Backyard Aquaponics
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About to start
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=22101		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Taper123 [ Jun 18th, '14, 20:24 ]
Post subject:  About to start
I have been bitten by the Aquaponics bug. Bought two IBC totes (275 gallon) yesterday, so now I need to come up with a plan on how to use them.

My garden in the ground has always had drip emitters and localized sprayers, so it is fairly water efficient. I'm just tired of weeding, and bending over to pick ground plants. Besides, I like a challenge and learning/trying new things.

I've had various outdoor hydro gardens in the past that always did well, and have kept indoor fresh and salt water fish tanks. This will be my first attempt at combining the two.

Now to do some more research into how to use my new tanks :mrgreen:
Author:  Taper123 [ Jun 20th, '14, 09:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: About to start
Cleared off a 10 x 14 deck today, and cut a ibc in half. Marked out a spot for the sump, along with ways to build shade for the tanks. Located a fish farm an hour north of me for when I am ready. Hope to start soon.
Author:  Colum Black-Byron [ Jun 20th, '14, 10:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: About to start
Congrats!

Good to get a start.

You'll find even with an efficient drippers and sprayers, the AP setup will go through less water.

Welcome to the addiction.
Author:  Taper123 [ Jun 20th, '14, 10:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: About to start
I hope you are right, 30 x 30 soil garden is next to the area I setup for Aquaponics of similar size. Will be a great comparison of methods after a year when everything is cycled and mature.
Author:  Taper123 [ Jun 22nd, '14, 08:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: About to start
I guess I should move this to user systems soon,,,

Used bulkhead fittings to plumb the beds today for level control/bell syphons. Picked up another ibc to use as a sump. thankfully I live in a area with sandy soil since I have to dig it out. Will have 500g fish and three ibc halves to start with along with a 200g sump.

Hoping to go live soon if the final plumbing goes good tomorrow,
Author:  Matthew Russell [ Jun 22nd, '14, 19:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: About to start
Awesome, welcome aboard! Photos are good, make sure you post them regularly :)
Author:  1luckeyfish [ Jun 23rd, '14, 02:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: About to start
Welcome. Good to see a fellow Texan. :D What kind of fish are you planning to use?
Author:  Taper123 [ Jun 23rd, '14, 07:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: About to start
Have a pair of IBC's for the tanks. Thinking of tilapia in one, and debating on the other. I found a fish farm about an hour north of here that stocks most of the common fish like tilapia, perch, catfish, bass, etc that people want in ponds.

Dug out the sump area today, and installed...it will be able to hold 225 gallons. Hoping that being almost buried it will help to keep water temps under control. PLumbed a pair of ibc halves today as well, and started on the tank overflow/manifold to feed everything. Went with 2" out of the tanks and will reduce to feed each bed and expand later on once everything cycles and becomes stable.

Have 1 1/4" pipe for bed level/overflow, with 3" pvc bell syphons. Found some scrap 6"pvc that I'm going to drill lots of holes in for a media guard.

Hopefully my guestimations on pipe sizes will work out well. Hoping to get bed media this week, and a few test gold fish or something to get started, Will try and figure out how to post pics soon as well.

Almost ready to start the system, as the build is getting close.
Author:  Taper123 [ Jun 23rd, '14, 07:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: About to start
Guess I should have added that I started with 2 ibc's... then added another for the sump, and another cut in half for the initial beds. UP to 4, a bunch of pvc fittings, bulkhead fittings, some tubing, and an old pump that I should probally upgrade...

The systems look sound, so I'm betting on it working... and I hate losing a bet.
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