Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

25 years ago, while visiting Paraguay, fishing for some BIG cats, I was thinking it would be soooooo cool to build a farm based on a closed system, with soya beans/cat fish/and worms.

Many years later, I realise how much those ideas have evolved, and how much great information is available.

Now It seem that I've somehow settled down, and want to finally build a system.

While measuring the area around our water collector, I noticed a concrete trap. Upon inspection I was steering on to a big dark hole. It seems like an old concrete lined space, where human waste was stored something like 20 years ago. I removed the 10cm mud deposit, and it looks great for a sump (pre loaded with the right bacteria I guess). Volume is about 1700l

Is there any reason I couldn't use that underground tank on my system? Above I have a 400l and about 1200l to play with. I like the 2.2m of water drop it gives (from the top of the 1200l to the bottom of the underground one).

Found the pumps, the grow media, and still looking for the grow beds (those are proving very difficult to find).

In any case, thanks for all the great and friendly info on the forums, it helps a lot, and makes me miss a lot your side of the world. I have no doubs I will soon start posting pictures... and probably problems

cheers.

Hi there are you in Spain then? Just wondering what part of Europe. Would love to go back there one day and experience the coutryside and nature, not the buildings and touristy things.
Anyway a couple of things to keep in mind, food grade is important if you are eating your produce. An inground sump- as long as you can access it, in case you have to, eg net fish or tend to pump. Many things are possible, post up ideas and designs or photos and we will critique them. It is easy once you know how. Welcome to the forum.

Reckon I would be CLEANING out the sump really well first.

Look forward to photos and a blog on your progress.

AGREED!! If you don't know what was in it, proceed with excessive caution for your sake and that of your fish!!

Glad to have you aboard. Look forward to pics... Spain is a place I would LOVE to visit. the food, music and culture are personal favorites!!

CB

Thanks for the warming welcome

I've been thinking about the sump, and while I like the idea of the ciment tank (PH), I may just use liner to stay on the safe side. Other than the natural stuff, who know what disinfectants or chemicals have been dumped there. It seems very clean now, but cement can infuse stuff...

Tomorrow I go to collect my 1200l fibreglass fish tank...

Still the problem to find something to use as grow beds. Blue barrels are rare, and the 1000l metal encased tanks are quite expensive around here (high demand

Then I found a place that can supply the fish. I'm planing to use Slurus glanis, an European catfish that can grow well over 1kg the first year, and reach over 100kg. Tolerant to our range of temperatures and low in oxygen needs. The river facing my house has some, but we tend to catch them on the 10-20kg range.

Getting excited!