Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey guys,
So this is my forst time on the forum and i wanted to share with you my experience as a Backyard Aquaponicst. I constructed my first aquaponic system in my backyard, under a $100 portable greenhouse.

FISH + TANK: I set up my first system in the summer (July-Aug) of 2015. I used a cheap 50gallon tub from walmart for about $12 and i siliconed and taped the handle holes.
With it i got about 12 goldfish and 6 rosy red minnows. I also added some pea gravel to the bottom of the tank.
What i wish i did- because the tub plastic was so thin it bowed out. I had to install some side supports to keep that from happening. I should of invested in a stock tank or a heaver duty tub WITHOUT the holes in the handles.
I also wish i had gotten a larger tub/tank, because it is only ever filled to 35-40gallons because of the extreme bowing.

GROWBED + PLANTS: Inside the tank is a 260GPH pump that runs on a 15:60 cycle. 15mins on every hour. This pumps to mh 30gallon stocking tank that i have filled with lava rocks. The pump runs to a pipe where pressure builds and it distributes the water throughout the growbed.. For drainage i installed an EBB and FLOW kit on the bottom of my growbed which sits slightly above the Fish Tank. There is an overflow pipe and a constant drain pipe. I also added worms to help eat up some of the solids that build up.
What i wish i did I wish i made the pump dump the water into a wider pipe that had more mechanical filters in it that than flowed into the growbed. I also wish i put clay pebbles around the ebb and flow outlets because some roots are starting to slow down the constant pipe's flow.

Other than that, the media is somewhat hard to sift through but i generally put in long term plants like cucumber, tomatoes, and peppers. So i haven't had to clean it out yet.

I have never had ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate spike, so i guess somethings right?

Let me know any other suggestions or questions you guys have. Also for more pictures checkout my instagram @ PlantNerdCharleston

PICTURES!!
Fish Tank, Grow Bed, Water FLow



Peace

Hi PNC,

Sounds like the system is working. The only thing I see right off that I would suggest you change is the water delivery to the grow bed. Two things about it bother me -

1. The water is able to splash on the plants as it hits the grow bed - sometimes this can encourage disease where it hits the lower leaves of the plants.

2. The surface where the water hits the grow bed is exposed. Plants will shade this but if not shaded you will eventually get algae growing in these locations. If you look at the BYAP beds the distribution holes for the water grid within the grow bed are turned down to help prevent this sort of algae growth.

Hopefully your distribution grid within the grow bed isn't glued and this will be an easy fix .

Cheers

Scotty,
Thanks for the tips man. I have noticed a small amount of algae growth but the promotion of disease is an interesting bit of information. I was thinking about removing the distribution as a whole and shoving the tubing an or two below the surface and letting it do its thing. Since its a flood and drain system i still think the plants will get an evenly distributed amount of water.
Thanks again!