INTRO: Hey BYAP!! I am an engineering student at ASU, and a bodybuilder. So I'm both poor and concerned about the source and quality of my nutrition. I live in Phoenix with plentiful sun, love fish, and have a house with lots of in/outdoor space for AP, which seems to be a great fit for me! I started in May 2015 with 8 goldfish. I lost 6 in the beginning when cycling/etc, the surviving two are hanging out fine with the smaller tilapia. I've done way too much, yet not enough, research and this is my current setup (pics will follow soon):
Indoor: vertical system (24x77x78" Husky shelving unit) in my guest bedroom, so considerations made for aesthetic and quietness. I cull two sizes of tilapia fry in this system. Temps in Phoenix range from 30*-120*, so some plants will be fully raised inside, others only started before moving outside.
FT: 2x 27g Tuff box joined w/ 2x 1" PVC near top, 1.5" emergency overflow to ST, 1" bottom drain in each to RFF
FT1: 8x 5-7" tilapia
FT2: 11x 3-4" tilapia, 1x 6" koi, 2x goldfish
RFF: 7g rect trash can w/ 2.5qt diverter, works surprisingly well (ie gross)
Overflow to MBBF (also controls water level of both FT & RFF)
MBBF: 4g round trash can, 2L K1 (all a nice color now), bottom drain to ST
ST: 27g Tuff box, UV sterilizer
P1: grow beds, 15/30 cycle
P2: NFT rails, 24h
GB: 3x 15g Ikea Samla, 1x filled w/ hydroton (no lid), 2x RDWC (net pots in lids)
3x NFT rails, 5' vinyl downspouts, 19 plant sites
Lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers, strawberries
*** I know I need more GB/plants for filter, seedlings started, empty top shelf will hold 3x add'l samla
containers. Many design changes & RFF cleaning = water changes for now. TDS<900
Lighting: full LED on timer
Future:
Outdoor IBC system. I currently have two to work with, and Tempe TankN'Barrel about 1/2 mi away
FT: 275g IBC
ST: 200g cut IBC
GB: 75g cut IBC
4x 1/2 55g barrels
4'x12'x12" floating raft
Media: I want to find a local source for expanded shale, otherwise will experiment with local gravel. I'm not sure if I will incorporate a solids filter in this system as it will have far more grow bed media than inside.
Breeder: 40g breeder colony (to start), possibly on another shelving unit in entry/dining area. Either normal aquaculture filtration or incorporate a NFT system in the large west facing window (which will also be good for my summer AC bill)
Backyard Aquaponics
