Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My setup.

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that’s a unique power source you have their leelee? So how many KW does he put out an hour?

Nice work and good thinking, now where is that guy that put the idea of using sheds to help control temperatures down?

There seams to be a lot off new thinking going on this web site lately?

I wasn't sure if it actually qualified as a true aquaponics system. It's basically just an aquarium that plugs into an irrigation system to feed my veggie patch. Tank stays topped-up with a float valve and I pump the water out into the sprinkler system with a small pond pump. Just finished installing some hydroponic units in the greenhouse that are also fed from the tank, so hopefully get some tomatoes and okra going in there soon.

Been into tropical aquariums for years, so it's important that I can see the fish. Glass isn't the cheapest or most practical option but makes a big difference for monitoring the health of the fish. And beats the shit out of watching TV any day.

I've only just arrived so I'm still checking out everyone else's systems. Really glad I found this place.

I just wanted a water feature next to the patio myself! But I have been doing aquariums for years, and yes they are more relaxing than watching TV, now I am raising barramundi in my backyard with silver perch! And growing vegies, the plumbing is easy as! I even made my own filter system! I have only been doing this for a few months now,

sweet system

Blizzard, are you keeping barramundi and silver perch in the same tank? I've also got silvers but was considering adding a few barras. I've also got a big gibbyceps catfish in there to scrub off any algae. Does an excellent job.

Sheeeeesh....that's a big aquarium!! I would love one like that. Does you have a biofilter on it? What's your watering schedule from the tank to the garden and how many gallons a day do you think you top off with?

Yeah it's bio-filtered. There's a large canister unit tucked away in the cabinet.

Hmmm I've never really calculated how much water it uses. During summer I switch the pump on for about twenty-minutes every four days or so, that's enough to saturate all the garden beds. But there's also a gravity-fed tap outlet from the filter, so I can attach a hose to that and use it to water my pot plants etc. The tank is 1000ltrs so I'd probably use on average about 1/3 of the water every four days or so during the hottest periods. But sometimes I hold off the water for a week or more to really stress the plants out. There's some scientific evidence emerging that plants that can survive harsh conditions like drought and pest infestation are actually better for you.

Have a read:

http://nautil.us/issue/15/turbulence/fr ... o-kill-you

Here's another article related to xenohormesis:

http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bo ... r-You.html

This was the tank a few months ago, with 500 jade perch fingerlings. We went to China for five weeks and while we were away the power went out….lost all but four of them. Next project will be to install a backup system.

It looks dirty but the water quality is actually very good. I only just put this big log in there so tannins leaching from the wood stained the water.

Hiya LeeLee, that certainly is a massive aquarium!
500 jp's in 1000l? I'd imagine once they had grown a bit you would have needed to do a water change very frequently.
Why not set up some grow beds?

Yeah I got 500 for a bargain price, so my intention was to set up a second tank before they got too big. The filter canister holds about thirty litres, so there's a lot of filter media in there and plenty room for microbes. I used Eheim Mech, which supposedly has much greater surface area than conventional media. It was handling 500 fish quite well.

…and yeah I'm definitely keen to add some grow beds, but working on this Autopot system in the greenhouse at the moment:

Yes both in the IBC together now, they were in my 200ltr aquarium until the weather warmed up a bit, I am only starting small just the four Barra and three silvers, two off each are now at 30cm long, the Barra liked the goldfish to much so I had to bring the goldfish inside, or the Barra would eat them! Its still a bit cold outside for them only 20deg in the IBC, but they are still eating so that’s good,