Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all.

I'm new to AP. I have just started my first AP system.

The grow bed is a constant flow media bed that holds 570Ltrs of wet media. The fish tank is an IBC that is filled to the 800Ltr mark (i figured i would not fill to the brim so as to cope with fluctuations in water volume and to keep jumpers in). I have a swirl filter made from a 44 gallon plastic pickle barrel. I have used 25mm low density irrigation poly pipe for the plumbing. I have an air pump and water pump that run around the clock.

At the moment i have six 50mm gold fish and two silver perch fingerling in the fish tank. I am using these fish as guinea pigs, the gold fish have been in for two months now and they're still swimming. The silver perch have been in for two weeks ditto.

I have a few lettuce, zucchini water cress and other odds and ends in the GB. These are all well enough. The plants may need some micro nutrients. I am doing some research into micro nutrient application and dose rates now.

What i am after from AP.
I am an AP hobbyist. I'm not looking for world record productivity. I want the satisfaction of eating stuff that i have produced myself. I find it fun to experiment and AP gives me a productive outlet for experimentation. I am a landscape designer and i think that there will be a demand for AP design and consultation in the near future, so i want some hands on experience to draw on.

I am worried about the state of the world. With an ever rising population of people, dry land salinity, soil erosion, water eutrophication due to poor conventional agricultural practices and the over use of antibiotics, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in food production. I think that AP is well suited to address all of these issues. It's nice to think that I could one day make a contribution towards the mitigation of these problems.

I look forward to learning more about AP. And one day to have some experience to share in return.

Welcome BGTC


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That's near my folks


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welcome to the addition!!

Welcome aboard.. .... You will enjoy the ride..

The only thing that I would suggest is about constant flood..

570L of media will take about 150L of water to flood..

Many believe that flood and drain is better because it means that EVERY portion of the bed is drained and prevents accidental anaerobic areas..

I'm just wondering if you would be better installing a stand-pipe at the maximum GB water level and drill small holes in the bottom, such that you can run a timer to flood the bed and once full just let it drain completely..
You can thus suck air into every portion of the bed and thus achieve a healthier system, especially after it has been running for a time..

Anyway - just a thought...
Naturally, it would mean that you might be cycling between fT height of say 750L and 900L..

Most of us share your concerns for the world, but in most suburban back yards, it is now difficult really become sustainable.. but we can try..
..
.

Not another bloody Victorian!!

Jokes... Welcome to the forum.

Hi all.

Thanks for your warm welcome and valued advice.

BuiDoi

I have rigged my constantly flooded system up such that it drains from the bottom of the GB and fills from the top. I hope that draining from the bottom will prevent stratification and stagnation. Also I have set the max water level within my constantly flooded system to be 100mm below the surface of the media. Capillary action raises moister to the roots of my plants, so the roots are not completely immersed in water, only moistened. I hope that this arrangement will leave enough voids around the roots for gas exchange.

Does this arrangement sound workable?

I am currently adding a flood/drain GB that uses a bell siphon. I plan to compare the effectiveness of these two systems.
I'll let the forum know the results.

So you have a standpipe with a hole in the bottom of the standpipe?

Hi BGTC
Im just up in Mt Evelyn if you want to compare notes, not that I have any yet! Just a pile of bits waiting for my time.
Welcome, anyway!