Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm currently planning a reconfiguration of my AP system for after I get my greenhouse put together. One thing that I'm trying to figure out is whether it's going to be better to have a fewer number of much larger media beds, or to have a larger quantity of lower cost beds made from, for example, polypropylene storage totes.

I think many people have used these totes before, they are widely available:



They are made from polypropylene plastic and are strong enough to fill with water on their own without reinforcement. They come in 17 gallon, 27 gallon, and 55 gallon versions.

Compare a long bench full of small individual totes to a media bed made from 2x4's, plywood and a food safe pond liner

I feel like the totes are going to win in terms of cost per gallon or per square foot of grow bed, but I'm afraid that the hidden costs such as the extra plumbing fittings needed to deliver water to each tote will outweigh the savings.

I'm planning on using a timed flood & drain design as I believe the BYAP trials showed it performed slightly better and it seems less finnicky than both siphons and constant flood.

it has been discussed before, but I had trouble finding it/them.

basically larger beds are better and easier to manage in terms of long term solids breakdown and nutrients.
But there is no reason you cannot use lots of tubs (in that situation I would not be bothering with siphons).

The main drawback with small tubs is that you lose a bit of space and volume for your standpipe and surround.
You also need a lot more plumbing (but you can use cheaper sizes/fixtures etc - which can offset this)
Just dont go too small with the diameters as small pipes block easier.

For a large bed (particularly long thin ones) you need to consider distributing your feed water around the bed.


If you go the tubs it is possible to have a DWC tub alongside a media tub and then run water back to FT.
(just make sure you still have sufficient media volume in your system for your number of fish)

I was thinking of, rather than any type of standpipe or anything, just drilling a couple of small (4-6mm) holes in the bottom of the tote and positioning the totes in a row, with a gutter beneath where the holes are in each tote. I might have to drill an overflow hole near the top in case the drain holes get clogged but the idea is that the tiny holes would allow water to drain at a specific rate but not faster. I could supply water to a whole row of totes on a timer and when the supply was turned off, the beds would drain slowly through the bottom into the gutter.

This would eliminate buying plumbing fittings for each grow bed tote.

that would work with buckets (I have done something similar) - not sure about tubs.
I have also done something similar with 25L (5-6 gal) planters.

In fact I am planning something like that for my dutch buckets this year.
(it is just coming in to spring here - but still bit cool. Getting ready to rebuild everything in prep for tomato season).