Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everybody

I have been interested in AP for a few years now. I got myself books, videos and regularly read articles and forums on the internet.
Right now I'm in a transition phase between switzerland to paraguay. Switzerland is too cold for my personal taste and it has been too difficult (expensive) for me to find/have a big enough backyard or terrace to build my own AP system so far... And there are also some very restrictive building codes...

But things are about to change very soon... I have planned and started my move to paraguay since 2011.
The main reasons for this step are:
- warmer climate
- affordable land
- few restrictions for constructions and any kind of business
- ...
Of course there can be some difficult points living in a third world country but that's something I have to be willing take in favor of the other points..

Right now I'm in Switzerland for 3 more months due to some business and familiy topics. But I'll be back in Paraguay begining of september 2015..

My wife and I had bought an apartment in the capital (Asuncion) and now I will have the possibility to setup my first AP system on either a 25 m2 or 55 m2 terrace: depends how good I can convince my wife
This is definitly gonna be a hobby level urban-ap setup but it would be nice if it enriches our dinning table; although it's a subtropical country the fresh vegies and fruits supply here in the city aren't always so rich and nice.

I'm using my time right now to clarify some of the design aspects of the system:
- I would tend to build a 1000lt IBC FT and several gravel GB. I will experiment / tryout with RFF and MT and also with some vertical growing techniques.

- 1000lt IBC FT and gravel GB will have a significant total weigth and I need to be carefull how and where to place them on my terraces. It can be difficult to find certain materials in Paraguay, so I don't know whether I could replace gravel with the lighter expanded clay...

- I'm not sure how loud the system will be. The 25 m2 terrace is in front of the bedrooms, the 55 m2 terrace in front of the living room. I have read some threads about the noise.. Maybe I'lll use this concern to convince my wife to build a green terrace in front of the living room first

- I'm a software developer and have some interest in building some automation / diagnosis tools based on arduino and/or raspberry pi platform. Just waiting for some boards and sensors to arrive in my postbox

That's it for my introduction. I'm looking forward to keep reading on this forum and to share the experiences of my own setup once I get started...

Welcome to the forum paraterra

Hi Paraterra, I have my IBC system set up right outside my bedroom window (fishtank is less than 1 metre from the window). The trick is to break up the water flows so they sound more like a trickling stream than someone peeing in the toilet. I have a limestone block sitting on a milk crate in the sumptank to scatter the flow from the siphon. The rainbow trout are quite active during the night, so I am lulled to sleep by the sound of a burbling stream with occasional fish rises - delightful and soothing!!

Not sure on what vertical components you are looking at, but be aware that towers can be high maintenance to manage stray water leaks from corners of planting holes or along leaves - I found water running out from a strawberry leaf in one of my towers this afternoon - had lost quite a bit of water and could have lost more if I hadn't checked.

All the best with your relocation and system planning.