Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

Just thought i would add a few images to this forum of my new system,
it is a work in progress hoping to have it up and running in a week or so.
I have been interested in aquaponics after reading a article in earth gardening a year or so a go.
I started with the barrel aquaponics but wanted to go bigger, more fish, yabbies and vegies. Yes a newbiee but keen to learn all i can

.

one question i do have, is can you 'mix the water and nutrients' when you have fish and yabbies ? or is it best to have two separate systems going ?

i am having 4 1/2 barrels for yabbies and 2 x 500lt tubs for the fish. all the water will be collecting into a sump under the yabbies, and the through to the PVC growbeds.

any useful comments would be appreciated

thanx

looks great so far love the hot house idea
cheers
mizzie

Water can be shared between fish and yabbies fine

However it is quite often handy to have two seperate systems, this allows for a quarantine/rescue system - I have used my two systems like this quite a few times.

Your not worried about the yabbies doing the great escape thing?

Hi mizzie

Thanks for you comment, you system in Bendigo looks great.
The glass green house would retain a lot of heat in summer

regards

hey Outbackozzie

thanx for your reply,
yeah i am leaning towards having two separate systems going even if one of the grow beds is outside of the greenhouse, (running out of space). it will still get lots of light during the summer months. and like you said there is a benefit for the fish in the quarantine respect.

thanx

hi ruins the glass house has about 10 windows that are self opening once the temp reaches a certin temp dam this home made greek wine
cheers mizzie

hi mizzie

yaeh the grappa's got a kick

Hi all just a couple of questions

does anyone have a good reference site for the ideal temp to have your fish growing at ? ie trout barra and SP, native fish in australia

and can some pls explain why you would add seasol to the tank ??

thanx

There was a bit of discussion about Seasol and other items here
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=981&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=135

From the BYAP bible it states the following for preferred temps
Barra - 24-28 degrees
SP - 18-30
Murray Cod 24-25
Tiapia 24-28
Trout 10-22

Optimum growth is pretty much smack bang in the middle of them ranges - trout go hard at the food big time @ 15 deg c

Hi!

Are the tanks you used from Bunnings? I saw some today that were $79 each when the others i have seen range from $250-$450 for 500ltr tanks. How did you plumb them?

Terry

The B tubs are great value. Saw them today and there were a sign on them saying not for drinking water. There has been some talk about whether they are safe or not. Seems like most BYAP people are happy to use them. Scott has an excellent system set up with these tubs. Check his thread out.
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2011&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=scott&start=210
I saw a 50 mm connection in the irrigation section of bunnings that I was thinking of using to connect the tubs. It wouldn't go in the area design for the tap, but should work just the same.

The tubs are from B, it was a sight geting them home 1/2 hanging out of the boot of the car, hoping i would'nt get pulled over.

I am in the process of plumbing them. hopeful today.

I am hoping that gravity will do its jod and pull the water from the bottom and flow on to the grow beds which are at a lower level (sorry about the dogie drawing useing paint, 3 min job).

Gill

Yeah a had a look at scotts system befor buying them, (his looks great hey) and was semi reasured that the fish would not be found floating the next day

one of the only reasons i can think as to why they would not be suitable for drinking is the lids are removable, overtime stuff can get in ??

not sure but im giving it a go...

thanx for your reply hopefuly i will have some more pics tonight.

In your drawing on this page water will not flow up the pipe and over the side if it did it would become a syphern and drain the fish tank