Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Finally we have the start of our system. The spa is about 2200l and has a slight drip. There are 7 feeder fish left from the 12 we put in, with more coming tomorrow. We have had some okra, tomato(roma that sprouted randomly), mint and lemongrass in pots for the last couple of weeks. Some extra rain covered them and after week we have lifted them so the surface of the gravel is out. The tomato has not enjoyed this. The foam boxes are from our local produce store, where there is more than we could ever use. They will be added to and be serviced from a basic pond pump once the other is on the system proper. We will starting with continuous flow and changing to flood and drain. You can see the start of the frame in the background. So far we have some pak choy in the foam.

Am uploading to photobucket now so hopefully pictures soon.

Are those pots tiny or is your gravel really big?

pots look to be 6 - 8 inches. see the top photo with human for comparison, also second photo with bottom of blue bucket.

Gravel is 10-20mm which had used on the base and had no further use for so we washed it. We have 10mm scoria for future growbeds.

Finished setting up 3 of the 4 barrel halves, cannot find the 4th cap, last night. 7 barra have survived the algae problems. A timer will be arriving this afternoon, but at the moment, I am going out once an hour or so to flick the switch. Am happy with the scoria, although was surprised at how muddy it was. Gravel from the foam boxes has gone into the barrel and more foam will be set up with a pond pump asap.

Found the 4th cap, so the 4th tub was set up today, am still playing with the flood cycle, trying to get them even. Plants seem happy so far.

How bloody frustrating can it be to get things going just right? It seems we've read everybodies mistakes and decided to try them out for ourselves. Ended up with ball valves. Had bought them for another section, but that idea was canned so they ended up controlling inflow to the growbeds to save money. After 2 annoying weeks we now have gate valves which are lovely. We also now have an excess pressure line feeding back to the fish tank. We drilled holes in an end cap so it is not a total freeflow. On freeflow, water is vacuumed out of the last growbed. We have also, just now, put some fairly fine birdmesh on the intake to the pump. Had everything flowing just right until some duckweed partially blocked the endcap. Will still have to check this, but it should ease the problem.
Anyway, the barra are looking happy and we are having a ball catching grasshoppers for them. Plus the algae is clearing right up and we can see the action below. Plants like chives are showing some good growth. We have some watercress sprouting in pots attached to the side of the fish tank and after today it should just be a matter of maintenance and what not.
Until we start the next one. Plus add on to this one. And build a proper cover for this one. etc

Glad to hear it's coming together Nathan & Bron... and that you survived the "blow"...

Thanks, but we cleaned up our yard for nothing. It gets windier on a normal day. Ended up with more dramas yesterday due to dog or child messing with the timer, so more lost water. Anyway that cannot happen now, the timer interference that is.