Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello my name is Craig.
I plan on starting my aquaponics system as soon as I get my green house built. I've enclosed my basic set up. I think I'm going to try a modified Chift system. I have had some limited experience with Hydoponics and this seems like the next logical jump. I am always open to CC (constructive Criticism ) let me know what you think of my design and possible pit falls.
Thanks

Welcome to the forum, unfortunatly your design does not show up, cheers

Hopefully this time it worked

Welcome Craig

What process of flow do you have in mind?

My thought is to have it go to the media bed from the fish tank to do a fill/drain on the bed. 15 mins pump 45 min drain that would go to my Sump/DWC. Which would be where I would put my leaffy veggies. Than back to the fish tank.

Glad to see another Tennessean. I've been experimenting with a small greenhouse system this winter. So far so good, so I'll definitely be expanding/upgrading this year.

Heya, CraigB!

What media will you use? I see the 'system', but I wonder what you found for Grow beds/ sump tanks... Right now, where I'm at (Vegas/ Glitter Gulch) I've not been able to find IBC locally. The closest was California, then Colorado (1800mi round trip) and I'm going to begin with a barrel system. I have five... so two for fish, an oversized fish tank [30 gal] as sump, and the three barrels (six GB when cut) primarily. I WANT an IBC system. More fish... but the second fantasy is to use barrels in the future as 'citrus' pots...
I still have no pump, nor any plumbing... just fantasies. I have the barrels, I have my research... and as yet, no cash.
I research, and plot...

Jake,
Like you I'm glad to see someone else sort of local. What kind of fish are you raising?

Dancinhrblady,
I will most likely use Pea gravel, like you money is tight. as far as grow beds and sump I am planning on building my own using recyled hardwood pallets and pond liners. We have a ton of hardwood skids at work. I got my IBC on Craigslist.org

Craig,

I'm doing bluegill right now, since they should be fairly cold-tolerant. Details on my system are in the link below. I'm currently playing around with adding monitoring electronics (temperature and light levels) with an eye toward automation and at least some solar power. I'm getting a decent harvest of radishes and salad greens, even though the fish aren't eating much (except on those 70 degree days we just had). The quality of the radishes is outstanding compared to store-bought or even those I've raised in my dirt garden, but might have a lot to do with growing them in the cold.

Nice set up. I would ultimately like to grow tilapia however I'm not sure I can keep the water temp where they need to be. I thought about building a rocket stove for the greenhouse we will see. I will most likely be using channel catfish when it comes down to it. My wife is not a fan but I think it is because she has had some bad tasting mud cats.

Yeah, that was the main reason I've been reluctant to do catfish. It wouldn't surprise me if AP catfish taste better, though. I'll probably add some when I expand.

Welcome Craig,

I'm new here myself, but it doesn't take long to feel right at home at BYAP with all the friendly folk here!

I know the farm-raised catfish fillets you buy in the store are definitely a good step up from the regular mud cats, so I can only imagine how good an AP-raised channel cat is gonna taste!