Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Guys

Firstly a wonderful resource here, thanks to all the posters, so much solid info.

I'm new to aquaponics and fish keeping, I just started up a 5ft tank for the first time about 10-12 days ago and have learnt a lot in the process. The nitrogen cycle was particularly resonant and this made me think about completing the cycle. Hence the aquaponics. The comets I cycled my FT with will go into the AP system.

I already have a very small garden and renting with all these palm trees (roots) makes soil gardening difficult. I plan to transplant what grows there into aqua. My partner is vegetarian and consumes copious amounts of carrots, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes. We also love asian veges, esp kang kong. I love fishing, mostly estuary.

The first system I've designed will be CF and the FT is 160L, GB is 100L and 50L sump. Media will be expanded clay and 3cm gap to the surface from water level. I am using 20mm piping. Fish will be comets at first, then Khaki grunter.

I'm going to join the piping using silicon, including exits from the tanks to the sump, the FT will have a proper bulkhead fitting and be done with silicon as well.

I've found a cooler spot that I can keep the FT out of the sun and GB's will be full morning sun and just out of the sun for midday and shade afternoon. It's obviously quite hot here at the moment and I can move the system forward slightly for more sun, or back for more shade. I figure test and see what works best.

So far the design is FT -> GB -> SUMP -> PUMP to FT, all gravity fed sans pump to FT. This design made the most sense to me. FWIW, I have two taps, ball ones.

So onto my question time. I've tried to answer these with research but I cannot. I'm quite the lurker haha.

#1. What size pump, 600L? Sump to FT height will be less than 1 metre, maybe 80cm.
#2. This might be stupid question, but won't the pump have to be regulated somehow to avoid overfilling the FT, how is this done?
#3. Can/should I grow kang kong in the sump?
#4. Kang kong in the FT?
#5. I'm aware the FT is too large for the GB, I will add another bed later or even make the sump DWC?
#6. Any other problems people can see, or questions, please chime in??!!

It's more of a test to see if I enjoy it and can make it work. Might get dangerous lol, then it's IBC here I come

I just found a small pump in the fish tank stuff I bought, it's 25W Eden adjustable 400-500-600L http://www.edensrl.com/index.php?lang=e ... &codice=36

Would that be sufficient?

I'm no expert, but why use a sump if you are running CF? the only advantages to a sump that I have found are plumbing convenience (if the GB is lower than ft, it is easier to drain to a sump) or to allow constant height in FT. I have a smaller version of what you are describing, 100l FT, 30L gb, and the smallest pump I could find pump is in the fishtank. Tank level fluctuates by 3cm, does not seem to bother the fish. Timed F&D, the GB is higher than the tank.
Other than my question, what you have described should be fine. FT is never too large, but it can be overstocked for the GB volume, so don't put too many fish in and you'll be fine. A 100l GB is as good as a 100l aquarium filter (that is, huge), in my opinion, so any stocking you would use in a normal aquarium setting should be safe.
600l/hr pump would be more than adequate, again IMO. A need to regulate the pump would depend on the capacity of your FT overflow.

Careful with your test, I'm almost finished the greenhouse for 10m2 beds and 2ibc FTs (or a better tank if I can find it cheap)

Yes you can. Is it a good idea, I think not. Stuff in the sump tends to lead to stuff in the pump.


Again you can but I wouldn't. It does depend on your stocking density. The more fish you have the more you need the fluid dynamics of the tank to work for you in cleaning out the solids from the FT. Anything in the FT can inhibit or even prevent that from happening. Having said that if your stocking density is very low then its unlikely to be a problem.