Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ruperto and Charlie, I think you guy's hit it on the head. Not much planted yet. Seven beds with gravel and five only filled with water exposed as the pond surface is. Leaks was my first thought but I have found none sofar. If I design and plant on rafts in the pond I can cut down on exposed pond surface and have more growing area too. Thanks for your help. John

I have to tell you. This has been one of the best threads. Thanks for all the photos.
Great story. Good job!

Thank you, John

At present I still run a bubbler at night with a 4 inch ball shaped air stone. Plus I now have the waterfall. How much airiation do I need? Can I discontinue the bubbler? Do the plants require the air stone as well as the fish? John

i'd leave the bubbler on all the time..
lots of oxygen is good for both plants and fish

I think air pump cosume less power.
Maybe stop pump at night, air pump all time.

ัYou can find optimum point by reduce aeration and notice the fish. If fish show symptom of lacking of O2 so you know the minimum aeration point.

First off, I think your waterfall is probably giving you enough aeration for now but with Tilapia your numbers and sizes will change enough that it would probably be best just to play it safe and continue the aeration. I also remember you mentioning that you wanted to put rafts in the fish tank which would be another reason to keep the aeration IMHO. Last of all your water temps will run higher than most of us and the water will hold less oxygen at the higher temps.

Whatever you decide to do, keep your eyes on the fish so you can see what's going on.

Thanks guy's for the information.

+AO, my pump that moves the waterfall water is the same one that runs water through the whole system. If I cut off my pump at night then my plants will get no moving water, maybe no water. J0hn

Well you didn't it but I sent three photos on one post and as my computer normally does it refuses to cooperate so I will just send one at a time.

First photo, new home for the mint in the overflow/waterfall area. I don't think the roots will clog the four 4inch discharge pipes there.

Nx 1 I only have one pump on line now. When repaired I will have two on line and get a better water flow.

fish and waterfall

Anyone know what the name of this herb/vegetable is?

What is it in English?

This chard - the largest I pulled and planted 1 Aug. The rest I pulled three days later - they looked dead and ready for the compost heap. I tped because I was to see how good they do in AQ.

pleco in GB