Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,

I live on 5 acres of very fertile farm land/pasture in the Bullsbrook hills and I am interested in permaculture and self sustainability. Although I am very happy with the quality of the soil on my block unfortunately I must rely on rain as my only source of water, meaning that water is a very finite and valuable resource to me, currently I can hold ~ 330,000 litres max and although this sounds like a lot I have big plans for food production. On discussing this with the parents of one of my daughter's friends they told me about aquaponics and how it only required ~ 10% of the water as traditional dirt farming and I was hooked on the idea of growing vegetables using recycling water with the bonus of fish to eat. This was a year and a half ago, and after seeing my new friend's system a few months ago I put my plans into action.

I bought a 3,500 L round fibreglass tank that leaked of an old Italian bloke who used to raise marron for $200 and patched the leaks, I friend who owns an irrigation chain was able to supply me with a Grunfos sump pump with a float switch and while I was in his shop he found out that his supplier of expanded clay was offering a one off 20% discount on bulk orders of 45L bags (55 to the pallet Canna brand) so I picked them up for $24 a bag which was substantially cheaper than the original trade price he was going to supply them for.

I have ordered two 1800 X 400 round aqua lined corrugated iron grow beds from Rainfill Tanks which I can pick up next week and now all I need to do is figure out how I am going to design my system for maximum efficiency and minimum maintenance.

That is where you wonderful people come in. I had a plan in my head of how my system was going to be until I started to read the forum that you have all created. It is with out a doubt the most valuable and comprehensive data base in aquaponics information anywhere and you should all be congratulated on what you have achieved. Due to the wealth of information and many conflicting ideas about what is the best design my idea of what would work best has changes significantly. I have spent around 30 hours on this forum doing research this week with 10 hours solid (during work time not my own) yesterday alone. As a result I have come up with the following plan for you all to add constructive feed back on, I will start another tread in members sections with diagrams and photos when I get the time so for now words will have to do.

My system is going to be a CHIFT PIST with a solids up lift type venturi set up with a T piece overflow gravity feeding water to my grow beds. Initially I am only going to stick with the 2000L of grow beds I have ordered but plan to expand the system out to a 2:1 ratio using more of the 1000L tank grow beds and some half blue barrels to grow more permanent plants like fruiting trees and bushes. The beds will be flood and drain using slow drain standpipes initially and once I get the hang of it I will play around with some loop syphons. I am going to try goldfish and if I can keep them alive I will move on to silver perch, I may also try marron as I have a free supply of mature adults, this would only be a hobby to see if I can get them to breed as I think marron meat is completely over rated and I will only eat it if it is free. I think I will use a 1000L IBC as a sump with the system being float activated.

Can anyone see any problems or improvements? I would rather know now than before I start building.

Welcome Simo... good to see you've been doing your research...

One of the things you will no doubt have come across... is that aquaponics can be addictive...

And you obviously have an addictive personality... and have fallen already... glad to have you amongst us...

Thanks Rupert,

I don't know I have an addictive personality but as far as addictions go this one would have to be the healthiest for the body (although not the wallet). I do however have a lot of time to kill while at work, so if I can't spend the time building and playing with aquaponics I may as well learn from all of your collective knowledge and experience.

Welcome simo

So much time ,, either your a Public servant or just REALLY efficient b,,, same meaning , different words...LOL

Welcome Simo......systems sounds simply great already.

Good Luck

Not a public servant, there is usually work that they should be doing and I couldn't handle the guilt.

I'm paid for what I could do should the need arise, not for what I do, so I sit reading this forum and wait.

Why thank you so much!!! Our members have worked HARD and shared much! What I love out this forum is the various systems and heaps of approaches (granted, some more effective than others )
The marron sound like a good idea (theyb wont let us have them in QLD
As do the perch!!! I love perch and will restock with them myself
Oh yes, Welcome and looking forward to your diagrams and photos... and updates too

I like to say ,, it's NOT my fault I can complete a designated 8 hour task in 45 minutes,,, what else should I do for the other 7' 15???
ROFLMAO

Welcome Simo.

5 acres is lots of space for Aquaponics. As a newbie myself, my suggestion is to start a prove of concept system. Then go on to something like this. http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5504&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=60

Depending on how quickly you are going to add the additional growbeds and blue barrels, currently for 2000L of growbeds you will need approximately (40% fill of 2000L) approximately 800L of 1000L sump for CHIFT PIST. Add another growbed and your sump would be too small. Not sure if 200L of water (less maybe depending on how high you fill the IBC) is sufficient remaining sump volume.

Note that as mentioned I am a newbie, but I am sure that if I am wrong, someone will point it out to you.

Thanks for the advice, I will look for a bigger sump when I am thinking about expanding. Will the float pump work OK in chift pist or do you need a continuosly working pump or a timer setup?

Will the FT being larger than the GB volume be a problem or will it still work as long as I maintain low fish stock levels?