Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello everyone!

I finally have the time to put together a backyard aquaponics system! I plan to use parts for the tanks and grow beds that are available to me for little or no cost. I will be using a well water aerator tank for my fish tank and will use the bottom of two aerator tanks for my 2 grow beds. Our local water system companies discard old tanks when they are hired to install new systems. The tanks are fiberglass and were used to hold water for in home use, so they should be plenty safe for my fish and plants .

One of the tanks




I drew up some plans that I want some input on.




I would like to place the fish tank about 20 - 30 feet away from the grow beds, but am not sure if this is possible in a one pump system. I drew up two different grow bed plans with either one or two sump tanks, I'm not sure on which system I should go with.

I'll add more info tonight when I get home from the office. Thanks for the input!
Paul

The distance works no problems, just make sure your gravity fed pipes are big enough to push the water.

There was a good graph somewhere here, that goes through head loss for a pump when its horizontal. I can't remember exactly, but I think it's 10cm for every 1m of lenght, so if 30" is 9 meters, add 90cm to the head height when figuring out your pump size.

Some progress!
A friend gave me some tanks and other assorted equipment from a project he was putting together in the past. I picked up one IBC, one 200 Gallon tank, a few pumps, a few barrels, and some 1/2 barrels. I cut up the IBC and made two grow-beds, built a framework system for the grow-beds, and dug a big hole for my 200 gallon sump tank.
This is going to be a CHOP system with pump running constantly in the sump tank.


200 gallon tank for the sump


Grow-beds, framework, and 200 gallon sump tank. I plan to add two 1/2 barrels in the center opening of the frame.


The dig for the sump tank was fairly easy as we have lots of sand here in SW Florida. The fish tank is in the background.


The fish-tank on the right, EarthBox's with various pepper's, potted Basil (has some frostbite from a cold snap here), and in the background you can see some of the sand from the hole for the sump.


Yes, the frame is not level...I'm going to put a 12x12" patio stone under each leg of the table and level accordingly.

Next: assemble the pipe...

I know some people have trouble with their NFT setups getting too hot in the sun. You might want to paint the earthboxes white.

You may not run into this issue, just a heads up.

All set up and running! I have been adding water that I take from my home fish tank to the AP setup to promote bacteria growth. I have a well established 75 gallon cichlid tank that I hope will help me get the AP setup cycled quickly.

Details:
Fish tank- 175 gallon fiberglass well water tank
Sump- 200 gallon tote
Grow beds- IBC cut to provide two grow beds. Extra room in middle of framework to add NFT setup.
Media- lava rock and a top layer of hydroton
Bell siphons in each grow bed
1.5" SLO that feeds the grow beds
2" skimmer to prevent fish tank overflow - drains directly into sump tank
1200 gph pump in sump tank with 1" return line to fish tank. Installed valve to return some flow back into sump tank.