Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

guys i am looking at using the barrelponics setup but i want to change it up a little bit. I was thinking that instead of using the toilet flusher i would use a SLO drain in the top tank and changing out to Affana's autosyphon in the grow beds. I was doing this as I may be able to use that as the fish tank for tilapia. I spoke with travis about growing a few tilapia in the system. He said start out with 25 fingerlings as some will probably die. I was then thinking of throwing a few of another type in the sump. I understand that this will not be a big system but i wanted to start simple. I have never grown fish or veggies of any type.

Input please.

Cant see a problem with that at all.

Makes sense to me. Just don't push a barrelponics unit too hard with fish. They are "neat" for learning, but I think some people approach them with unrealistic expectations in terms of what they can produce and how much fish mass they can carry.

Almost exactly like my indoor system. Top tank is a 55gal aquarium (got it for $5 at the recycle area by the dump)>SLO>GB>autosiphon>sump tank. Cycle time is under 10 minutes, so cycles at least 6x per hour. Holds about 40 or 50 catfish about 5" long. I am feeding a couple ounces of food a day, so assume I am producing about that much fish. Unable to grow enough plants to use up the nutrients (lack of light), so water is used to water other house plants. Go for it!!!
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 70&start=0

Excellent, Chris. Welcome aboard!

Travis' barrelponics system is a great system to learn on and expandable based on his eight barrel system... Watchout, though. You see what happened to me after a successful BP system....

I wouldn't change too much the first go 'round. Just build and have success with the fewest possible introduced problems...

Peace,

CB

Yep, good advice.... the barrelponics system has been around for a while... unaltered it performs well...