Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello All
New to whole aquaponics world, but strange because I have always been involved in plants and taught many hundreds of people how to grow plants/fruit/veg.
I regularly have plant sales and have many return customers, I think they like the idea I don't have prices they tell me how much they want to pay. many times I arrive home and there are plants on my door step from people who have dug theirs up but just cant throw them away, I still get a buzz out of growing plants and passing them on.
My shade house is connected to my house 6mx6mx5m no you cant swing a cat in my backyard.
but I will make room for the aquaponics, maybe get rid of the clothesline

my wife says I have to many hobbies, lets see I have a mixed saltwater reef aquarium, 4x4, shade house, boat,
and now aquaponics. I don't smoke or drink am I not a good husband
I do hope to get through a lot of the threads here and learn from you all
when I figure out how to add pics here I will show my progress

I am going for a simple setup cut the top off ICB bottom for fish top for plants I want to have it on a timer 15 mins on 30 mins off, I have plenty of pumps etc from my marine setup I am confused wether to have foam floating or blue metal for media I cant afford the clay balls to many other hobbies take all my money ahahahah

Oh I have to have gold fish for the system my wife said
so that's all about me thanks for reading
Jim

Hi! Welcome to the forum, and to the addiction!

Blue metal will probably be easier if you are tight on space. If you have floating rafts you will need to add extra filtration before this so that the roots don't clog up and rot. You'd also (IMO) have an easier time growing different varieties of plants in a media bed as you don't have to worry about them being top-heavy and unbalancing your raft etc. For a small space that is what I would do anyway.
Have a look at the IBC of Aquaponics at the top of the page if you haven't already, as there is some great info in there.

Best of luck!




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You need the gravel Jeby... that's where the beneficial bacteria live that underpin the entire process, keep your fish alive, and determine the maximum safe fish stocking capacity of the system.

WOW see I have learnt something in the first day of being on this forum
thanks for the reply's