Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well, I guess it's time to start documenting my build as it is under way.

I started with a single IBC build, but I bought two IBCs so I could get them delivered. Didn't want to take the shell of my truck.

I'm going with a F&D setup with bullhead catfish to start, then I may add some tilapia and would love to find a way to grow signal crawfish (native to this area). The initial goal was to keep the bullheads alive in between fishing trips and I use them as cut bait for channel catfish in the river. Of course it never stay sthe same.

Cut up the first one making a 14" deep GB so I could have 12" of media. Speaking of media, lava rock it is. 1/2" rock from a local place, 45 for the rock and 50 for delivery. Anyway, was getting ready to put the FT in the backyard and noticed that the bottom of my IBCs are not flat. They are sloped to the drain and this is going on concrete. Thought about going to get some wood to make a platform and then decided to just cut up the other IBC. So, not I have a bigger FT with the metal pallet bottom and the main growbed will have a metal pallet bottom. I also have another 8" deep piece I can use as another growbed once I get started. And, the original FT can maybe be converted to a sump so I can have another tank to grow crawdads.

Didn't get as far as I wanted to today. I am putting some 2x3 strips on the IBC so I can encase it with wood or roofing metal or siding or something. Figured it was now or never for that.

I'm using two pumps so I have some redundancy. If one pump goes out, the other will at least maintain some aeration. Bullheads can handle some pretty crappy water so they should be resilient.

Good start remember the photos please

Made progress today, but definitely did not get as far as I was hoping (done).

Here is where it is right now.



The issue I am contemplating is the height.

As you can see, it is about 5' tell.



I have to decide if I am going to put my wife and son on a ladder to help garden it or if I need to cut one rung off the cage to drop the height. The grow bed is 14" deep so I can have 12" of media.

Thoughts on if I should cut down the fish tank. If I do, in essence I am wasting that space and can never get it back.

Do I cut it down or leave it tall?

What other options do I have if my grow bed is lower than my fish tank?

I have used full sized IBC's as well. I was going to make an elaborate step system but found an adjustable aluminum platform in the local hardware store for $50. It fits between my 2 tanks and is very stable.

I'll have to see what I can find. I just hate cutting it down until I am sure. Plus, being higher will keep it warmer in the cool temps and give the plants more light in the morning and evening.

You could remove the bottom metal pallet under the ft and just leave the cage sitting it on the ground to drop it some.

Tank is not flat bottom which is why I went back to the bottom metal. I think for this year I am going to run it how it is. Then, for next year I can change it if I choose. If it goes really well I might just have two tanks and two grow beds. I just hate cutting something because you can't put it back. I may have to stand on a chair but at least it will get more sun as it will be near the top of the fence.

Well, it's up and running. I don't have all of my media in, but I do have water circulating using a 264 GPH pump. The autosiphon is working which surprises me. I did have to take one of the 90 deg fittings off under the GB to get it to turn off reliably. Once I get all the rock in I will know my cycle time.

I also got some seed water from a local koi place that does aquaponics as well. I know it won't take the place of time, but I figured it could help speed things up a little. And if not, no worries.

Working on cleaning the red lava rock and grading it. I'm putting some of the larger pieces right around the filter. By larger, I mean 1/2" or so. Then I will go back through and remove the smallest pieces, under 1/4". I'm afraid if I don't, the media will end up too dense and not flow water well enough.

I'm not taking a lot of pictures on this one as it is something that needs to get going ASAP and I have a lot of irons in the fire. For that, I apologize.

This is a NDS 3-4" atrium grate.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_508021-676-L78U ... facetInfo=

For those that do IBC systems, if you get this one, gut the raised portion of and grind the raised pieces left over, it will fit right around the inside of the IBC cap. Then, when you slide your 4" media guard over it, it will hold it in place. Another cool thing is that a 2" coupler will slide on the inside of the hole, meaning you have something to hold your bell up as well.

Siphon seems to be working better. Cut the horizontal tube down so it is not as long. That seems to make it more reliably stop, but it still takes a bit. I wish it would kick off quicker as it would increase the number of F&D cycles per hour. I don't have all the media in yet, but empty, my cycle is about 28 minutes from when the siphon shuts off to when the siphon shuts off the next time.

Took first readings today.
pH 8.2
Ammonia .5
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0

Fish were very active last night and now are hiding in pieces of cut PVC. I need to add a couple more pieces so they all have a hiding place during the day. Also, need to make lid to keep kids out and wrap the tank with a tarp until I can put on a wood or metal sheathing.

Readings from this morning

pH 8.3
Ammonia .5
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0

The fish ate last night so I would expect to see ammonia coming up a bit. Still trying to figure out what they will eat and what they won't. Wouldn't touch the peas. Love worms. Ate trout trimmings last night after an appetizer of worms.

Pretty stoked. With no media my cycle times were right about 35 minutes and I really wanted to get that down. Got most of the media in and my cycle times are now just over 16 minutes. 11 minutes to fill and 5 minutes to drain. Should have the rest of my media in tomorrow and then I can plant.

Curious on your thoughts on these results, specifically the nitrates.

pH 8.2
Ammonia .5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5

I've never seen any nitrites show up in my tests and Ammonia has never been over .5

Last week, I added some water from a cycled system but never saw nitrates in any previous tests.

The test kit says to wait 5 minutes for color to come. I got distracted by my wife and didn't check it at 5 minutes. Did that mess up the results.

Lastly, and this is probably the cause, I put in a splash of Liquid Seaweed earlier in the evening. Would that cause the nitrates to all of a sudden show up?

Are you fishless cycling or do you have fish already in the system?

Check the ingredients on the liquid seaweed. Many of these don't contain nitrogen and if it's not there then the Nitrates are likely from somewhere else.

Cheers

I am using bullhead catfish to cycle. I don't see anything about nitrates in any of the documentation I have seen.