Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So, after seeing a system in the flesh and doing some research, some reading, watching dvd's and asking some questions on here, and visiting the Backyard Aquaponics place and chatting to Faye and doing a few sketches this is what we have come up with.

It went from this



to this



With quite a few steps in between.

Anyway, it has been finished almost 2 weeks. We have had a few dramas along the way, like the system coming apart while Steve was way up north fishing. I didn't notice until there was only 6 inches of water in the pond, which could have been a disaster. Especially as I had planted seeds in the growbeds about a 4 days before we had to turn the system off.

We also had a single Black Bream in the pond, so I worried if it would affect him. Here he is

Here is some of the growth we have after less than 2 weeks, and after no water for a few days.



And more



And some more



I am pleased with how it has turned out, and with the growth so far.

There is something that puzzles me though, the amount of water we are losing through evaporation! Seems to be quite a lot and this time the systems isn't leaking at all. Is this a common phenomenon or are we missing something?

Shirley

How much are you topping up?

There will be more growth happening under the surface than above...
But will wait for a volume of water loss/over 'a' period of time

See how simple aquaponics can be....

If you're exposed to full sun Shirley... with black tubs and a lot of the expanded clay still uncovered by growth... then yep... you could be suffering big evaporative losses...

Grow little plants... grow....

Very Nice Shirley, I built a small system for my wife using a large bathtub I got from salvage for $50 and this system seems to loose about 20 lts every couple of days, when I had my huge apple mint growing (a thread somewhere in plants) I reckon I was using double that, my bigger system uses around 50lts a week in the hot weather and this is half covered with a tarp

Looks good. The clay does look a little wet on top. How high are you flooding to.

Thanks for the replies, you gave us a few things to think about.

We were coming to the conclusion that maybe the pump could have been a smaller one, so we have tried to slow down the water by reducing the water flow. The picture of the plants was taken just after watering, but I did take on board what was said about the black tubs and the wetness of the beads.

Although the tubs are in the sun, it's not all day sun but enough to cause some evaporation I would think, so another reason for reducing the flow, if the beads are not oversaturated then less water may be available for evap.

I also planted some seedlings in the tubs this morning to go with the things growing from seed. I can't believe how much the courgettes (zuchinni) have grown so far.

As we only have the one fish (a Black Bream caught in the Swan River!!) I am not sure about how or what to fertilise the plants with.

Next thing is to find the trout fingerlings to put in the pond.

Thanks for all the feedback so far, and more advice is greatly appreciated

Shirley

When reducing the flow you can use a T fitting and have the spare water splash back into the FT. The added o2 will make the fish happy.

Shirley Golden Ponds at Mundijong (far from n perth but nice drive) will have trout available from Easter, he has them now but doesn't like let them go when it is too hot as his are in controlled environment, he has fingerlings $2.50 ea, up to 4 - 5" around the $4 - $5 mark, not sure if anyone North of River does them, or maybe even EB (Joel) at BYAP

Thanks for that info nocky, a trip to Golden Ponds will be added to the agenda!

Wow thats xc
Why not PM Troutman I am sure they are good, I ate heaps of them.
and about 1/2 that price at 4-6"

Thanks creative1, I have just done that

I put some seedlings in last weekend and will put more pics on later as the stuff in there seems to be growing really well. I cannot get over how fast the courgettes are growing