Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have been putting some ideas together for my next aquaponics setup (outdoors in the UK). See attached sketch. It's based on improving my first one:

http://www.weeksfamilyeco.org/blog/2015 ... bc-system/

And combining a lot of ideas I saw in this Tower System I came across:

http://www.mediamatic.net/339807/en/aqu ... s-material

The improvements would be:

# x4 the grow bed for marginally larger footprint of my current one.
# Sump to produce duck weed as part of diet for fish.
# No siphons needed (using pump on timer instead which will also reduce electricity requirements of the pump).
# Reduced cost of timber to build compared to my current one.
# Less construction required to build.
# All-year-round production (not pictured, but perspex shutters added in the winter in addition to heater and LED lights)

Would appreciated your input!

Pumping with a timer doesn't necessarily mean less electricity since you still need to circulate the volume of your fish tank each hour so doing it in 1/4 of the hour just means you need a bigger pump to do it, would have to do the math to figure out if the bigger pump and 1/4 the time uses more or less electricity.

Also, building UP means more electricity so only do it that way if you have no choice since building UP also means you have to use ladders for everything.

Hi
I have been playing with LED lights. I bought a 25 cm square unit ( 20 watts R/B spectrum) from E bay for about £20 Works well for germinating seeds indoors.
I then moved it to cover one level in a shelving style grow bed set up
Each GB is 70/40 cm. Two/three would be required but this was a trial. GB above overflowed luckily I was present and switched it off. Removed it for safety.
I then bought two waterproof units. Cheap and cheerful 10 watts £7 each. Now I am happy with these but ONLY as additional lighting. For a full IBC GB you would need 16 of the original units plus the ability to raise and lower. Not cost effective IMHO.
My trout over wintered outside with only the occasional use of a small aquarium heater. My main GB is above the FT and has perspex/plastic curtains it never froze.
My fruit pot 60 liter tub occasionally had surface freezing but this soon cleared in the mornings.
Cooling. Insulate the best you can and cross your fingers.

You should put some pics of that setup on your blog Titus :-)