Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

I live in Metro Manila and have been interested in starting an aquaponics system for awhile.

We started a small test system to make sure that we could get it to work properly before building a bigger system. I have plans to make one using IBC and or blue barrels depending what is available.

The starter system consists of and has been running about 6 weeks

2 bus tubs connected together with pvc tubes
2 round grow beds
1600 liter per hour pump ( feeds grow beds and half diverts back to tanks)
air pump
grey stone for media
7 red tilapia

We used the bell siphons and they seem to be working good, the only thing I am unsure of is if they cycle to fast.

Fish are doing great and only had 1 death due to suicide ( jumper)

Plants are doing good so far but do seem to be lacking iron at times.

some of the problems we have are finding things such as chelated iron and also seasol or maxicrop.

after doing some reading I have added some iron from GNC capsuls that I was able to find and also added some fresh coconut water and that seems to have helped and not effected the fish .

Definitely excited to get my larger system started

Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

the start

Welcome MarkZ

Hey mark Z I worked in the phils for a couple of years. Good luck with your set-up. Are you feeding the fish san mig?

Hi Markz,
Nice setup!
I have been doing AP for the last 2 years already here in Sta Rosa, Laguna. I have 4 IBC tanks now.
Check out my site: www.deosaquavermiponics.com
You can visit my place and I am more than willing to share my successes and failures too...hehe
jetson

Hi All and thank you for the welcome.

Jetson , we are actually fairly close , I am in Las Pinas. Checked out the link to your page , very cool.

Do you add any supplements to your system? I have been looking for supplements that I have seen others using and or suggesting but cant seem to find them anywhere.

One other problem is bugs , the leaf miners went crazy on my tomato plants and I am not sure what to use for them , in my dirt garden a mix of chilies , garlic with a little pure soap seems to work good but I know the soap is not good for my fish so I have not sprayed with anything. Do you use any type of spray for bugs?

Hi Markz,
I use the same mixture....chili, garlic and soap....as long as you spray on the plants' leaves only, the soap doesnt affect the fish at all.
I put EM in the gravel every 1 or 2 weeks to supplement iron, etc. Egg shells for calcium. I dig in scrap veggies and fruits every week for the worms (bananas, melon, coconut water)...whatever i can find in the wet market (free). I saw calcium nitrate in a seed company in QC. They say it corrects your Ph. But i am afraid it might affect the fish.
Anyone used calcium nitrate before?

Well perhaps... downward.... Calcium Nitrate is said to have a pH between 4.0 - 7.5.... it all depends how, and with what it dissassociates with...

But generally it's given a pH of 6.0... in it's most common form... which is Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate...

Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate is prepared by neutralizing nitric acid with calcium carbonate.... and thus usually has a residual acidicy...



Yep.... I used it commonly in hydroponics... and I will admit to some very occasional.. (seldom)... use during winter in my AP... (for very specific reasons)

But the real question is more.... why do you want to use it... and/or other "fertilisers.. and additives... you might as well just do hydroponics...

Thanks for the information

Hi Markz

I'm from the Philippines as well and in the process of putting up a small system to try out AP.

How is your start-up system doing? I hope you can post update pictures so we can see how well it's doing.

Thanks!

Hi Cocoy,

The system is working well, we had a few tomato and pepper plants that did very well and gave a good amount of veggies. I currently have arugula, basil and oregano in the system.

I have started to build a little bit larger system in my yard as well. Here is a link to the new systems thread http://goo.gl/mOvBlL

I am still really new at this but let me know if I can help you out in any way.

Hi Markz,

Im still in the process of setting up my first mini system. Just got my old 35 gallon aquarium today. I will be buying some starter gold fish to start off until I get hold of some tilapia fingerlings. I haven't decided what grow bed to use but I prefer those 2nd hand blue barrels. I have 3 chillie plants to start with, hopefully I'll have the system up and running bynext week.

Can I ask where you get your fish?

Thanks

Hi Cocoy,

Thats great that you are getting started , I used goldfish for a long time in my smaller system and they worked great.

I get my Tilapia from my cousin who gets them from someone in Marikina. I think that he found the supplier on Sulit. I sis look and there are quite a few people on Sulit selling fingerlings in Cavite.

Hello Markz

Sulit has been a great help in my search for suppliers. There is one fingerling supplier in Cavite but unfortunately they have a minimum order. I might buy from Deo's Aquavemiponics, been to one of their free seminars, I'm just not sure if they also have a minimum order. There is also one in Paranaque and Laguna.

I plan on getting some gold fish to start off and gradually add additional fish - my intention is to have edible fish when my system is up and running smoothly.

My chillie plants are patiently waiting for me to finish my setup

Sulit is great been a big help for me in finding things well. I can try to get the contact information for the guy my cousin gets his from if you want , Is Marikina far from you?

My son and I are just finishing up on our new system and looking forward to getting more veggies

I am also now thinking about trying to get a hold of an IBC and making a larger system. My big fear with the IBC is I can find them but am never quite sure what they held since all of the stickers have been removed.

Welcome to the forum.. great looking setup! I also have an oversized pump, so I'm curious as to what method are you using to divert some water back?