Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

I am a newbie to the board and to aquaponics. I am in Lawrence, Kansas and am about to set up my first little experimental system. I have a decorative fish pond that I have always put goldfish in, so I decided to change over to Tilapia and grow some vegetables on top. I am looking for advice on making the floating raft, how to keep the fish from eating the roots, and where I can purchase some Tilapia fingerlings. The pond is kidney shaped and roughly 5 feet long by 3 feet wide and around 2 1/2 feet deep, but the sides taper in. It is probably 300-400 gallons total, maybe less. I would like to grow 4-6 tomato plants, some green beans, peppers, and lettuce in the system.

Many thanks in advance and I am enjoying reading the boards.

Brad

Welcome MM!

Tilapia like water in the 80s, will tolerate into low 70s but won't be happy or grow below that. You may have to limit them to the warmer months and get some good heaters for the pond.

Net baskets for pond plants might be a way to protect the roots.

Thanks Dave. I imagine in another month the water temp will be fine for them but it would be too chilly right now then. I looked for some net baskets at a local nursery and Home Depot last night with no luck. I will look online. I see styrofoam mentioned a lot for the raft bed but all Home Depot carries is the pink polystyrene and I was concerned about chemicals. I also have a curious dog that would probably love to chew it up

Anyone know if the type of styrofoam matters?

Brad

Welcome! See the Tilapia for Us (USA) thread for sources of tilapia.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=935&start=0

Thanks Janet. I started reading that thread and never got through all 18 pages! I will take another look.

Brad

From what I've seen the rafts are usually the white styrofoam. I did read a little while ago about someone making rafts and painting over the foam with tempura paint. I use the blue board over my tanks to keep heat and humidity in, but I wouldn't want it floating in the water so much.

Lowes has square net baskets in their pond dept, at least around here they do. Or try any place that sells pond equipment.

Maybe a crafts or office supply store would carry the white foam boards?

I was thinking I would hold out and find the white styrofoam just to be sure. My concerns with the net baskets are:

1. I would then need to add gravel to hold the plants and that would add weight. Would the styrofoam hold it all?
2. They are fairly large, bigger than I would need I think.

I was hoping to make small holes in the styrofoam just larger than the stems of the plants and have the roots dangle freely in the water. No gravel or medium involved. My wife suggested pantyhose to contain the roots and keep the fish out of them. Is that a crazy idea? Would they last?

Brad

Look up a styrofoam or plastics supplier in the closest large city. They should have white foam in sheets of varying thickness. Or take apart a old styro ice chest.

Will do, thanks badfish.

I've been toying with the idea of using plastic kitchen chopping boards for rafts. They float in water and should be food safe and the dog shouldn't be able to chew it easily. Just use a hole saw to cut holes for the plants to go through.

Welcome MM

Great idea Jaymie. That would be good and sturdy enough to attach screen or mesh to as well. We are now considering a grid of wires held by stakes in the ground and the plants in mesh baskets suspended on the wires. I never would have thought that styrofoam is so hard to find, but it is. Everyone has the blue, green, or pink board, but nobody seems to have the white. Still looking for Tilapia as well. Might have to order through Miami Aquaculture unless JP has enough fingerlings to sell me
Brad

Hey MM... perhaps try people who build cool-rooms...

Thanks OZ. I think we are going to try the wire idea tonight and if that doesn't work we might revisit using styrofoam.

Brad

MM, I made a little styrofoam "raft" with holes in it for about 16 water bottles cut in half, with gravel in them, that worked like little gravel planters sitting on top of a thin film of water. The styrofoam went everywhere and likes to crack. It looks kind of dumb too. Now that I think about it I don't know why I even needed to use the foam board for this application. I like your wire mesh idea. Just make sure that the water level doesn't fall enough for the roots dry out. And post pictures!

Dave,

I wondered about the life expectency of styrofoam as well as the looks. I will get some pics of the pond tonight before and during the install of the wires. I think this will work nicely as I can pull out or move individual plants easily. As for the water levels I hope to keep it topped off regularly, but if not I guess I can loosen the wires to lower the plants.

I need to get some water temps as well to see if it is the right time to order some tilapia. If not I may get a couple of goldfish to start cycling the system. I had goldfish in it last summer and have not changed the water so hopefully there is a base to start from. I guess I need to get a water test kit as well, I am just trying to keep cost down as much as possible and might just risk it unless I see problems with the fish. I think 5 goldfish lived there all summer long last year with just one pond plant and the pump cycling over a waterfall. They didn't survive the winter though

I measured the pond last night and I guess my eyes aren't on straight. It is actually 9 feet by around 3 1/2 feet, kidney shaped. I think if I get good at fish farming I could raise quite a few fish and vegetables in there. In fact, my concern is that I won't have enough grow bed to filter it properly. Might have to add an external grow bed as the summer goes on.

I guess this thread should have been under Member Systems since it will likley be my ongoing saga. Newbie mistake Anyway to move it or is it necessary?

Brad