Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Since I am teaching a seminar on aquaponics next week I decided to build a tiny setup that I could use to demonstrate the mechanics of aquaponics. I used a 10L and a 25L bucket as well as the smallest(stable) waterpump 5w, 400L/H and 0.8m Head and airpump 3L/minute, I could find and after a quick trip to the plant and fish market we had all the elements needed. A few holes and some bits and pieces was all to get the setup completed. As you can see on the photos we use some rosemary and pepper plants and the grow media is gravel. I used a clear plastic bottle and some leftover air-hose to build the bell for the siphon. The flood takes about 2.5 minutes and the drain only 10 seconds so I hope the plants will be able to cope with that.After the course my sons are going to be in charge of this "bucketponics" so the can get some more understanding of aquaponics.
I don't know if anyone ever built a smaller setup but if they did I would love to see it?

25L, that's HUGE....



Ok, it's not mine but I have seen fish vases before..

Technically I am not sure that is aquaponics? I do like the idea though.

When you do, keep in mind that bettas are carnivorous. In the beginning at least, a lot of setups were sold claiming that you didn't need to feed the fish, and they would slowly starve. Not sure if instructions have changed. Also, they survive low oxygen waters by touching the labyrinth organ to the surface of the water and getting oxygen from the air - there's no room for this guy to do that in this vase.

I'm not saying that they can't be done or that they're a bad idea, but the ones that are set up poorly are not very nice for the fish. I think bettas would be great for mini-aquaponics, actually. They're quite hardy and they're personable and attractive enough to sit on a desktop.

That's nothing! My smallest system has 1 piece of hydroton, .5 ounces of water, a microscopic crustacean and 1 duckweed!

Like they say, post pics or it didn't happen.

The system was so small, the picture came out to only be one pixel. *This is me trying to be funny by the way*

Going for the Smallest System Ever award?

Indonesia is relatively poor and I am hoping to get a system that could be copied easily and cheaply so aquaponics might be a way to increase the food security here. about 30 million people here are malnourished and without food security. By the way I work as a doctor and see the effects of poor nutrition and poverty on a daily basis.

Hassan.

You don't need the siphon, either use a timer or run it constant flood and you could fit more plants in. I forget what those glass spheres were called that had a shrimp and some algae in it as a sealed biosphere, they had one in Picard's ready room on STTNG.

Heh, it is called a biosphere: http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/how-to/d ... ere-089370

Hm, so the main expenses are the running the pump and fish food. Is that cheap enough or do you need to cut costs further? Will such a small system be stable in the long run, or too accident-prone? I wonder.

Sorry I don't have much in the way of suggestions. Malnutrition is a tough thing to combat and I wish you luck.

Regarding small demonstration systems, I once had a little system I made for a demonstration of AP at a local Ecovillage. It was made from two 20 gallon aquaria, one with just water and a single goldfish and the other with gravel, a tomato and some pepper plants, a screen and pipes to make a plenum under the gravel, and a teeny pump. The tomato plant actually grew several feet, but with small water volumes the fish experience wide temperature variations. On sunny hot days the fish water felt like a warm bath. That is the main downside from small volumes, especially in a sunny tropical area. But it served the purpose which was to demonstrate the concepts in a tight package.

Sorry, but I think these things ARE a bad idea...in fact, I think they are a disgrace.

Zero oxygen supply, very limited opportunity for gaseous transfer (yes, the roots take up nitrates, but minimal) and little to no food. It disgusts me the trauma people will put their fish thru for aesthetic pleasure. Might as well have tattooed bloody Goldfish in there.

/soap box.

Loving the concept behind the mini system though and will follow this closely

Yes we should not forget that the ethics are important. I think it is ok to try a make things look nice but functionality and productivity are the priority at least in my opinion.

If the temperature can be controlled in a small system, what's the next big logistical problem? Assuming that you get enough plants going to use up the nitrates.

And I don't mean that I support jamming any fish in unlivable habitats. I just meant that if you want to do a 5 gallon aquaponic setup on a desk, you could do it with a betta. Keep room temperature from fluctuating, keep an eye on water parameters, and set up a baffle so there isn't too much surface agitation, feed appropriately, be ready to do a water change in an emergency. They're good pets - why not set something up to filter their water naturally and get some herbs out of the deal?