Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

ok, as i start to put together and design my new aquaponic system keep wondering what would be the best set up to use towards installing a biofilter and skimmer. heres my plan so far . im going to install some sort of skimmer to remove solids but still have to figure that part out of how to build it.. and then a barrel size container filled with bio-balls or some other sort of media and then hydroton that i will use in growbeds. i assume that would be enough to breed the bacteria for a 2000L/500 gallon tank? i did see some protien skimmers but wasnt sure if itd take out too mnuch of the good stuff that the plants would need?. i would really appreciate pointers or guidence of what to do to make my aqaponic system succeed.

How many growbeds do you intend to have SA?.... welcome by the way....

If you've got sufficient growbed capacity... then they'll supply all the bio-filtration necessary...

And deal with the solids as well.... no need to filter solids out in a growbed system, indeed we rely on them for trace elements...

How many/what type of fish do you intend to stock?

luckily i have probably 8 or 9 bins about 6 in x 3ft x 8ft so i was going to start with probably 1 to 2 growbeds and also have some dutch buckets for bigger plants and if water isnt clear add more plants til i find the balence.... and 500-1000 fingerlings in the 500 gallons. Im expecting some to die off etc since im a beginner, not sure if thats too much but the supplier i found only sells .25 cents per inch at a minimum of 1000 for the fish so its really what i have to get.

500 gallons... approx 2000ltr....

250 fingerlings would probably be a struggle unless you were fully prepared and knowledgable...

ok. i was way off on that part for the fingerlings. thanks for the info i do appreciate that.im excited to get started

Envisage it this way.... 500 fingerlings in 2000ltr.... would be like having a fingerling in 4 ltrs of water.... now imagine that fingerling growing to edible (plate) size.... still in 4 ltrs of water ...

We tend to suggest a safe stocking density, especially when first starting, of around 3kg/100ltr... you could perhaps push toward 6kg/100ltr in time, with adequate filtration and knowledge..

In your case @ 3kg/100ltr ..... 60kg/2000ltr .... or about 120 plate sized fish (500gms).... @ 6kg/100ltr .... max 250 fish...


In your terms... 9lb/26 gall (3kg/100ltr).... or 18lb/26 gall (6kg/100ltr)....

please add the recirculation factor when discussing fish density, as it is essential

frank

excuse me to be adamant

frank

I'm sure the subject will be dealt with in time Frank.... comments were made as they were because I belive that it's most important for any "newbie" to just get a handle on what constitutes a "safe" stocking density....

Granted, other factors of design may allow higher densities... but at this stage I think the basics should be adhered to....

you are confusing newbies if you omit the recirculation factor, Rupert
as even the densities you mention are not safe if there is little or no recirculation

so please at least mention that those are considered safe for a recirculation rate of once your fish tank volume per hour
which is the usual rate for home aquaponics

frank

No confusion intended... or in fact indicated... was addressing the question at hand...

But since it's been raised (thanks Frank).... make sure that you size your pump and pumping cycles to turn over the equivalent of your fish tank volume at least once an hour SA....

Regardless of your stocking density...

It doesnt really matter too much what the recirculation rate is in AP.

The growbeds can only process a certain amount of solids, in a set amount of time.

Sure, I can quadruple my fish density, quadruple my pumping flow, but I can guarantee that unless I add a significant amount of filtering media, the growbeds will clog up. I have seen it happen in my systems. The solids cant be processed and broken down quick enough.

3kg of fish per 100 litres of water, 5kg of fish per 100 litres of growbeds.

Sorry frank, but I have personal experience in this, and you cannot push these ratios without turning it into industrial aquaponics.

Before we hijack SA's thread within the first page... please reference and continue this discussion back in the threads where it was begun... and hashed to death for a multitude of pages...

Let's just leave this thread to SA's questions concerning his intended system design ...

Not required.




That is all you need. Forget the rest for a backyard system.




For a sensibly stocked 2000 litre tank, you will need at least 2000 litres of growbed volume. You would also want to circulate (over a 24 hour period) at least 2000 litres per hour of water through the growbeds. Increasing this flow rate to 4000 litres per hour will not double your stocking rate.

Have it your way, guys,

is all I asked

frank