Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Guys,

Well I've read all I can (well skimmed a lot, and will probably pay for it ) and I've begun whacking stuff together!

I've always wanted to put a system together, then when I was building a fish pond it crept back into my mind!

I'm going with the good old flood and drain using a 15 on 45 off cycle to start with, I'll much around with syphon's and sump tanks and other such magic for my next system.

This is the system specs, and when the scoria is delivered tomorrow, I should have it pretty much finished (just have to dig trenches for pipes).

System Components:

Fish Tank:
4000L pond using pond liners and sleepers, this was the start of the system and was completed a couple of months ago.

Grow Beds:
After much buggering around with growbed ideas, I decided to go with the APA 600lt budget trough, I got my local landmark to get them in! Full story HERE!

Water Pump:
Good old ebara optima.

Fish:
Goldies at the moment, will get some silver perch when the system has cycled for a couple of weeks, maybe try trout over winter as Ballarat get's quite cold.

Here's some images of the journey so far!

Hi Kenny sounds good!
Just wondering where the pics might be??

More photo's

Right where they should be I was fighting with the 3 attachment limit, so decided to just double post Until someone whacked a quick draw mcgraw post in and wrecked everything!

Ooops!!sorry mate,
Well done, looking mighty fine!
Good to see the scale objects...nice puppies!!

And you reckon the chicken wire is going to keep the labs out of the pond on a hot summers day Kenny

Hahaha, no worries
Puppies have to be good for something!



Chicken wire is for keeping the ducks out! (for now, hoping to integrate them into the system at a later date), my foot is for keeping the puppies out They're inside puppies anyways, so no drama's

Just as well, because ducks and water would probably seem to be just a natural playpen for black labs Kenny

Great pond, I am guessing you are a carpenter?

Those inspection pits are great - using 4 of them in my system

Good to see your AP apprentice there doing well - tried to get a helping hand myself but vb kept then shoved in his pockets whenever he came over (that's when he didn't have a beer in one )

Gonna enjoy watching this all come together for you so keep up with the pics

Oh hell yes! When we go to the lake they just take off paddling after the wild ducks, like they have a change in hell of catching them



Hehe, not quite, just know my way around a powertool!



Thanks mate I'm so close I can taste the fresh produce! (Not that I'm lacking fresh produce at the moment Heaps of fruit on my tree's!).

I don't know if I've what I'm doing it right, as it seems there will always be a little water in the bottom, and I don't like sitting water, but she'll be right, I'll take some more photo's once I've dug everything in tomorrow

I take it you are talking about the "pits" - the water will mix with the next load emptied into it so it won't stagnate...there maybe some gunk collecting on the bottom (I get fish pellets and poo there), just give it a bit of agitation once a week (when water flowing into them) and all will be good.

How are you going to have the "pits" connected into the system?

Yeah mate, I'm burying it in the middle of the 4 growbeds, the growbeds are going to drain into the sides of it via 90mm pipe, and then the water will flow out the bottom of the pit in to the top of the waterfall hopefully

Like this!

Good to see the regulation Telstra nylon rope in the last pic, disappointed there is no black insulation tape though? seriously can't wait to see the system up and running.