Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello everyone.

I've been planning a system in my head for a few days and wanted everyone's opinion on it before I buy anything.

GB x2 = 7.75 gal (total) = 30 L

FT = 16.5 gal = 60 L

Sump x1 = 3.875 gal = 15 L

This would make my GB : FT ration 1:2. It might not be enough grow bed. I was thinking of adding a RSG filter, if it becomes a problem.

Layout:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4xuuaG9_hy4Q0dSSjJCV1gxbHM/view?usp=sharing

The pump I have in mind does 290 GPH / 1000LPH so it would take less than a min to fill both GB as 7.75 gal @ 40% water (given 60% media) = 3.1 gal / 10L. And 290 GPH / 60 min = 4GPM / 15LPM. The pump would be cycled on a timer. Not sure how I'll set up the cycling with such a fast pump / small system. Maybe downgrade pump speed?

Anyway, what do you have to say, folks?

Used to advise people to do it the other way around, 2X amount in the grow bed vs the fish tank. Stock fish to your filtration and it should be ok.

Thanks for replying ^_^

Yeah that's what I've been reading too but I wanted to get the concept down and iron out the kinks / find good feed without trying to manage a whole crap ton of fish and plants.

Hello everyone, here's an update. I saw a post where they built wooden boxes and then use pond liner to make it water proof. I decided to steal this idea. While I was at it I added and re-arranged some stuff and got some definite (-ish) dimensions and such. They are as follows:

System layout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4xuuaG9_hy4Q0dSSjJCV1gxbHM/view?usp=sharing
Dimensions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4xuuaG9_hy4N1Q3UVlBS1V3VlE/view?usp=sharing
How supports are going to be (very very roughly): https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4xuuaG9_hy4RGdnVUJMVHd4SEk/view?usp=sharing
Surface Area: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4xuuaG9_hy4bXUxSWdLUU1IWjQ/view?usp=sharing

So I figured it out to be 406 sq ft worth of surface area I'll have to cover with pond liner. I planned on using this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HOAZDO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=8KUTTT3OH6QI&coliid=I20J3OTLIQARRH

With 19' x 25' that would mean 475 sq ft of liner.

Comments, questions, concerns? Does my math look okay? It didn't make any sense at the time (in my defense it's 6am here lol).

I'm not sure how you got to 475 square feet of liner. Shall I assume 475 square inches of liner?

For your growbed, you might look into cement mixing tubs at your local home store. I used the large ones which are 24x36x8 for my greenhouse growbeds. Drilled a hole in the bottom, added a uniseal and voila.




They make one that is a little smaller that is 20"x27"x6". You do have to support the bottom a little, but for $6 it would be worth it.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-Medi ... 5yc1vZaq89

Interesting, I didn't even know those existed. I meant 475 sq ft, the liner is 19 ft by 25 ft.

Those might be better as I'd have to drill a drain hole in the wood, cut out a slightly smaller hole in the liner and thread the stand pipe through the hole and seal it somehow.