

Tim,
Just a couple of pics of my nearly functioning Grow Beds. Just need to add the Media when I finish pond lining to the bottom bed. I wanted to match the look and feel of the materials I used on the House Extensions; Mini-Orb walling, Hard Wood posts & decking and Galvanised steel/zincalume trims etc. I think they will look nice when full of plants.

Pics taken last night when pis . . . persistantly raining!
Top Grow Bed almost filled with rainwater, I had the mini-hothouse lid open!!

This view also shows the use of the SS dome head decking nails to the HW trim around the top bed. Although they tend to blend in with the shape of the water droplets. I used SS pop rivets to fix the modellers angle over the pond liner, as I have Duragal angle framing to the tops of the Mini-Orb Beds. The angle also gave me a nice straight edge to trim the liner back to. Anyway, hope you like the look. I admire and appreciate what you are doing in timber etc, and I reckon it looks great!!

Cheers IanK

AP systems certainly seem to be either getting a make over lately.. or being built from a "designer" perspective...

Nice work also Ian...