Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi!
Michelle here from Vic.
I have 2 4' tropical fish tanks at home and with water becoming as scarce as it is, I was doing some research to try to figure out a way to use the water in a more effective way and to limit the amount of water changes I needed to do to keep the nitrates down and...... I discovered aquaponics!!!!!!
I am so excited!!!! This is such a great idea!!!!! I've been wanting to grow my own veggies for ages, but since we haven't been allowed to water the garden for nearly 4 years, couldn't really put a garden in. I'm still trying to figure out if I can use my current tanks for the aquaponics purpose since they are built in in the middle of the lounge room, logistically a bit difficult, but I know I'm going to set up an aquaponics set up outside, it is such a great idea! Got to try to convince the other half its a good idea too atm, I think he think it's just another hairbrained "fish" idea I have. (I am a little fish mad, I do love my ornamental fish, and am in the process of planning a 8'x2'x2' tank for my oscar, gibby and tandanus that are getting a little too big for the 4' tank) which my other half is shuddering at the logistics of setting up a tank inside that is that big, LOL) I am very well aware of the nitrogen cycle etc with my own tanks, and completely understand how they all work and how the plants tie in etc, I'm really excited by this! Can even use my current tanks with the filter media to help the aquaponics setup cycle!

Anyway, that's a little about me and how I found the Aquaponics idea!

Welcome to the madness

welcome too, fraggle, rock

Perhaps if the current indoor ornamental tanks are not easy to work out veggie grow beds for them, you might still set up a bit of a houseplant grow bed or something to use up some of the nitrates and contribute to improved indoor air quality. Your lounge room might turn into a bit of a jungle though.

Do your current indoor tanks use sumps? If so, you might have an easier time working out some AP for them than you think, just don't trip over the piping running under the carpet

Welcome!

Welcome!!

I built a small AP system using a 10 gallon fish tank and a 28 qt storage container. Pics are below. I upgraded the system by buiding a stand out of 2x2 lumber but the configuration is the same.

I haven't put any plants or fish in it 'cause I'm giving it to a friend. But remember to seed the system with a little ammonia (urin maybe) for a two to three weeks, and monitor the water quality with an water chemistry kit from the pet store before puttin the fish in. I actually killed 6 before moving the last two to another older system. Those fish were thankful.

I think for inside house plants would be good; green leafy, no significant flowers unless you want to add nutrients. If you could locate it in a sunny space you could grow some leafy veggies, or herbs.

My two cents for what its worth.

T.

welcome to AP, we are new here to, but loving it everyone is so helpful.

Anthony that is a great idea, my husband wants and in door tank for fish, and I would love and indoor herb garden and that could do both. Love it.... have bookmarked to show steve when he gets home.

Cool.
I ran out and took a picture of my stand (2x2 lumber) and the bell siphon (2" dia). Write anytime!
T.

Sorry, for some reason the stand pic didn't post. Here is again.
T.

How bout a picture of your lounge room with the fish tanks?

I've got an indoor aquarium system with 5 gallon buckets as grow beds but I'm sure something much more elegant could be thought up for a living space.

Welcome Fraggle

I am using my indoor tank, connected to GBs outside - and it still looks pretty.

Just buy and install, once they see it, they'll be impressed - just make sure you have a decent light.

I got by it, cos we moved, and "It's too hard to move a full tank, you need to so you can move the fish first" and of course "It's only a bit bigger"
I was upgrading from a 4'1'1' to a 8'2'2

Yum... :-) I have 50... can't wait 'til they get big enough for the plate

Here are some of the pics of my indoor tank.

Fitting and fresh drilled hole (most aquariums will drill a hole for you, but they charge a fortune, $75ea was the cheapest. I did it with a drill and a holesaw that cost me $12... if you want to borrow it, ask Steve, he's still borrowing mine )

here you will notice (on the left), due to disguise of reeds and bubbles, that you can't see the overflow pipe extending from the hole in the pic above to the top of the water line. There is also another hole on the right, with a small grill and 1 way valve, through which I pump water into the tank. This is pretty well disguised too...
if you like, I'll try and get some angles that show the piping :-)

The pipes then run through the wall out under the floor, and into my AP system. which is where the pump is, so it can't be heard inside. (I hope you don't have a concrete slab floor, that will make it difficult)


Click here to see more of my indoor tank setup

I will so be doing that if I move again!

Only it will be a 20,000 litre fish tank in the wall

just to beat my 600L tank in the wall??

It'd have to have a flip up section of the wall to be able to cast a line in

Not to beat anyone, I just like water in the wall idea, so naturally, more is better

Here's my ultimate, never going to happen dream then...

I have an attic. there is a tank in the middle of the floor, measuring about 10'x5'. It has a light, and a flip top lid.
It extends from there, down to the floor below, and is built into the wall for viewing on both sides.
On one side it's visible from the staircase that takes you down to the bottom floor, where the tanks extends right down to the concrete slab.
In the attic of course, is stored a breathing reg on a fixed line pump so that I can swim down to arrange plants, logs and boulders to my liking.
And a fishing line :-)

do that makes the tank 10' + 1' + 10' + 4' = 25' deep x 10' x 5'
Now wouldn't that be lovely.
Google tells me: (25 * 10 * 5) * (cu ft) = 35 396.0582 litres
cool huh!?! anyway I think this is a touch OT.

Keep thinking big!

http://www.vagabondish.com/worlds-large ... um-berlin/