Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone , please pardon my English
After creating numerous systems I have found a perfect one.
it only cost 200 dollar
330 gallon tote for 80 dollar
150 gph pump for 16 dollar at lowe
16 plastic shoes box at homedepot for 16 dollar. (Note: HOME DEPOT have better shoes box than anyone else)
5 2x4x8 wood at 3.65 each so around 20 dollar
Peeble rock or gravel 6 bag at 3.75 each
Nail and tube for the pump and misc stuff making it about 200

Not sure why I cant uplaid pictures

I hope they are really big shoe boxes and bags of pebbles? And even if they are, theres no way you should raise 100 fish in a single tote.

How could you think that this is possible?

*sigh*

And how do you get 100 tilapia for the 30 bucks you got left after small parts?

I'd guess he's been reading on those sites that tell you how easy it is to raise 10 fish in 100L water. And I thought I was overstocked!!!

And OP, you can't upload pics until you have a certain minimum of posts.

Please do some reading on this site where lots of people have lots of experience before you go stocking that system.

I have a bigger 2000 gallon pounds aquaponic system a 45 containers system., this are just to raised them to be medium size. THE FISH AND PLANT ARE NOT FACTOR In. Crap sorry cap.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1618&p=421257&e=421257

Link to my aquaponic system. the plastic shoe box holder are 8x16x5 6qt
Here are the link
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sterilite-6- ... m3GrGjD9Ds

They are recycle 5 which is pp. USED for food container so its safe.

from other member mention that treated wood contain chemical that is not good for the fish.
the system does leak if you dont angle the flow of water properly.

from the link, the first 3 row the plastic box is angle -25 degree downward.
the last row is angle at +25 degree angle for the water to flow back to the tank.

between the would can the plastic box is the lid of the box itself, so it can collect the water.
i would recommend people try out the system, most efficient system for the money.

i'm just trying to contribute to the aquaponic world, nothing else.

I would fear that after about 6-8 months of FL sun the PP plastic of those containers is going to get very brittle and start breaking/cracking at the slightest bump.

If you are only growing the tilapia out to maybe 1/3rd of a pound (6 oz each) then maybe each shoe box is enough to support one tilapia if you are expert at keeping fish alive as they start maxing out the filtration. So by my estimation that would be about 16 fish per rig or 32 fish per double rig.

Not the most efficient minimum AP system. You can build a system just using IBC's as the containers and really minimize plumbing fittings and leaking. And if you get the river rock in bulk you save a lot of money over buying it in 1/2 cubic foot bags and you have very little in the way of treated wood framing to worry about leaking into your water and far less in the way of exposed plastic to become brittle.

I must still say that a 200 dollar system is not going to support growing out 100 tilapia to plate size very effectively. You really need more water, filtration, aeration etc. I'm definitely not a supporter of all the hype that people get in their heads that you can grow out fish in such a minimal amount of water with so minimal amount of filtration. (Just because the system can support 100 small fingerlings for a couple months doesn't mean you should tell everyone that you had so many fish in it because too many people get the idea they can grow out that many fish and then they wind up with lots of dead fish and decide aquaponics is bunk.)

Hi tclynx.
Thanks for the input, I did try the ibc one, but does not have much space to plant.
this system have more filtration than the ibc.
And you are correct on the fish ratio, in 1month I have to take out half, and in 5 month prob have to take out 25 more.
the container is original ibc, I just modified a little. I used less river rock than the ibc..

If you do the system right there is absolutely no leak. And it's not a hype, my hype was my previous 5 system that I created and failed.

hmm, I just don't get the question for other people's opinions if you don't want to hear it.

Thanks for sharing sebring and kudos for thinking outside the square, or the IBC ... but I have to say I agree with TC and the others.

I think a system with two IBC's cut so you have 2 x 600L FT's and 2 x 300L GB's would be a much better option. It would take up less space both horizontally and vertically, as well as being less complex. It would give you a greater effective gravel capacity and if I'm seeing your design/water flow correctly, a MUCH greater bio-filtration capacity than your system. Plus, it would run off a much smaller pump because of greatly reduced head.

The problems I can see with the plastic containers are:

- Major algae build up, which will effect nutrient levels as well as water pH and Oxygen levels.
- Getting brittle after a short period in the sun and cracking/leaking.
- Smaller individual gravel capacities giving rise to increased water temp fluctuations.
- Far more components in the chain of water flow means greater chance of something failing IMO.

I can kinda see the point where having individual containers spaced out a little more gives more space for the individual plants per the amount of total gravel, but since there is so little gravel in each separate container, I doubt you really have any more filtration and very large plants are going to be root bound in such small containers so it seems a bit limiting.

I'm also kinda short and personally don't like growing most plants in such a footprint because I've found it difficult to reach, tend, spray, harvest anything but the front and sides of such a layout (might be ok for backyard growing if you are tall enough to reach and careful to only grow relatively small plants.) I've quit recommending the 4' by 8' beds and I don't really personally like the IBC grow beds for anything but say Bananas and other really big plants. (we cut whole IBCs in half and fill them as grow beds while using a larger tank for the fish but as noted, I don't use them for most veggies anymore since a narrower bed is far easier to tend and harvest when growing for market. I only use the 4' wide beds for seedling trays and raft beds now.) Making note that I am selling my produce at market so I need to make it easy to tend so now I build long narrow beds that I can walk between to plant, spray, and harvest. Here in FL I've learned that spraying to keep the caterpillars at bay in warm weather is a weekly thing and come cool weather I also need to watch for aphids.

mr. Damage and tclynx,
So much is appreciated with you guys vast knowledge of Aquaponic
at first I was thinking of getti g the gutter for the bed. But seem to expensive

I notice algae does build up on the hold draining out.
it is kind of tall and not narrow for easy harvest.

the filtration is good though since the water is clear.
The plastic box, it depend on what type. I found out the sterilite is pretty sturdy. But plastic in uv does not match
So we can only see what will happen.

Wish I can post some picture up.
The plants Is growing big, covering up the base, plastic.

dr. Damage you are like a true genius thinking of all the problems to the system.
All of them are correct.
But I did a little adjust this and that to make it safe.

What you guy think of moving the system on a trailer to advertise the product?
My ideas is the system is compact enough to be mobile and advertise with live fish and veggies
I also live in central Florida .
Tclynx if you don't mind can I visit your system to get the ideas? Prob asking to much

sorry i'm a freaken idiots, didnt know how to post picture until now.
here is my set up , with growth.

and the bigger set up. which i'm recirculating for bacteria growth before putting plants in.

the bigger set up.
the pond is my second initial setup,
but as you go along , modification is needed.

i have a little space up front from the setup,
so i added some fruit tree aquaponic. i read from forum that people do peach tree, so i'm gonna try citrus, gauva, and barbardos cherry.
any suggestion?