Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone, I've been lurking around this website for some time now, and I have to say there is a ton of useful information on here. Thanks to everyone!

I started building my system this spring, around April, in hopes that I would be ready in time to plant at the end of May. So as with all laid out plans things go array.

I am building a greenhouse that is 4.7m x 2.4m to house my aquaponics system, I have the framework completed on the greenhouse, didn't want to put the polycarbonate on until I finish most of the work inside the greenhouse, as it would be extremely hot in there.

I'm building a CHIFT PIST system, I don't have a diagram I just have it all pictured in my head. I know that doesn't help when I'm trying to describe it, but I do have pictures that I will post of my progress.



Part of the greenhouse is sitting on an old footing, unfortunately for me I ran into some concrete that seeped out of the bottom of the form. I had had to go rent a small jack hammer in order to break it all up.





So as you can see, I have my sump buried. So I'm going to build 2 GBs on either side down the length of the greenhouse.

Welcome, I love the greenhouse, is it a kit type set up or made from scratch?

Always great to see a new member jumping right into it and sorting out all the commonly asked questions on their own.

Thanks Charlie, the greenhouse is made from plans that I bought of the internet. I didn't follow them exactly though

Yes I have red a lot of the commonly asked questions on this forum. I'm sure I will have some of my own as well.

Ok, I have more pictures to post.



Here's a picture of the whole greenhouse.



My gravel arrived last Thursday, and I have just put it all in the greenhouse.



Just finished building the platform for the FT to sit on.

Here's my progress for today. I have gotten the sump and FT enclosed and added lids to them.



A view of both tanks.



This is the sump, full of rain water!



This is the FT, currently it's empty. I need to wait until it rains more so that I can fill it . I insulated the FT to try and help keep the water cool in the summer and hopefully to stop it from freezing in the winter, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I am planing on getting trout.

LOVE IT!!!

Bookmarked.

Wow nice woodwork.

I may just do a simple hoop house for my system this year, but it would be nice to go bigger and nicer looking.

That build is exceptionally neat.

Very well done!

I can't wait to see it finished!

Awesome! look forward to seeing it all up and running

Thanks everyone!

Here is another picture.



My wife and kids have started to stain the greenhouse.

I do have a question. Should I put vents in the lid of the FT or can I leave it solid?

Thanks

Thanks Rob, you do what you can do. I probably wouldn't have done a greenhouse like this if I had not gotten all this cedar for free! That makes a huge difference! In fact the only things that I have had to pay for are the screws, stones and stain. There are a few other little things as well.

That is impressive woodworking skills. Keep the pictures coming

Thanks Gabe,

I will keep them coming! Here are some pictures of my hydroponics system in my basement.





My NFT system that has jalapeño, green, red peppers as well as a cantaloupe.



This is my lettuce raft. I have got ton tons of lettuce from this. I'm just starting new varieties of lettuce, so it kind of looks sparse. The whole things been running since the end of March.

Now that I have discovered aquaponics I want to put one in the basement, in it's place, to get me through the winter months.

Here are some close ups of my peppers.

Wow, that looks great, very nice build. Is that greenhouse just sitting on blocks and not anchored? Very interested in how you finish this out.

Cheers