Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am a tilapia breeder that is moving into aquaponics. I keep 3 species of tilapia and produce both pure-line mossambica tilapia and hybrid O. mossambica X T. horonorum. I also have a sub-species of the O. niloticus that I'm working with as another possible hybrid candidate.

My hybrids produce nearly all male fish and they grow bigger and faster than either of the parent species.

I'm in the process of building a large grenhouse so that I can experiment with the plant side of the process. I'm quite excited to be able to use the fish waste for something positive.

Welcome badflash... I'm sure there will just as many people excited to be able to access good fish stock....

Hope you enjoy the ride on the AP train... ask any questions you want... you'll get answers pretty quickly around here...

Hey Badfish welcome to our madness

Welcome!

Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm half a world away from many of you, but if you have any questions on tilapia, I'd be glad to add some insight. I'm sure you'll do the same on the 'ponics end of this process as I need info.

Welcome, I don't yet have any fish but plans are progressing for a small system for next summer. My son may take a shot at aquaponicly grown giant pumpkins. No greenhouse ...yet. I have been looking for someone nearby to test an auto flooding device. Okay, you might not be that near by, but at least you are within driving distance. Any interest? You can keep everyone posted...

I'm always ready to support like minded people. Auto flooding via an auto-siphon is easy and the best way to go.

Hello from Narrogin Western Australia,I have a simple flood and drain system running which has no timer and the pump only cost me $39.00.You will have to get your pipe size right to suite the pump size or use a tap to restict the water flow if it is too fast.If it dosen't start to siphon when you bed is full your flow is too slow .If it dosen't stop siphoning when the bed is empty you flow is too fast.I will try to post you a picture of it .It may look crude but it is all made of srap material. the hse on a chain is to regulate the level that it drain at.When the water reachs that loop it will siphon and when it is empty it will suck air and stop.
sorry I was unable to load picture up ,I will try again later,I will have to consult my computer wis.

We are half a world apart but if you want to see how my greenhouse is built check my thread ,Don goes banannas down south.I'm Sure you will get someone in the states to build a bigger and better one.

Welcome!
Wish we were allowed Tilapia here where I live they sound great.
I wish you the best of luck completing your aquaculture project into a decent aquaponics system

Hi this is my flood and drain system.The the large pipe on the end of the GB is the overflow in case something goes wrong so you don't losse all you water.You can just use a small pond pump and run it continuos or use a bigger pump on a timer and set your flow so it just starts to run out the overflow when the pump stops.The trick with the continuos is to have it fast enough to start it siphoning when it is full and slow enough to break the siphon when the GB is empty.You regulate the level that it drains with the chain and loop on the return hose .

The picture above was taken 5th August 2008 ,this one was taken Januray 2009.I hope you can see the difference.

Don, what are your growbeds and liners made from?

Hi ,
we have a factory which makes grain silos and tunnel shelters .The metal is zincalume off cuts from the silos and the liner is off cuts of canvacon from the shelters.It is material that would otherwise be rubbish,it only costs me my time making it.
If you don' know what a grain silo is or a tunnel shelter is go to http://www.birdssilos .com.au If you want to find out a bit more about me go to google and type in Don Bird inventor.
Cheers Don.

Hay there badflash and welcome.

I'm not sure but I think Sparkchaser might be offering you a chance to test out a Flout contraption of some sort, might be worth your interest, I know if I lived up there, I would be interested. The beauty of flouts is they are not nearly so picky about flow rates as auto siphons are and if you want to sequence the filling of grow beds, one of those indexing flout things could be the ticket if that is indeed what is being offered.

Anyway, good luck with your branching into the veggie side of things and we are eager to hear about and see pictures of any of your current stuff that you are willing to share. Fish, tanks, planned greenhouse space, etc, whatever. Many of us are actually just too lazy to read and love looking at the pictures.