Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi there,
Name’s Richard and my wife, Jamie, and I are going to set sail on the journey of AP. We became interested in this growing style due to the ability to grow veggies organically. Organic food is very important to us due to the arrival of our new daughter, Sadie. When she was about 4 months old she developed eczema. The specialists at Children’s Hospital told us that we needed to start using organic veggies. They told us that the chemicals in her food could be causing her skin to get worse.
Now I don’t think the organic veggies really had all that much to do with her skin condition, but we have decided that the veggies are not so bad after all. We have had a fish pond with goldfish and koi for several years. Upon finding this website, I thought I would put the fish to some more constructive use.
I have been reading lots of information here and have looked at many systems. Thanks for all the wonderful information and the informative pictures. We have purchased some gb containers and have a pump from the fish pond. I will use the water from the fish pond to start the initial fish holding tank in the new system. I have a 110 reservoir for the fish. I am still trying to work out all the kinks but think this will be a fun journey.
By the way, have already made my first mistake… thought I would use perlite as the growing medium… went to Lowes today and purchased gravel. I hope to learn from other’s mistakes before I make many more.

Welcome , to you and yours.

welcome rmack5!
sounds a good mission to be on...
1 in all in I say!

Hello

Don't worry we all want to use perlite to start with.

been there done that

second problem... I went to Lowes today like I said... got 15 .5ct bags of rock... on the way home, car bottomed out and tore off the muffler pipe...

lesson learned, rock $50
muffler $150
hobby already getting expensive

Ooops!

hello, but it's a fun hobby

Just FYI....If you have a Wally World close to you, it's $1.00 less per bag than Home Depot or Lowes when and if you make a second run .

So just a few questions... I have the system, phase one, installed and want to add the fish. I know about the cycling process but the question is what about using water from our existing fish pond for the water in the system. I have water in the system now to make sure the rocks are washed enough. I will drain out that water want to use the water from the pond. What do you guys think. I will try to post some pictures of the first attempt tonight.

old pond water is the go.
It is likely to have some good bacteria in it that will help
start the process!

Just a few pics of the system as of tonight.

I have 4 gbs. I plan to install one more of the shorter beds next week. There is still a lot of work to do, but I am proud of the start we have. Also hope to get some fish next week, drain out the ugly water as seen in the picture and add water from my garden pond.

few more

Looking good...
Though soon after you get your fish you will find the
spray bar will block up.
most of us (a wild guess) use larger holes (less back pressure) and the FT delivery water plumbing is around the edge of the GBs.
IMHO only...
Keep up the good work!

Yeah, I have thought of that. When I add the other gb I think I will be able to have bigger outlets for the water. It I can get the water pressure correct, I may just take out the spraybars all together and just let the water enter from the back of the bed.