Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All! I've been frequenting aquaponics websites for about a year now after someone told me about it and BYAP has been the most educating, thanks to all! I'm extremely excited as I will be starting my first system soon. I picked up a near complete system today from a family member who doesn't have the time to carry on with it, I'll post photos as soon as I get it set up. Even with all the research I've done I have loads of questions, don't know where to start!

I want to use a flood and drain system with a timed pump as I have the equipment already and I like the idea anyway. The system I got is made up of two 210 litre 'blue drums', one for the fish and one cut in half to make two grow beds. The bottom half of the grow beds has 20mm river pebbles while the top half has vermiculite. I plan to use Tilapia fish. How many fish could I keep in a 210 litre 'tank' and will it be enough for two roughly 100 litre grow beds?

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forum arobertse

I'm not sure I can answer your question but I'm sure someone else will want to know this. How large is the vermiculite? I would expect vermiculite to float and cause problems within the system over time but I know it's been used a few times. You'll usually find that the layers get mixed over time.

Cheers

Welcome to the club. You live in a nice part of the world. i lived in Phalaborwa for 12 years!

I agree with Scotty - recommend that you ditch the vermiculite - it will clog up very quickly,

If i were you i would start with 6 small Tilapia. You may have to harvest some of them before they are full grown.

Thanks a lot Gabe and Scotty435! Appreciate the advice. Where are you now Gabe? I was in Phalaborwa over the weekend, mother-in-law lives there. The vermiculite is small scales almost, around 10mm diameter and not much thicker than paper, I haven't put any water through the system yet so no idea if it will float etc. What else could I use, that is very cheap/free? What about river pebbles all the way through?

Can't upload any pics at the moment, just found out about the 2mb limit. Will do it another way sometime.

Thanks again!

Here's some pics, its all in quite a state! Hope to clear up the area soon!