Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This weekend we built our Geodesic dome to house our aquaponic system later in the year.

Some pictures of the build

















Paul

Wow, that looks great. What is the clear material used? Looks like acrylic?

It is polytunnel plastic stretched over timber triangles.

Paul

Very cool! was this from a kit, or home designed?

Thanks David.

It was built from scratch using a set of plans.

It comprises of 103 wooden triangles

It took about 40-50 hours to build all the frames and cover them in plastic and 2 hours to build the dome on site. I still have a few more hours to put in over the next few days building the door and taping all the seams etc then we get to work building the aquaponics system.

I think to start off with I am going to build a very simple single IBC system so I can get started this year. It is going to have to be totally off grid as we have no power so I need to find a decent 12volt pump that will not draw too much power and then design a solar system around that.

I should be getting an IBC this week. I have left one of the big hexagon panels un taped at the moment so I can remove that panel to get the IBC into the dome.

What sort and how many fish should I go for? We are Cornwall in the far SW of the UK. Our weather is influenced by the gulf stream so we have quite mild winters.

paul

Wow Paul, I love your work. I now know what sort of greenhouse I want on our new property. Looking forward to seeing your system come together.

Nice dome, I like it.

there are power poles running right past,
why don't you just throw some jumper leads over them to power your system?

Batteries and solar are expensive.

If you are on facebook, there is a Solar Powered Aquaponics group that may be able to help as well.
I'm just getting started with Solar on our system.

Really impressive work, Paul!

that thing looked so cool i just bought one this morning!

i looked for prefabbed but the kits are very exy ex-US even without the GST/freight!

i found a 'bare bones' 8m diameter one made of 6mm thick 60mm wide mild steel poles including support poles for a sub floor on a sloping site and 26 6mm float glass windows already gut to triangle (including several that are split in two for opening) and all the hubs (the key to these systems).

i need to buy/build all the timber parts and find something to clad the remainder 75 or so triangles but it was a bargain.

like i need another project...

thanks Paul - inspiring. i'll post a pick when i get it up. going to make a great space on my property.

WOW Buckettea I can't wait to see the pictures of that when it is built.

paul

Those power lines are carrying 100s of volts so stepping it down might be more expensive than batteries and solar.

paul

Finished the door this evening between the showers



Paul

good work. its a great dome.

I remember this from a few years back.

A Stupid Way to Get Electricity for Free: Meat Hook + Power Line

very nice looking little greenhouse! I'm excited to see this thing put to use, I was looking at one of these for my future system, but I haven't decided yet if this is the route I will take. That's one good thing about being in school and poor, lots of time to think!