Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I live near the 48th parallel in the States. The last five years we've had cold springs and cool summers, and our garden crops have suffered. Last year we had only a few ripe tomatoes ripen from five plants, and we decided to build a greenhouse and try AP for our salad crops.

A local plumbing wholesaler gave us six fiberglass bathtubs - there was a defect in the mold at the factory, and all the tubs were written off due to a blemish. Just this week they dropped them off, so its time we get started.



We have lived with a large english walnut tree right next to the garden, shading parts of it throughout the day, so it was time to take it down. You can see our garden space in the background.



It seems that maybe the best system for us will be a CHIFT PIST. We have a good source of red lava rock, and I like the flood and drain idea. Six tubs might be a bit too much to begin with, so I thought I'd start with a few and add as we go. This first year we will raise koi instead of a food fish as we have some experience with them.
But first, I need to clear the branches away and start leveling a spot in the garden!

Dond chuck the wood its great for smoking you should have a few years supply

Welcome greenjones

Look forward to seeing the progress. Please keep posting the photos.

nice score on those bathtubs

That would be a mighty big rolley lol

Welcome. Great to have some more folks from Western Washington.
I will look forward to seeing the progress. I am still in the plug all the holes in a hot tub mode on my system but getting closer.

Last years weather was a motivator for us as well.

Welcome, GreenJones!
Awesome score on those tubs!

Plug those holes properly buddy, leaks are a pain. Welcome to AP

Progress is being made on the greenhouse. We are thinking we can grow nearly year-round with some cool weeather veggies like lettuce, brussel sprouts, parsnips etc. in the months of February and January.

Greenhouse will be 28' long x 20' wide, hoop house style. We put down a woven fabric for the floor.

Galvanized posts are driven 3-ft into gound. Treated 2x4's are bolted to the posts.

This is the tubing bender mounted on a picnic table. The table is bolted to stakes driven in the ground to make it stable. The tubing is galvanized top-rail for chain link fences.
The bending went real fast--maybe a hour. The majority of the time was drilling holes for bolts to make the joins extra strong.

First arch up--top is about 16-ft. Hoop is made of 3 10-ft pieces.
You can see that I have expert help!

That's one strong kid.

Nice plot you have to work with. Keep us posted with pics.

A couple more pictures

coming along just fine "greenjones"....