Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok guys, after spending a few weeks soaking myself in your knowledge, I decided to start my first system.

As some you already know I had a frew hardships trying to figure out where will I put the system and stuff; I posted at the new member´s that thought of putting it in the rooftop, but as some of you recommended, I check the roof´s specs and well.... decided not let fish life´s on the cruel hands of gravity. Anyway, Im going to put on a small patio I have. The first problem with this is that is a small place of 2.50mx2.50m and well, it´s outdoors. Having solved how will I arrange the whole thing, finally I got something logical to post, hopefully tomorrow at night.

While I was making the blueprint, a few questions came to me:

- What exactly is the use for a "syphon", what are the existing types of them, and what are the advantages of one above the other?

-Is it a MUST to calculate the system so that it is balanced FT vs GB ???

-What is the sump tank for??

-Is it convenient to put Strawberry towers first and then the GB??

-How many kinds of "techniques" to grow veggies are available, I mean CHIFT PIST, NFT what else exists???

-Rain affects FT??? ...sometimes rains pretty hard in here.


I know is a lot of basic or even dumb questions, but Im just starting; anyway, thanks to you all for the replies!!! and I will post an early desing so that you can give me opinions.

thanks!!!

oh I forgot! FT will be: (.5m x 1.5m ) .5 = 0.375m3 ; 375lts. I wnated it small due to the space available, and the low risk for an ecchological massacre of fish.

Don't mean to be rude....but I might in this blog ....

Use the search engine....

All these points you have requsted all the information for are all ready here

....uuuummmm I see.... srry; never used a Forum before. jejeje

searching the forum could be a pain, that's why http://aquaponicswiki.com exists. it could be updated a little more, if only there were more contributors. it needs a "beginner's guide".

Thanks for the link someguy-

Ok Guys, I finally decided how am I going to arrange the system and how will I acomodate it.

Specs are:

FT: (.5m x 1.5m).5m = 0.375m3 ; 375lts.
GB: (1m x .4m).3m = .12m3 ; 120lts.
Patio: 2.50m x 2.50m x 2.50m
Pump: 1/4hp

[img]C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Fierro\EscritorioAQUAPONIC\DSC02351[/img]

Why does the Image doesn´t appear??!

Here´s where I decided to place the system, instead of the rooftop

Here´s facing north

Here´s how I figured it out.

So far you have the main specs; pump is intended to be inside the FT so that the flow goes to the Straberry towers attached to the wall and from there to the Growbeds. Loop siphons will drain whenever it´s necesary and the water will fall by gravity back to the FT.

What do you think guys?? does it work?

Fierro

The FT produces nutrients but it also produces sludge. If you pump directly to the strawberry towers it is likely that they will become blocked fairly quickly. The towers are sort of NFT or perhaps more accurately continuous flow systems. It is preferable that the water is filtered before it goes into these.

Nice sketch.

Where you have it pictured, will the plants get enough sun?

And, the strawberry towers might give you some trouble, the trick with towers or NFT pipes is you want the water to be filtered before sending it to those things or they tend to get clogged up with the fish poo solids.

The Grow beds act as filters.

Siphons are to allow you to flood and drain your grow beds while letting the pump run all the time, the other option is to run the pump on a timer and have the grow beds with slower drains.

A sump tank is needed when you have your grow beds lower than the fish tank or if you want your fish tank level to remain constant and put the pump in the sump tank. Sump tank should be big enough to hold all the water needed to flood all your grow beds at once.

Here is an example of a system where you could turn the two grow beds over the fish tank into strawberry towers without problems of solids clogging the towers.

mmmm I see.... I guess I have to research more about NFT systems. Well.... back to the blueprints....

Ok, one question: If I want strawberry towers the whole system MUST be continous flow??? cause I dont want the pump running 24/7; Im planning to use a timer and a solar panel, so I guess the better choice is flood and drain...