Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been trying to figure out the appropriate acronym - maybe PIFT-CHIP (Pump In Fish Tank - Constant Head In Pond).

Anyway, the challenge is that the best spot for the system is our public front garden - ideally it would be nice for people to stop and look, and be impressed by the setup. So I have attempted to make it aesthetically acceptable. To do this I decided all tanks should be buried and disguised using bricks and rocks.

After several months of work I now have the system 95% complete and have water cycling and plants in the growbed.

Specifications:
Sump / Fish tank = 1450L, dropping to about 850L during flood cycle
3 ponds = 400L each, rising to about 450L each during flood cycle
Growbed 1 = 1.7m diameter, 25-30cm deep
Growbed 2 = 1.5m diameter, 25-30cm deep

Current flood & drain cycle is 15-on 30-off except for a continuous flood from 11am to 5pm during the heatwave to keep plants alive and regulate temperatures in the tanks.

A few more images - couldn't get the order right in the original message!

Note: I think all aquaponics systems are beautiful , but when I say I am trying to make it "aesthetically acceptable", of course I mean I want to impress the non-enthusiasts who are walking past. I also wanted it to be an integral part of our largely ornamental front yard, like a water feature, rather than a part of the rambling veggie patches that define our largely functional (and not remotely ornamental) back yard...

looks great Jimmy

Totally agree the public can only handle so much pvc and pipework in the front yard before you are considered a loon. I like it and im sure you are going to get plenty of questions from passers by. You sure will convert a few with that setup. Well done

I totally get the concept too, I too would like to try setting up a "show-off" kind of system, one demonstrates what aquaponics is all about. Your setup is wonderful! Am following your development and please keep up with the pictures... Great stuff.

Looks good. Did you paint the gal inside the GB's before adding the clay.

Good landscaping work there!

Very nice setup...... blends in very well....

jT

A living, public, proof of concept Jimmy... as suggested above... I'm sure it will spark much interest from people passing by....

Nice work...

Very nice, I really like the brick work around the tanks on the ground
Are you going to do more of it around the growbeds too?

Looks great! Damn good spade you have got there!

Your neighbour sure has a lot of beer fridges out the front!!!
Hope he doesn't stock it with that Coopers muck they call beer in Adelaide.

That is a very nice set up. I agree, especially since this is in your front yard with people walking by, that it should be pleasing. Well done.

Well done Jimmy, I like the BYAPPFS (...Picket Fence Security) system too

Designed for slowing down drunken neighbours trying to lift a few free vegies



maybe PIFT & CHIPs - kinda runs off the tongue more easily

Groovy! Good work JDW!