Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,
Still in the planning phases of my system and have been doing a ton of reading and researching. I am brand new to "gardening" but I am hoping my experiencing in keeping aquariums will lend some logic and make sure my common sense stays...common.

My son and I are going to be working together in creating a smallish setup:
Fish tank: 100 gallons
Sump: 100 gallons
Grow beds: 26 gallons (empty)

The image I am attaching is not the actual shapes necessarily of the containers but I wanted to get advice on the system itself and the flow of water through the system.

FT to GB to Sump:
I have seen a lot around this topic and how the grow beds are meant to handle the fish poo and break it down in the gravel/hydroton and create a nice relationship between the fish poo, good bacteria and the plants.

FT to Sump to GBs:
I have also read that some people like using the pump to macerate the fish poo to help break it down a little as it enters the GBs. It may also aid in keeping the GBs a little cleaner (??) as I will probably make mistakes during the setup and operation.

In any case, I would love to get some feedback on the system designs in the image. I have tried to take everything I have read into consideration but please feel free to also post links to other informative areas of the forum/web.

Thanks so much!

I would choose the 2nd plan. You will be able to use the sump for redclaw, fingerlings, etc.

Lyndon - I noticed Aaron has reversed the order between the text listing versus the images so you probably need to specify which you're referring to.

Go fishtank, to grow beds to sump. Your sump will stay a lot cleaner, and the solids will land in the grow beds, right where they belong.

Thanks for the responses so far.

As noted, I am still in the planning phases and not even sure where I should place the system. I am in upstate NY so outside is not a likely option.

Could I use the sump for redclaw and fingerlings in either configuration?

Oh and yeah, sorry about mixing up the order

My location choices are:

7'x7' sunroom (very cold in the winter)
basement
10'x15' spare bedroom with limited height (slanted ceiling)

Anyway, thanks for all the advice and support! This forum has provided awesome information and many many hours already invested for my reading pleasure

Aaron

FT to GB to ST always for me, my new system is that setup and my parent's also and it works a treat!!

I'll be having fingerlings and yabbies in my sump too as i grow out larger fish in the main fish tank

FT to GB to Sump, Doh!

FT to GB to Sump - nuff said

So you think I should go from FT to GB to Sump? lol
I'll concentrate on that design! Thanks for the overwhelming advice!

Yabbies, redclaws... sound delicious!! Will have to check if I can get those in the US!

go some crawfish... mmm yummy!!

ohhh - did we mention FT to GB to Sump?

Really it would be sump to FT to GB...

Important detail - thank you

Okay.. so an important piece in my system: Hydroton. It was listed on Craig's list - 160 pounds but 50 pounds of it has never been used! NICE! Not sure how many liters that is.. but by the looks of it I estimate about 80 gallons(300 liters) of the stuff...
300 liters should fill 3 of my grow beds (each 100 liters).

I would like to add a fourth grow bed, however. Can I put pea gravel as a base layer under the hydroton? Do I need to separate it out with a course screen or anything so they don't mix or does it matter?

This weekend going with my son to get another grow bed (tractor supply) and begin to position the system so we can then estimate the pipes and other connections we need.

You know the yabbie will eat your fingerlings right?

I'd also go FT-->GB-->ST