Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everybody,

I just wanted to introduce myself and show you my planned backyard aquaponics system.
I've based it on travis's Barrelponics system, and used pictures of his Aquaponics for Kenya project (http://www.fastonline.org/component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,41/?g2_itemId=79) to supplement my drawings.
Here's my system with the planned greenhouse. I haven't cleaned up the PVC system, nor added valves or grow bed drains which I plan on doing.

Just the Fish tank part:

I have a few questions for you guys, I figured you'd be able to answer fairly easily.

When we talk about system size, are you talking about a fully loaded system Fish Tank+Flood Tank = system size?

Currently by my calculations I'm at 350 Gal. not including the flood tanks, which i plan on filling with at least 40 gal. each. (total 80)
I've read that the system needs about 10 gallons per bed per flush, does that seem appropriate?
Will this be enough for 8 grow beds? The barrelponics pdf by Paul Range states you need at least 400 gal. for 6-8 beds

Do you guys have any suggestions as far as releasing the water into the beds, right now I plan on always having water in the lower flood pipes so that the flow is even for each flood cycle.

Which brings me to a question of cycle, what is a good cycle for this flood and drain system? How many cycles per hour?

Now I've read fish need each 2.5 gal. so by that calculation I would need 140 fish to keep the system going ?
Does that sound right?

To save money and not have to deal with an L shaped tank, I made two separate tanks. Will this work ok as one system?

Well i'm open to suggestions and feed back!

I'm very excited about getting started on this system.

Thank you so much

Chris

Welcome Chris!

I think you should take a look at JT's system:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5259&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

How constrained are you on configuration like for the greenhouse shape, etc?

BTW, very nice Sketchupping!

I actually did that on purpose in my GH design. Mine will actually have two sperate systems that run independent of each other. The benifits are I can run smaller fish or different species in the tanks that might not normally get along and desease or other problems will not knock out the entire system "when" they arise.

Dave, Thanks, my wife is an architect. I just put in the pvc system, and it shows.

Unfortunately the layout has to be pretty exact as the concrete pad is already existing. the pad itself is 9'x12'.

Why do you recommend JTs system over the barrelponics flood tank system? I like the ease of a toilet tank flapper to control the flooding.

Thanks for the feedback Voodoo,
In that case im assuming you used 2 pumps etc.

This is the pump I was looking at: http://cgi.ebay.com/IWAKI-MAGNETIC-DRIVE-PUMP-MD-70RLZ-WATER-PUMP-3-4-MPT_W0QQitemZ120533875133QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Pumps?hash=item1c1060f9bd

at 120 bucks shipped, that's a little cost prohibitive to buy 2 of. but I see your point about disease etc.
Do you think it is unavoidable ?

Does anyone think this is a good starter system ?

In at the door of the greenhouse there are 2 10'x3' dirt garden beds, they will get swapped with aquaponics if this is a success. I will update with pictures of the site soon.

I think JT's system is pretty much state of the art, with excellent execution. Pond liner is cheaper than barrels and fittings as the bed volumes get larger. The rounded barrels waste space in a tight greenhouse over rectangular beds which maximize volume. JT's is setup for CHIFT PIST which gets the solids to the beds and keeps the sump clean while using only a single pump, no need for the header tanks outside. A buried sump maximizes space and stabilizes water temps if it is possible but if you have a slab already maybe that isn't.

Dave,

Wow, just read JTs thread from start to finish. VERY impressive, the Tank readings were like a novel!.. ups and downs.. and the sump tank failure etc..

Crazy.

I think due to my limitations I won't do a CHIFT PIST system this time around, it seems pretty complicated to get running and mistakes are easy to make. As JT followed up with an even larger installation I think if this goes well then I will pick a site where I can accommodate a sump, using the earth to heat the tank is genius!

The growbeds I agree with I could use a large platform to maximize growing space, unfortunately I've got a really good deal on barrels ($10 a piece) and I've already purchased them, had I dome more research I probably would have built larger beds.

Are there any areas in my current system that could be faulty ?

I liked Voodoo's suggestion of segregating the two systems. although each tank only handles about 180 gallons, and I've heard that larger systems are easier to keep constant. Perhaps raising the beds even further would be feasible without taking up more standing space. What do you guys think of the pump I found on Ebay?

Dave, you mentioned the Solids being removed to the GB wouldnt I be able to push the solids to the Flood tanks so I can dump them to the GBs the same ?

I saw JTs system took a very long time to get into balance, is that something I should expect with my system at this size?

I heard you should recirculate 100% of the fist tank water every hour to get the best results. so if I have 10 gal per bed for 80gal total that would be 1 cycle every 10 minutes or so. Is that achievable ?

Also oxygenation, I didn't catch if and where JTs system used oxygenation? I think for my water flow I would need to oxygenate more than just letting the water drain into the FT.

Is 20 Gal per lb. of fish a conservative guideline for the amount of fish I can have in the system? How do you manage systems with a lot of small fish, what do you do when they get larger, do you have to start harvesting at plate size? .. How do you introduce smaller fish when you have to stock back up a tank full of larger fish, segregation?

I'm sure many of these questions are answered in the forums somewhere, but hitting the nail on the head with the search terms as i'm not yet 100% familiar is difficult.

Hope your days are going well!

Chris

Hey we're neighbors

I'm in Converse. Good looking system plan you got there.

Hey DK..

Thats awesome, do you have a system going ?

I have one half built. It's not the system of choice, but it is being made from components I can get cheap. I'd rather build a nice flood and drain, but I have some pipes that I picked up from craigslist so I'm doing a NFT to start with.

Is this barrel source local? How big are they? Are there more?

Yep, I want some

daddykirbs, make sure you use plants that tolerate waterlogged roots. And don't use bedrock from rivers around here; it's free but will keep your pH very high, not good for most plants.

Got it, no local river rock.

Now... what about the water logged roots thing? Can't the barrel grow beds be drained completely?

Howdy neighbors!
(It's not THAT long a drive, really. And an excuse to stop at Buc-Ee's...)

They DO have clean bathrooms

After a season of AP, I'd like to meet some of you other wackos

Right now I just have to get something growing or my wife will NOT like what I've done to the backyard