Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Apparently I registered back in 2013 and have just been lurking since then but this year I finally had the money and started my system. I started a little late and only have two fish but it's a start. Hope to really get things going next year when I get more fish but just wanted to say hi to all, thanks for the wealth of information I've tried to put to good use and hope to have a few stories to share in the future about my system. Even if nots producing right now I still love it. Can't wait to get more going but baby steps, right?

Post up some pictures when you get the chance and welcome

This is an old picture from when I first set up. All plants in it have pretty much died or still look about the same. Started too late in the year. I rinsed and repeated the lava rock like four times and drained the system but I just couldn't get the bottom to clear up. There's still a bit of red on the bottom though not nearly as bad as it was. The tank may look a bit sloppy but I don't have any power tools so it was all cut with a hacksaw and a box cutter (surprisingly easy to cut the tote--the cage, not so much). The system was meant to be an ebb and flow but I'm still new to this and went with a constant flow standpipe. Figured the least I could do was learn from the system this year so it'll thrive next year. One thing I've learned just recently is the standpipe is too tall so I need to trim it back. The plants kept yellowing and dying so I learned that this could be the problem. Once I trim it back about a half inch I think the plants will just start taking off. My main question is how much and how often do you feed your fish? I only have two (an 8" channel cat and a 3-5" sunfish) and I've been tossing in some mealworms and beetles and any other bugs I catch and the sunfish devours them like the second they hit the water. I worry the catfish isn't getting anything to eat but I do want to note there were originally two sunfish and I haven't seen the second one.

Edit: I can't seem to post the picture as it is too big? I don't have a computer so I use an iPhone and I'm not very picture friendly like most of the people my age so I don't know how to edit it to size? I'll try and get it up as soon as possible. Oh, and thanks for the welcome!

These two threads might help with posting pictures

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=107&start=45

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21754

Whoo! Downloaded an image resizer for iPhone. Of course there's an app for that. Who knew I would ever need that.

I noticed someone looking for a way to rotate images, did your app let you do that as well (I'm thinking maybe they could use it )?

Yes it does! It's called image size and it's free. You just can't beat free.

So my system is just a tote cut in thirds with one third on top of the other two. How would I incorporate a sump tank into this design and what should I use for the sump tank? Not really wanting to cut another IBC for a while until I get some actual power tools.

Also I know I could look this up but what exactly is a benefit of the sump over my current system? I know the height of the water level would be about the same constantly and the sump would keep the fish tank from going dry should something go wrong but not sure what a major benefit is? Thank you.

So as the "owner" of this thread I'd like to keep it updated with what I've done and what I'm going to do so, yesterday I finally realized that a small amount of mealworms/beetles and other various insects that I catch or fall in is not a great food supply or provides enough nutrients for the plants to grow. Now, two fish may not really provide enough nutrients either but I'll find that out soon enough. So I ordered some aqua nourish stage four fish food from aquaponics source (I believe that's the name) and hopefully I'll see the fish really starting to grow as well as my plants. I also removed some of the plants in my system, have yet to remove the tomatoes because I feel like it still requires some kind of filtration while I'm about to sprout some lettuce and spinach seeds to have a steady supply of food for my mealworm "farm." That's it for now. I plan on looking into adding a sump tank that I will use to grow duckweed and maybe some crawfish or something but definitely duckweed. Well, that's it for now!