Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi, all. I am an agriculture science teacher in Idaho trying to put together an aquaponics system with some students. Here is what we have going on: We have a 500 gallon tank with 80-90 tilapia. We have set up a run for plants that is made out of 6" pvc pipe (cut in half length wise) and runs 20 feet away from the tank and returns with 20 more feet to dump back into the fish tank. We have filled it 2/3 full with pea gravel. We have a pump to pump the water up to the pipe and pea gravel. Here is where I would appreciate some help!

We are going to set up a settling tank at the beginning to collect large particulates. Is this necessary?

Do we need a timer on the pump to turn on and off to allow gravel to drain and oxygen to enter root zone?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks a ton!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome MTES!

Most people here are doing S&S Aqua Farm-style setups, using gravel beds as combined solids filters and plant support media. After a gravel bed an NFT-style run like yours can work, without getting the solids out first it will likely get clogged up. If you have any large somewhat shallow stock tanks around you could fill them with gravel and grow large plants in them then run the gutters after?

BTW it could be fun for the students to draw up several possible scenarios using Google Sketchup, have them incorporate all available containers into the design! It can be easier to noodle out configurations that way.

http://sketchup.google.com/download/

Thanks, Dave. We'll take a look at it and try it out.

Oh no! Thats how my first system started out......within 4 months your pvc will become blocked with fish crap, and plant roots. You also do not have anywhere near enough filtration for 80 tilapia!! That pipe will probably hold 80 liters of media, and you will need around 800 at least.

You really have to filter the water very well first, or preferably change the system to gravel beds all together.

I had to run a timer to ensure that the pipes would not overflow.

The plants will grow well however, for a while:





I had to add the blue tote to filter the water a bit, but still had to redesign the whole system to a conventional gravel bed type.



Hope the pics help

Thanks for the pics, those are awesome. I checked out all your pictures and, I must say, I am extremely impressed and excited. You have a lot going on. Are all those plants (corn, tomatoes, peppers, etc) all growing on just the nutrients from your fish water or are you adding supplemental nutrients? It looks like you are dripping the water to your plants, is that correct? I have a ton of questions, woud you be willing to answer them or is there a place that you learned all this from? I'm just amazed at how many different plants you grow and how healthy they look! The kids are going to be pretty excited tomorrow when I show them the pics. Thanks.

Heheh that's OBO mini-system. The back yard is quite better!

There are a lot of nice setups in the Members Systems threads.

Don't look at Faye's or your head may 'splode.

Here are some pictures from mine in warmer times:
viewtopic.php?p=144898#p144898

http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/gallery/3635178/1/207151992

All the pics from the whole Ap experience over the last 15 months are there, in order. If you have questions, am more than happy to answer

Seasol and fish is all I use. The small 4 barrel system runs without fish currently, so that gets urea in place of fish.

Now c'mon Dave my system contains lots of stuff from the last couple of years including people, pests, produce, perch, patio construction and the odd problem. Also pupils and a few photos. Enjoy!

I like that people and pests are placed together, I probably posted there. Darn only 5 p words. Beat by 3.

What concerns me, is that fay says

Hmmm I just use fish poo... perhaps this is Faye's secret?
Just remember never to visit Faye's garden alone, boys and girls...

Reduce, reuse and recycle, the 3 rs. Thats what its all about I say KP. Whats wrong with that?

I think the secret ingredient is to trip over the power cord every so often.

Is everyone using a timer for gravel systems so they drench then drain?