Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The larger your water system, the more buffering it has. Thus it will be less susceptible to the transient changes that any new system sees.

Also, if you are taking the water from that stream with the fish already in it, it will also already have the bacteria you need. You'd probably be cycled in a week or so and ready to start growing.

So the bigger the better

hmmm, great idea. Nearby to where the system will be is a large spring fed pound with guapote in it. We have a gas powered pump and lots of hose. I can easily fill from the pond. Thanks for the hint - I was going to fill from the spring since it would be purer - I guess purer ISN'T better in this case.

I see that I better hurry and build something or it might end up at the size of that 200K liter system...

One thing that makes sense is to perhaps get the 6,000 liter size (since I have enough gravel) and start with 2,000 liters of gravel (roughly) and then keep expanding it. Add more fish, add more grow beds until I max out.

Oh, perhaps a fair warning so that I don't irritate people - you wouldn't believe how much stuff we have for our reforestation operation. I understand I am on a site called "BackYard" but really, it is so easy for me to ramp up to commercial because of stuff I have. For example, I have at least 200 meters of blue 2" flexible hose rated for water - we used it in a farm to get water for planting - we don't need it for the next couple of years it seems... So, it gets absorbed.

On the same subject - I was thinking about what to do if we don't have electricity - besides the fact I have a generator. Well, we have a very large air compressor nearby that all I have to do is tubing out to the pond and find some porus rock, stick it in and use the compressors air while waiting for the electricity to come back on. That should work REALLY well. Already bought the mini-regulator yesterday.

Worse yet - we have a full-time electrician / plumber on staff and 4 construction people - and 5 wood workers. Guess how much of this I am going to build?

I am the engineer - I make work for others. There is probably nothing worse than working for a company where the President is an engineer...

OK yep CRT... you've irritated me.....

You lucky, lucky bastard

So with everything at your disposal and no doubt an abundance of project management skills as well....

We'd expect to see the project completed by the end of January.....

Of course we would expect progress reports (with photos) daily

PRESSURE!!!!! When do I have to have the Gantt charts done, and the Bill of Materials, preliminary drawings.... Argh!!!! Sounds like my old life.

We are in acquisition phase - get all materials in one place. This is often the longest phase here since we don't have your ready access to materials.

I think I am going to build the covering from bamboo - I have more than an acre of the stuff not being used.

I do see the avalanche forming though. I was mentioning the idea to the crew today and all are enthused. Once I have my preliminary ideas done - we will get it done probaby in two days or less. We have about 10 general farm workers, many of them who know basic construction as well - and the person in charge of our animals has his own tilapia ponds too and is going to bring down the little fishes when it is time.

The biggest thing is that the electrician / plumber is busy for the next week - then we can snag him for running power and doing the basic plumbing. First we need to make a concrete pad for the pump and storeage area for tools / chemicals...

Yep - the avalanche is started.

We have a rather large nursery (usually has between 40 to 100 thousand seedlings) which will be next to the aquaponics. The same people who work in the nursery will keep an eye on the aquaponics system and be starting all the plants for the grow beds. Any time we need to flush the system (hopefully rarely) it will be very nice to use it in the nursery for a boost for the seedlings.

You've probably thought of this, but don't forget that the other danger of power-down is ammonia build-up along with the suffocation. The bubbler will only take care of the second. I never thought of this until I started reading BYAP....always just lucky, I guess.

Man, you sound like a fun guy to work with. I bet the line "this is going to to be a really audacious project" is always is accompanied by a big grin.

The truth is this first system is a test system - after we know it is viable I will build a larger system near our waterways which will provide pump power from water. Then I won't worry about electricity.

Yes - Ammonia build up could be a problem, but we never lose electricity for very long and there is always the generator if I need it.

Our workers seem to like working for us. Everyone works hard, but we have a very good work environment. We have a lot of fun while doing something worthwhile. Life is good.

CRT, need a new crew member?????? Tropical environment, no snow, and of course a million miles away from my x wife!

Think about it!

Get in line sir, get in line...

Progress - the load of rock was delivered, all 12 cubic meters. Dirtier than what I wanted but we have a power washer, I will survive. I figure I will just spray the top layer and take off the clean layer and repeat. Looks like good stuff - and 12 cubic meters should keep me happy for a while. Cost delivered was 270.

Also, we think we have found a source for barrels already cut in two. There is a farmer who was using them for feeding stations in his farm that wants to sell them - 4 dollars per half shell.

Take them off his hands CRT

Power washer? That's not the AP way, you need to do hours of back breaking hand washing... It's part of the initiation

Just a quick note,
If you're still interested in getting the catfish and the Pacu,... just a short swim away (Puerto Rico) there is a guy raising them both commercially. His prices are good and the stock looks good. He raises the Basa cats instead of the Channel cat's, he says he get much better growth and they taste great and are realatively simple to breed. Likewise with the Pacu. I am working on getting the Pacu shipped over here. He is one of the few breeders out side of Brazil. PM me if you want his info. I will dig it up for you.

As for your system, I am excited for you.
Mathew

I didn't know this required being a masochist! Besides, when I say "I" you do know I don't mean "I" literally...

Matthew - to get either is a short drive of 45 minutes. aquaculture is pretty big in Costa Rica. I can probably get them free too, usually do. If I want something fancy I can go to TEC in Santa Clara (about the same) and go to their fish hatchery where they are experimenting with different types of fish.

In fact, a consulting forestry engineer we use has catfish in his project - I can go over anytime and get a bunch. Pacu is in the river. Tilapi are everywhere and I have 2,000 guapote.

Fish I got. Down here, fingerlings are considered just about worthless since the fish breed like rabbits (or would that be guppies?)

You're beginning to irritate me again CRT.....

Yeah, I figured that would push you over the edge again...

Quick question - the rock load is not really sorted that much - runs from sand to 1/2 inches. The vast majority is 1/4 inches. The question, should I just run with the variable size or do some screening? I was noticing in another thread that some sand may be beneficial.