Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So it's been awhile since I've been on the forums here, but I've finally settled down and found some free time so I figured it's time to start my very first aquaponics system. It's moving towards winter here, so this will be an indoor system, in my very roughly finished basement. I have some decent fluorescent lights that others have told me will suffice for growing some tasty greens all winter long.

So.... I've scrounged up two, 55 gallon barrels. My plan was to use one barrel as the FT, and cut the other in half, one side the grow bed and the other as the sump. Last I was on, the state of the art design was the CHIFT PIST system, has that changed?

This system is more about the plants and less about the fish, but I only want a single bed for growing (one barrel cross sectional area's worth). So, here are my questions:

1) Where is a good thread on pumps, and with my system, what rating should I be looking at?

2) I was thinking about cutting the one barrel 60/40 and using the bigger part as the GB and the smaller part as the sump tank, bad idea?

3) The sump water will be pumped back to the FT and try to whip up some swirling action, but in the tall narrow barrel, will it be enough to keep it clean at the bottom?

4) Are people using Uniseals and are they holding up?

5) Where is that thread that shows you the correct pvc diameters for auto flushers for different flow rates?

I attached a drawing! (Microsoft Paint user since 3rd grade)

I like quiet one pumps. Good flow for the wattage. I would suggest with such a system to cut the grow bed barrel in half lengthwise and have two growbeds. Then put them above your FT and no sump.