Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

While talking to a friend about sustainable living he mentioned aquaponics. I was immediately overcome with the need to learn as much as possible about this subject. After gathering as much info as I could find on the internet I decided to dive in and build a system.

I love to cook and was considering a small herb garden….really small, three or four plants. I found virtually zero information on maintaining a micro-aquaponics system on the internet. So with the help of this site, I downscaled everything I read on your website, which was VERY helpful.

I am also an aquarium enthusiast so I had numerous spare parts lying around. I started with a 35 gallon aquarium and built a styrofoam raft. I lined the raft with a trash bag and poked drainage holes into it. Next I wrapped the bottom of the “raft” with screen material to keep the goldfish from eating the roots. I drained half the aquarium and placed the raft inside. The raft is free to float around although it does not because of the placement of the water input. So water flows in and the raft sinks then the floatation of the styrofoam raises the raft assisting with drainage. I used all plastic pieces and plastic tie wraps in assembly (No glue or metal.) I have an aerator in the aquarium, under the raft. The aerator posed a small problem. Air would get trapped under the raft and cause the raft to tilt to one side or the other. I fixed this problem by placing strips of styrofoam under the raft so I could manipulate where I wanted more or less floatation. I also have a heater and a powerhead. The powerhead does not have a filter inside it. It is just wrapped with nylon hose to keep out larger wastes. This is where I stand now. I should also say that my girlfriend was a major contributor to many of my design problems.

I am currently cycling the tank. The timer I am using has only 14 cycles, 7 on, 7 off. Therefore I only have 7 times a day to turn on the powerhead. It seems sufficient enough to keep the perlite moist all day.

The problems I have had so far is that the perlite seems to float. I am not sure this is a problem since the surface of the perlite is always moist. My other problem….and I admit it is my fault…..is that I had just dumped A LOT of goldfish into the aquarium and I used tap water. So of course my tanks ph is around 8.4. I have 20 gallons of water and now only two, 2 in fish. So now I am just waiting and hoping.

umm, did she contribute to the problems or to solving the problems?

Welcome Simon, have fun with it

Welcome aboard, DS, many of us started with tiny systems to re-assure ourselves that the concept worked.

Don't be too surprised if you find aquaponics takes over a major part of your life, as well as most of your available space.

We're all here to share information as well as our blunders, so keep those pics coming. You've started well ! Good thing goldies are bombproof !!

Welcome DS!
"and plastic tie wraps in assembly"
Better than duct tape, IMHO!

Maybe some screen over the perlite would keep it in the raft. You could cut holes in it where the plants go.

Welcome Beware of trash bags! I have seen some treated with perfume, anti-bacterial, etc. These could mess you up!

I'll watch your system. I've been thinking of adding a GB to my 34-gal aquarium....

Thanks for the tips, they are ALWAYS appreciated. For the record, my girlfriend SOLVED some of my design problems. oops. Adding the screen over the substrate was an excellent idea. Now I will hurry up and wait. Thanks everyone. BTW....I need a bigger tank!

You _ALWAYS_ need a bigger tank, and more fish, and more GB, and more.....

Hello everyone,
I decided to do some major design changes. The floating raft concept was too complicated in that the raft did not like to stay perfectly level so there would be dry spots in the substrate. I changed over to a plastic container that sits on the aquarium. The benefits are that it offers easier access to the water in case I need to change it (which will probably be soon), I have more options as far as space is concerned (I can use larger container or multiple containers), and I have better access to the equipment in the aquarium. The negative side of this setup is that if my timer fails then I have a risk of flooding my apt. I have a few ideas to remedy this though (raise the pump closer to the surface of the water so that in case of timer failure the pump will only have about 10 gallons to pump into the container. Since the container can hold 10 gallons that should work). I may also setup a float/switch system. We'll see.

I will post more pics soon.

Adios

buy a mop

Welcome DS.
There is a publication 'Aquaponics Journal' that has outlined several aquarium sized systems in past issues. Checkout www.aquaponicsjournal.com. You are doing a nice job of improving as you build and learn. Good work. One way I protect for overflows is to provide outlets at various levels in the side of the container. As water level rises, more and more outlets start flowing. This is used in my filter tank where the outflow exceeds inflow before the rim is reached. Normally, only the lowest outlet is flowing. This method is simple with no moving parts to fail.

Again, welcome and keep us informed.