Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello every one this is my fist post so let me tell you about me.

I have been doing mediumless hydro for 2 years continous flow 55gal with 4, 20feet 4in pipes.

I allso been keeping koi for some time (as long as i could remember) but i sold all but a breeding pair i have in 150gal show tank.

Well i am thinking about hooking up the pipes to a 400gal tank i have lieing around and doing the continous flow. (mediumless aqua)

the crop is lettuce i think i would have to harvest 1 pipe (20 lettuce) at a time to avoid a spike in the system, as well as the fish, not sure of how much to harvest at a time.

The big qusetion i need to have answerd is, if i am doing mediumless i would have to have some place with a large surface area for the bacteria to grow on.

I am thinking of the 55gal tank with nylon ropes that have been 'fuzzed out' should house enough bacteria to do the job?

Would it work????

That would work... what you are describing is something similar to a bio filter... If you have a bio filter tied into your system then it will convert the amonia into nitrates etc for you, and could be set up to collect the solid waste too.

Aquaddict is currently experimenting with Deep Water Aquaponics without removal of solids. One opinion is that with solids in the water, they attach to the roots, impairing their function. AA may prove otherwise. Be interesting to see how he goes. AA?

I've tried mediumless and it didn't work very well for me. I'm not saying it won't work, I think I was rather bad at aqua/hydro at that stage.

I got DWC working without too much filtration medium which seemed a nice compromise.

I worked out 1 pound of fish needed 2 gallons of medium to grow 4 sq ft of canopy space, This with fruiting plants. The thread with more detail is in systems and is called Deep Water Culture. I'll update it as I make some in my current project.

However, I want to do a hybrid.

Planted gravel beds recieve pond water first removing solids then water flows to DWC systems.

This after spending long time and thought on the subject of aquaponics and all I've studied so far.

So, in answer, yes, get a big filter, may as well make it a growbed and grow in it, then let it drain to your lettuce.

I think it'll work a treat.

Read around here, take a few days it's worth it.

ok aquamad a bio filter is what it is called. cool.

Belive me aquaaddict i am reading around the site to see what i can learn.

I got a little miss-understanding with your 1:2:4 ratio.

YOu did not factor in the amount of water to use. or is this not important? i am thinking of useing about 400 gall. Or should i just go by the amount of fish i can get stuck in there?

But still if i got two same systems running with the right ratio and 50 pounds of fish each and one has in twice the water of the next would i get the same kind of output from the plants?

TO make it clearer-- two systems with the same amout of fish, fillter medium and canopy space but one has twice the water would i get the same output?

Yes. The water is a moot point but has several notable factors. More water makes a system more stable. Harder for temperature pH etc to go awry.

You'll always want at least what the fish require of course, but more is better, and allows for much growth of your fish.

When the fish are outgrowing the systems filtration, sharpen your filleting knife.

AA - I agree that what you are suggesting re: gravel beds feeding into DWC is the go. This is what I am hoping to do in the end also.

i got a problem i the fish tank i got is 5 feet tall i i want my grow beds to be about 3 feet so i would have to do a gravity feed of some sort.

I got lots of pipes and stuff but no system as yet i am getting resless too. I got some pics but i cant seams to get them posted.

I Realy need your guys help though as i am lost.

for one i thing i found a good bio-filler medium.

The netting that is used to cover a green house. Is this good enought or am i better off with gravel. i like the iday because its light.

As i have to move the system in a years time.

I'm not sure if the net would clog or not. Anyone?

Your tank could gravity feed to your beds, then gravity feed to a lower sump tank which has the pump in it. Michael Ferrini's system has a high tank, check it out.

this is how you post pictures.

Click on add attachemnt

click on browse and select picture

click on add attachment again for next picture (up to 3 per post)

click on submit when you have finnished

sorry for the size of the pics guys, i had to add them at native size or they weren't readable!

YOU HAVE FOLDERS LABELLED
Fuel octane_files
Fuels,detonation,preignition,Octane etc_files

and in big capital letters, do you have sub folders wiht
EllKayBee
Monya
MrMad.......sir

ELL, Don't be afraid, be very afraid!

Hi CG,

If you decided to opt for a bio-filter (other than a gravel growbed), and you need it to be lightweight, consider styrofoam bean bag pellets....or coarse perlite.