Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

After months of scavenging money and making runs to home depot, I am finally approaching completion of a fully functional system! My small system will have a 50 gallon FT pumping in to three 10 gallon GB. I'll use 5 koi fish (my second choice to tilapia, but there is red tape to deal with before I can grow my own) and pump the FT water 7 times daily (maximum number my timer allows) on a digital recycling timer. I have yet to run the pump through the GBs, therefore I do not know for how many minutes the pump should run to reach the siphon point. I've installed an auto siphon in each one. The design is simple, but my only fear is the potential deterioration of the 'aqua' glue I've used at the base of the GB, the start of the siphon. The GBs will be filled to volume with Hydroton, and they will contain seeds of: cilantro, tomato, lettuce, jalepeno, and basil. I will most likely plant the seeds in soil until they have roots, then transplant them in to the GBs.

Some factors that I have to plan to deal with, and protect my system from, are hurricane weather and feral cats. I'm in the process of designing/building a 'weather guard' (I will post pics upon completion.) The guard will be 2x4's propping a clear grooved plastic sheet (for roofing) at a run-off angle. My only concern is if the 'clear' plastic will allow enough sun light through to give my plants sufficient food. To fend off cats from feasting on my koi, I will implement a metal grate on top of FT (think of a charcoal BBQ, the grate will be the part you put your meat on, and the fish will reside where you find the charcoal.)

Any questions/critiques y'all may have, please send them my way, thank you.

here are some amateur pics of what I have so far:

looking good...

one suggestion....

you may want to put some 2 x 4's between and around the totes.. as they will most likely bow out with the pressure of the media.....

JT