Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,
Well, I've been busy reading Joel's book and looking at hundred's of posts.
Now it's time to get into it!

I've got a few bit's together for my first small system. (see photo #2)
2 x 450L green tanks for fish tanks.
4 x 280L circular grow beds (1200mm x 250mm)

No pumps or sumps as yet.

Question for all you guru's out there...

The Galv grow beds are only 250mm deep - Not the recommended 300mm.
They cost me nothing, but will take some work to fix up.
(Patch rusted holes with fibre glass and paint with bitumen paint).
Is the depth likely to be a problem??

Not sure what grow bed medium I will use, still looking for suitable gravel supplies in Adelaide.

Cheers
Scott

Hey Scott, welcome, don't worry about the missing 5 cm's it won't be the end of the world, and hey, for free, who cares! bYou are laiughing! even got yourself a stand there for the growbed.

Welcome Scott i see you are a good scrounger as far as the 250 depth for the grow beds you make do with what you have Jim runs a 100 deep bed with no problem On the grow medium scoria is good and reasonably cheap clay balls are excellent but a bit pricey

Hi Scott

ur gb height is not a problem.

Most of us use gravel, 5-20mm. 5mm packs tighter, uses less water in ur flood cycle.You will use about 400 lts if u flood all beds at once. Smaller gravel has more surface area than larger gravel so more bits for baccy to grow on. I use 20mm volcanic rock, doesn't pack quite as tight, uses a bit more water to fill the bed but still lots of surface area for baccy. People use hydroton and perlite, i would consider perlite for root crops, see Jim's thread. Hydroton is relatively dearer but works well too.
Smaller gravel is a little easier to work with when transplanting. Make sure it has not been washed in chemicals, (see Worms thread,) or fish die.
Easiest standpipe for plumbing is in Joel's book. Loop siphons are simple too, see Simmo's thread. You could connect ur fishtanks near the base, pump up to gbs with one pipe, tee off into each bed, with a simple loop siphon or Joel's standpipe draining back to ur bed. You will max out at 3-4 dozen fish. Buy some early, give em 3 months, then buy some more for ur 2nd tank, so u have them coming on at different times. If u join ur fishtanks make sure u put some filter over the joins to stop fish getting stuck in the connecting pipe.
Welcome and good luck, water quality is everything and start with something simple like silvers and do NOT over feed. It's a gr8 hobby.

hey scott,

welcome to the forums.

love the look of your growbeds. what were they used for originally? they look ideal.

you have the makings of a very nice system there. i look forward to your progress.

good luck.

Likewise.. Hi Scott.... and yeah those look like great little growbeds... 250mm is good enough to do the job without any real problems.

I'm also curious as to what they were used for before.

yo schott you got a system theie in the makeing what type of fish will you use?

Scott. Looks like you have a great system there! It is going to come out well. I cant wait

-df

Welcome Scot.t.t.t.t.t.t.t.t.t.t,

good advice given above, looking forward to all those progress reports spattered generously with pics as the system takes shape

...have you started planning your 2nd system yet

Thanks all, for the encouragement, tips and advice - especially TT.

The grow beds were evaporation pans in a past life. (used to measure the evaporation rate of water)

They look good in the photo's above, but I've got some work to do before they will once again hold water

I'll probably cycle the system with my pond goldfish, then move on to SP's.

From one Scott to another, you are most welcome.

Hi Scott.

System should look pretty cool once up an running.

As for gravel supplies in Adelaide, just about any landscaping place will have lots of different types to choose from. Depending upon how much gravel you need many places should be able to deliver. Garden grove springs to mind, depends on your location (yellow pages). I picked up my scoria from a small local landscape suplliers, just happened to be driving past.

-Fuds.

Fuds
I've been looking around the local suppliers (western suburbs).
Best I've come up with is 12-14mm scoria (too big?) and 10mm screening (very dirty!).
I'll keep looking

12 to 14 mm scoria is excellent look no further

I use the 12-14 scoria, not too big, not too small, not too dirty. Only (minor) problem is that it's really hard on your skin if you have to dig your fingers into it but you would hopefully not have to do that too often if at all. Scoria is alot lighter than normal gravel so if you are buying by weight you get alot more per tonne so it costs not too much more than gravel.