Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

That sounds like a good way to look at it if the fish are your priority. But in my case, I think I've come to the conclusion that grow bed area is my priority. So it seems more important for me to first figure out how much grow bed area I can fit into the space I have allotted, and then figure out how many fish and how much fish tank (and sump) volume I need to support that.

Doesn't it?




It seems to me that the story is complicated by its having different meaning to different people, depending on whether the focus is on fish, plants, water, space, or some combination. We could each be telling the same story and seeing different meaning in it, which changes the definition of "happily ever after" for each of our stories.

The more I think about it, the more I think it is important to identify the goal of the individual in running AP before starting into all the other stuff.

If you just want lots of fish, you might be able to run fewer grow beds, make them a lot deeper, and just cram them with whatever plants are easy to grow and use lots of nutrients.

lf you want a certain type of plants, then you'd need to tailor the grow bed depth and type of flow to their preference.

If you want to grow a specific type of fish, then the system configuration might change according to their needs.

I don't think this has been the focus of many of the "how to set it up" discussions I've read through -- but it really seems like it should be. Because then you have a starting place, and can more effectively apply all the general "rules of thumb" floating around out there.



If we had white ants, I might consider that. Maybe I could recruit some termites from somewhere.

We used to rent an old log cabin an hour or so from here. It was full of carpenter ants. (That was when I learned carpenter ants are nocturnal; they liked to keep me company while I studied late at night. Ugh.) I bet a few of them could clean out my bit in no time.

While I'm waffling about my setup design, I thought it might be a good idea to start gathering supplies that I need to have on-hand once I start putting water in my system. Here's my "shopping list" so far, based on my forum explorations:

API Master Test Kit
Thermometer (with high/low temp recording)
Pool salt
Potassium bicarb ("EcoRose" to the Aussies)
SeaSol
Oyster shell grit

We have well water, so I don't need dechlorinator. I won't know the properties of my well water until I get the test kit.

What am I missing?

I've not spent the time to learn sketch up but
I've done some basic diagrams using paint.



IBC's make great system components.

Those barrels, water storage and rain water tanks are a great thing. I would probably save those to store as much rain water as I could.

Hum, play with spacing for your greenhouse space. Start a small system that you can add to bit by bit as you have the time, money and materials. that means make your sump big enough or plan to add on sump capacity as your system grows. You don't necessarily need a huge amount of fish or fish tank to grow quite a lot of veggies.

Yeah, I think I will. Maybe I'll stick them in the greenhouse for water storage and try out some of Bullwinkle's solar water heating ideas to let them help keep things a little warmer during cold weather.[/quote]


Thanks. I'll keep plugging away at it.

I've seen people do systems where you simply cut IBC's in half and put the top down on or even sunk a little way down in the ground and then the pallet half goes on top so each bed has it's own "sump" Be sure to leave a little access to reach into the sump for cleaning, pump maintenance, and such. Be sure to plumb the sumps together with plenty big pipe and the end one, plumb in a pipe with a flexible cap so you can add on as you get more materials and time. More sump capacity provides more water in your greenhouse for temperatures and system water quality stability.

Whoa. What happened to the signatures? Somebody's playing with the forum code!

I thought I'd find out what kind of fish are stocked in Battle Ground Lake, which is right down the road from us, so I went looking at fishing sites. I saw fishermen talking about catching trout (rainbow, cutthroat, and eastern brook), perch (didn't say what type), bluegill, and bass. So those are fish types that live "in the wild" within a half mile of my as-yet-nonexistent AP system.

The State of Washington fish & wildlife website lists rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, and channel cat as the best choices for pond fish here.

So I guess that's a start on a list of possible fish types to choose from. Someday. If I ever get to that point...

I can attest that bluegill and channel catfish are good aquaponic fish.
I know many people who do Trout but that won't work in my climate.

This probably wasn't clear. I was meant to be a comment on the concept of the "ideal ratio" rather than a description of it.

I was trying to say that the "ideal" ratio isn't necessarily ideal for everyone, but rather tends to describe the way to house the most fish.

Then we're saying the same thing.

Craigslist is helping me make my decisions...I now have 3 IBCs for fish tank and grow beds, and just scored 2 more 100gal (378L) Rubbermaid troughs, for a total of 3 of those for sump space. Hubs is on his way home with the 3rd IBC; I'm waiting to see exactly where the hole is that made it so cheap. (The guy was using it as a water tank for pressure washing, and left the washer too close to it; burned a hole in it with the exhaust.) I'm thinking even if I have to patch it to make a 2nd grow bed, it should still work fine.

So...looks like I'll start with 1000L of fish tank and whatever volume of grow beds you get from 4 IBC slices, with another 1000-ish liters of sump. And I'm guessing, if I can make it all fit, I could probably eventually add at least 2 more grow beds. Maybe more?

But first, the goat water catchment system awaits completion, if I don't get called in to work. (Insert finger-crossing smilie here.)

Let the greenhouse tetris beging

Near-perfect hole placement! 2 grow beds for $30! His loss, my gain.

Gotta love it!

Nice work!

I was going to suggest you put in a window and use it for a fish tank, but that's even better.

Isnt it amazing when you see the quality of an IBC, the tap, the lids, the cage, and think about how many of them are only used once by the industry that bought them originally. Mine originally had honey transported in them, and even had heaters between the base and the bottom of the plastic container.

It's an odd thing when a species starts making disposable containers with mains power cords attached, when what you really need is a mini beehive and a spoon.