Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone,

Last years efforts where not so fruitful, but want to give it another go at it.

Here is a thread with a couple pics
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=9850

Looks like there are many more fish in the pond this year so I hope that will add to the poo production.

System Overview:

Pumping from the wifes fish pond that has several hundred Mosquito fish that are up to 2" long. Along with the fish there are several frogs, some of them make a pretty good splash when they hit the water.

Pump is on a timer where it pumps for 20 min every hour 24/7, the gb's fill up in about 5-10 min and the rest of the time they overflow back to the pond. Guess you would call it a flood and drain.

Last years veggie production was 3-4 cukes and a couple beans, but overall I would call it a learning experience not a success.

I am looking to make year 2 a better year, have some cukes and some beans I would like to plant and see what I could do.

Don't have any test kits so I cannot say where any of the levels are, but the fish are happy and the lilies that are in the pond are happy too.


Looking for suggestions before I plant again.

Thanks
John

Gday John , one suggestion (dont know how this will sit with your wife ) but if you lose the water lilies you will get better veg growth as the water platns will be getting first dibs at your nutes .

Al

Al,

Thought that would be a problem, but not a option, I would be the fish food if that happened.

Have an option to move it into a greenhouse, but with summer coming up it would get over 120f in there even with the doors and vents open.

John

Hi John,

Happen to come accross your entry.
I started with a pond with water lilies, and i kept them even though there was a suggestion to get read of water plants.
My pond is a more structued one in a small court yard, but the issues i faced may be of relevance to you.

Sejin

Ps where is Penryn? UK?

What were you feeding the fish? Keep in mind that AP basically boils down to "Fish feed in = plants out". If there's little feed in, you'll be getting no veg out..

Sejin Penryn is in California USA, there is a Penhryn in Wales, That is where we our founder came from


EB, Not feeding fish at all, the more I learn the less I think this is a good idea. Was looking for the easy way, but easy way may equal no veggies......

Going to rethink this.


Thanks for the replies

John