Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well, here I am. I'm a senior in High School, and to graduate, we are required to do a "Senior Project" in which we chose something to do, put in at least 30 hours, and have a product to show at the end of it. I chose to do aquaponics, as it's something that interests me, and something I actually want to continue doing in the future. My only problem is my complete and utter ignorance of where to start. I've watched countless videos, read many setups and things to do, and i wrote a short (4 page) paper on aquaponics. I understand aquaponics very well on a theoretical level, but when it actually comes to physically creating a system, i'm clueless. Also, I have some challenging constraints; I only have about 100 square feet, it's going to be a basement set-up, and it's cold, it drops down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) at night. Also, to make it even more challenging, I don't have a large budget. So my question is, where should I start?

I'm new to this too, but if it were me under those circumstances, I'd use the link on this page to the IBC's of Aquaponics and make their simple system using an IBC. Not much money involved. And for lights, perhaps get some free florescent lights off craigslist when people are remodeling kitchens? Florescent lights have to be really close to the plants though, so you might have to hang it on chains to raise and lower it and try and grow things of a uniform height.

You could always get some hydroponic grow lights, but, that's money.


Two cents from another newbie.

Somebody else has suggested that I try simple barrelponics, know anything about IBC's vs Barrels? I've looked at the IBC site and it looks very promising,

It depends what type of fish you want to do. An ibc as a fish tank will be an ok size for growing fish to plate size but if you just want gold fish any small barrel system will do the cheapest being the single barrel system


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Thank you for the links, they were very helpful. Just one question, do you know the width of the average IBC in the US? because im doing this indoors, and if its too large to get through my door than it immediately stops being an option. I'm looking at both options though, i havent decided which one i'll choose.

Here is a couple of pics of the smallest blue barrel system that Nat set up here at the Backyard Aquaponics shop.
Fits through a doorway, neat and compact, easy to make, very productive and cheap.


We are growing different varieties of basil, chives, thyme and chillis and theres room for more.