Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So...I had my new system all planned out - one IBC fish tank with 2 x 500 L grow beds from the other IBC. I have now scored a third IBC (and have a 200L blue barrel and a 450 L tank with an open top).

Would prefer using SLO from FT to GBs then pump from a sump to FT and I want enough filtration to keep the SP happy (close to 1:1 ratio). I am quite happy to have some crustaceans too

What would you do??

1 full IBC FT, SLO from that to 4 x half IBC GB's to 450L sump tank pumped back to FT. You could use the barrel for a RFF between the FT and GB if you wanted to use that up.

Thats one option anyways.

This is pretty much exactly the setup i have with the exception of a fourth IBC as a 1k liter sump, and my RFF barrel only being 30gal.

The only thing i would caution you about is the 450 liter sump being insufficent for the 2k liter grow beds, if all 4 happen to drain at the same time it will overflow your sump, and if all 4 are filling at roughly the same time you will not have enough volume to fill them and start he next siphon cycle.

What Charlie said, but with a 1000lt sump. Gives you room to expand, with more grow beds like half barrels for single larger plants etc.

Unless you run CF then the sump would be plenty big enough.