Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello peoples, this is my very first post and I thought I'd share with you my aquaponics system which I am currently planning. I would love to hear some feedback from you all, so I can make changes to the system before I start building! I have learn't this lesson in the past

I currently have a 6" fish tank inside which is soon to have approx 6-8 small Black Bream. My uncle worked for Murdoch and they did alot of research on this fish. A good read here:

wwwdse.murdoch.edu.au/centres/fish/FRDC/FRDC%201999-320%20final%20black%20bream.pdf

I spent a fair bit of time out at Northam where they had bream in large dams trialing them for ideal growing/breeding conditions.

Anyway, my plan was to buy 6-8 bream at a time, fatten them up close to maximum aquarium size then put them into a larger aquaponics system outside. While the first batch are in the aquarium I will build up the nessesary system components outdoors, including tank/pond, grow beds, wormfarm etc. I want to get the system as close to self sufficient as possible.

UPDATE 15th SEMPTEMBER 2006

The Tank:
A 2800L steel corogated or FRP aquaculture tank. It will be a a flood and drain system.

Grow Beds:
The growbeds at this stage will be a combination of large growbeds, 50L plastic containers, and large terracotta pots (My dad part owned Courtland Pottery on Great Eastern Hwy) so I have quite a few at my disposal. Most of the system will fit under my planned greenhouse (see post below). I am toying with the idea of using crushed terracotta pieces in some growbeds, the terracotta itself is very pourous and has just as much surface area as gravel. I have also discussed making expanded clay pellets. Here

Thats the general gist of my system, once I figure sketch up I willpost a few pictures.

Just a couple of questions... What sort out mechanical filtering do people use before the pump to stop pipes and pumps from clogging up? Has anybody had experience with black plastic pondliners?

Hi Tim:
I am very interested in the use of terra cotta, as it seems to be a cheap safe pliable material to use in a system - hadn't thought of using it for grow medium but even better! If your Dad still has contacts at the terra cotta company you will have a lot of lee-way in what crazy configurations and shapes you could construct. For example, towers made of the stuff, gutters instead of PVC pipe for unpressurized parts, more like fountain shapes than industrial-looking tubs and rectangular things. The mind boggles...

See (wondering what materials to use for towers besides PVC pipe, ceramics to me seem very nice instead):
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... .php?t=262

Welcome Tim.

Make sure there is no run off from those logs into the pond. That is, your pond liner goes right over the top of them so rain doesn't run off the logs into the pond. Nasty arsenic in those things. They didn't ban them from playgrounds for nothing.

Sounds all good to me tim, (though its late and i have had a few drinks )

Mecanical filtration seems to be accomplished by the gravel beds themselves, and different 'fauna' slowly break down the sediment trapped in the grow beds

Steve

Ok... Change of Plans, here goes:

Basically a 6m x 3m timber gable frame greenhouse, which match the design of the pergolas. Covered in suitable UV/IR transparent sheeting. Possible make use of durable plastic mats which can be rolled up during summer months and let down in winter to trap in more heat. Two main grow beds, with the addition of 50L plastic containers and Various size pots. One 2800L fish tank..... Under the grow beds I will have worm farms.

Heres my first effort of SketchUp, It took me a few hours! (I still have to finish the plumbing and the small details!)

Looks Sweet

Looks good Tim. I don't see a sump or return in the design are you going to force pump return back to the main tank? You can do this system with one pump if you plumb a venturi drain and add a sump tank to the system. You are going to be hooked for life you realise!

oh, and consider more space at startup, even though initially you won't use it, eventually you will.

Yeah there will be a sump... forgot to draw it. It will be somewhere between the two growbeds. I am pretty sure I am going to make it a flood and drain system. Use a second pump and run the return underneath the path.

I plan to make a computerised flood and drain controller, utilising water level sensors, automation, email/sms alerting. Run it off low specs through inverter/solar battery backup. Do a report on it, for UNI which I hope to get to next year.

Nice tim. The terracotta is fine, a bit sharp so be wary if your beds are lined.

Pond liner is ok, I use it, hard to get it to sit prettily with it being so thick and square....

I have it in a greenhouse too so less UV damage.

Looking forward to your computer controller, there's much simpler ways but I want to see it.

I can see it now. Lettuce leaf number 4 is detected by the sensor to be ready for harvest. System sends you an email at work reminding you to pick up some salad dressing. Nice set up!

If you can get it to sense when the beer is properly chilled, I'd buy it!