Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Greetings,

This is going to be the quickest intro ever because my job is keeping me crazy busy. Too busy!

I saw Halloram's (sp?) Aquaponics video, "The First 12 Months" and, naturally, was like "I'VE GOT TO DO THAT." So I picked up two 27-gal bins, a 400 gph pump, some PVC and ~2.5cuft of 3/4" gravel and built a rig. Spent about $200 USD if you include the stand.

Will post pictures when I have some time to breathe but in short it's a pretty simple pump-up, autosiphon down setup, planning on growing mostly strawberries, herbs and lettuce.

I'm SURE I'll have a ton of questions. Fish species availability in v.small quantities in Upstate NY comes to mind (is it even *possible* to get Jade Perch in this area??), so does the feasibility of bringing the entire rig indoors during the winter vs. heating it somehow in a rather uninsulated but closed-in back porch.

So thanks for the forum, I'm sure this place will help me avoid many a nightmare.

you won't be able to get "jade perch", they're an aussie species..
you should be able to find bluegill, yellow perch, trout, crappie etc.. just look for local pond stockers.. if you need help let me know.. i had trouble finding fish last year when i started, but since then i've found a few resources

Welcome to the forum, bodhisoma!
Are you building your system inside or outside?

Thanks for the replies, I'll definitely YellowPages some fish stockers.

Egad, I just dated myself, huh? =P

The rig is inside, kinda. That is to say it's in an enclosed porch that likely has little enough insulation to cause the water to freeze come winter. Debating either enclosing the stand and heating it or bringing into the house proper but then light is going to be an issue.

Welcome bodhisoma....