Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Everyone,

I'm brand new to the forum - been reading for a while now and trying to learn as much as possible. I've got a little experience with hydroponics - check out my mini hydro garden below:



Anyway I'm ready to jump into aquaponics so have taken the plunge and bought 3 200L blue barrels and a 500L water tank from eBay.

Here is my proposed system:




Grow beds will be 6 * 100L
Fish tank will be the 500L water tank with goldfish initially - maybe trout once the system proves itself
Sump will be made up from 2 120L storage tubs joined with plumbing for a total of 240L - will this be enough?

I'm planning on running the system as a CHIFT PIST.

Rectangular footprint marks a 3m * 5m area - which I hope to built a PVC hoop house over for winter.

Any feedback or comments on my design would be great - I want to get started ASAP so need to work out any issues ahead of time!

Design is good.

Make sure you support the barrels well with strapping etc.
The pipe coming out of the fish tank to the barrels needs to be at least 40mm, due to be gravity flow only.
Sump needs to be at least 300l, preferably 400. 240 wont be enough, even if the sump is totally full at the start of a cycle.

Because of the height you will be pumping too, a pump of around 2-3000 litre per hour is what you'll need.

Think you'd be better taking the gb feed out the side (less pressure and worry if the pipes leak) and putting the return down (inside the ft)to the bottom of the tank with an anti syphon to induce air and circulate more.