Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just Got my system running a few days back now.

So far just have 200l barrel for the tank and the 2 half barrels for the grow beds.

Running flood and drain with 1500l/min submirsible pump for 15 every 2 hours during the day and 3 times in the night.

The 7mm scoria seemed a good idea till I had to wash it , although it does seem to be good so far.

Currently have the 7 little yabbies but finding they don't seem to be enough to support the plants I have liberated from the dried up veggie patch, or the bacterias have not built up enough? Have tried adding some sesol to the beds but have no idea how much to add to keep both plants and yabbies happy.

Looking at getting some fish, relocating yabbies and adding another growbed.

Any suggestions as to getting duckweed locally?

Lambs, welcome to the forum and a nice neat setup
Couple of points:
1) If yabbies are like redclaw or marron, then they will be able to escape easily by climbing up the power cord - might look at using chicken mesh to cover the hole.

Duckweed - I went to the local plant nursery and asked for some duckweed(did buy a couple of plants tho), the guy grabbed a plastic bag and filled it for me...other options are talking to the local council if you have any public ponds

People sell duckweed on e-bay also (prefer the local free stuff tho )

Hello and welcome, Lambs!

After only a few days, there won't be many bacteria in your growbed media; so the ammonia from your yabbies isn't converted into plant food (nitrate) yet. This may take some time; a couple of weeks even. Do you have a water test kit?

By the way, I think your pump is 1500L/h and not 1500L/min.

wecome and nice neat setup,
is that foresthill out near Gatton?

welcome to ya lambs. system looks nicely put together
as Ell stated those yabbies might climb the power cord
built in escape artist with those claw

very neat, looks good man

sweet neat setup Lambs. One cap of seasol in ur yabbie tank every 10 days will keep ur plants happy til ur system cycles and there are a few nutes happening. Good system to learn by and any fubars made (we all make em!) should not have drastic consequences that can't be readily fixed by more fish/yabbies. Welcome.

Thanks for the tip on the yabbie , will have to check they are hidding and not gone.

Have seen some duckweed on ebay, $1 for the weed, $25 for delivery from the US! Local sounds good, free better.


No, Melbourne


I may have overdone the sesol, couple cap fulls then some diluted mix on the plants a few days later. Might slow the yabbies n their escape.

Yes the pump is 1500l/hour

yay, another one from melb!

Dont buy the duckweed... look in your local council duck pond man...

Welcome btw... Ive got to make a cheap system soon, and I love your idea!

Well done

Would 1 Blue barrel support 4 half barrels?

or a better question

How many 1/2 blue barrels could be supported by 1 blue barrel?

Lets say the medium size is around 1cm

Great setup Lambs.
Try increasing the pump cycle to one or two times an hour if you can, to stop the roots drying out and help with cycling bacteria

So far the scoria seems to retain quite a bit of moisture but have not had many hot sunny days. I'll give it a go.

Looks like someone ran off with the other half barrel mcphro

Hey, im keen to try this with a 400Ltr tank in the middle surrounded by 8 blue barrels in 2 lots of 4 as if cut and pasted....

I can get a 400lt tank here locally, but its about $230. I but it doesnt have to be dug in. My plan is getting more clear by the day... Just need a good pump to pump to all the growbeds....

Your 1500ltr/ Hour. How well does it flood and drain your beds?
Length of time etc?