Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi guy's, I will be using a 1000 litre IBC as my FT and will be running autopots as grow beds so no water is recirculated to FT. I was wondering what sort of submersible pump i should use that can handle waste solids, the pump only needs to push the water through a filter bag in top of tank, not pushing water to grow beds, i have a smart pump for the.

Thanks in advance for your time.

How will you provide biofiltration?

Hadn't given it any thought really, I assumed that the amount of fresh water coming in was enough to handle. I'm very new to this.
Can you elucidate some more on it please.
Do you think I need to worry about it and if so how do I do it etc? What do I need?

Hi Soulkreed, yes you definitely need to provide sufficient biofiltation for your fish to deal with solid waste and covert the ammonia to nitrate. The media filled growbeds generally provide this in AP, although some use mechanical filters (swirl, radial flow, drum) for solids removal and a biofilter to deal with fines and ammonia (moving bed, net), and recover the nutrients from the waste via a mineralisation tank. You need to turn over your fishtank volume once an hour to provide oxygenation for your fish and filter the waste. I suggest you read the IBC of AP and check out the basic info and FAQs on the board index of the forum and give your set up some more thought. Once you have got your head around the basics, then you can seek more specific advice.

In my reading up of the autopot, it doesn't use additional filtration (apart from a filter sock), just has a constant input of water.

It'd probably work, but I see it going through masses of water.

Would it work for the fish though? Would there be enough through flow of top up water to the FT to keep the fish alive and healthy without additional aeration and biofiltration? And what is the source of the top up water? Or have I completely got the wrong end of the stick? ( which is a distinct possibility for which I profusely apologise ).

I will be providing aeration and filtering solids through a nylon bag filter, I just sent off an email to Sam at Gardensmart hydroponics illustrating everyone's concerns about filtration and solid removal etc.

From previous chats to Sam they have been running a FT ( not sure how many litres it is ) with Jade Perch in it that feeds 1000 plants using extra nutrients via a smart pump and they only use a vinyl filter to remove solids etc. he says they have never had any problems with their system but he is feeding a lot of auto pots with that single FT. Perhaps the amount of freshwater coming into FT is enough to keep the ammonia levels down etc.
He uses tap water.

My system will be a 1000 litre IBC with 100 Murray Cod fingerlings which will be feeding 16 auto pots ( double pots and quadruple pots) all up it will accomodate 44 plants in total to begin with.

I asked him if this was enough in the email ( still waiting for reply )
Perhaps I will need more grow beds etc to keep ammonia levels at safe tolerances etc for fish.

Stop talking to hydroponic people.

They are doing a run to waste system by the sound of it, with addition of hydroponic nutrients, which really is a lot of extra work and initial cost in set up. I'm sure they like it and I'm sure they will sell you lots of parts and equipment and nutrient to do it that way. If you are set on using auto pots you really need to set yourself up a small recirc aquaculture system for your fishes sake. Or easier still build a recirculating ap system, then just add on some auto pots.

100 Murray Cod in an IBC is going to be rather crowded and with what you are doing, I'd be concerned about Ammonia/Nitrite levels... unless you are running a LOT of water through it.
The big ones will no doubt eat the small ones though, which will reduce your fish density somewhat.

Thanks guys appreciate the feedback and advise.