Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have been gone from the forum for a long time but my system is still up and running. I’ve given it very little attention the last few years. It will produce a crop of tomatoes once a year and it produced a crop of broccoli one winter. The Tilapia grows great and have had a few fish over the years. I plan on growing some winter produce this fall.

Here is the link to my system.
(viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1925)

Welcome back!

How did you keep your system operating in the off season ?

Over wintering my system in Phoenix is not a difficult as it doesn’t freeze here and only a handful of frosty nights. I did it like a ground garden, built a greenhouse over the grow bed and covered the pond. On the frost nights I would cover the tomato plants with a tarp in the green house. The plant held the green tomatoes and by spring they started to ripen. One winter I just had broccoli in the grow bed and didn’t have to use the tarp but still had the greenhouse cover. One winter I kept the Tilapia in the pond all winter buy putting a 250watt heat lamp over the grow bed drain on a timer that came on at night a turn off during the day. (most years I keep the tilapia fry in a aquarium inside my house for the winter)

The plan this year is to build a green house in the most sunny location in my backyard and use a solar pond pump to pump the warm water from the greenhouse to the pond. The big mistake I made was to put my system on the north side of the house it should have been on the south side so it could get sun in the winter time. I would move it but it is dug into the ground and the grow bed has 2 tons of gravel in it.

My system is just a toy for me to play with so I try something different each year. My wife love fresh tomatoes and will put up with the mess and time I spend if it’s not to excessive. She also gives me a break because I get the kids involved with the hold thing. Got to keep everyone happy!

I put some short videos on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYnj93cqVkk

Looks like you're a bit under planted LOL lots of capacity available with this system. In AZ you should be able to plant some perennials that will grow for years maybe?

If the pipe diameter is big enough you might be able to route from the FT down to the ground and then back up to the beds rather than straight across, assuming there is good enough flow of course. And assuming this doesnt interfere with the siphon.

Also whilst I'm modding your system, you might consider just buying a few packets of flower seeds and throwing them into the gravel.

I planted a bunch of seeds and the birds ate them or the heat killed them all but the beans. I have more seeds and going to put them in as soon as the temp drops below 105 F it been 115 F each day last week.

There is only two large fish in the pond so no worry about the water going bad.

The water temp has been 89 F which might be to hot for most seeds?

Wow didnt know it was still that hot there!

Picked up a sprouting tray at Wal-Mart for $5.50 and the pictures are day two.

The seeds sprouted and planted them in the grow bed planted extra thick. Washed the seedling off in the tub before planting and they are looking good after three days.

It has been one week since the seedlings were planted and they are growing well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ0GkMyvfQ0

Pictures of fish and plants

This has given me some nice inspiration for mine.

Any updates?

Nice looking system. (In Chandler) I have 2 IBC systems, 3 600L FT, and was considering pond lining another larger GB.

I have a couple of questions if you have a sec?

My concern was the hot/cold effects on that liner material. How thick did you buy the liner.

Where are you buying Tilapia.

Where can I get duckweed locallly?

What problems have you experienced do you think due to our extreme heat?

I have a tour a Rhiba Farms tomorrow (been waiting a month) to see how they cope with some of this issues here.

Again, your system is beautiful/simple, I love it!

Scott

I’ll try to get a new video tonight after work.

My son helped me put the plastic cover on the grow bed on Friday. The plants have grown nicely. Just getting ready for winter and eating what has been growing.