Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hey everyone

just found out about aquaponics yesterday and i'm pretty stoked about this. i have a few fish tanks and a few gardens, and the thought of combining them together its pure genius!

i'm hoping to start my first system using my turtle tank. i have two fairly large turtles that produce a lot of waste and buying all these filters and cartridges and throwing them away week after week doesnt sit right with the tree hugger in me.

i see most big operations on this site are outdoors and i think the long cold winters here wouldnt make an outdoor system all that practical for me i fear, but i will start small and indoors and take it from there.

i have a million questions and it looks like there are a million answers here so i will keep searching and see what i can find.

i will post pictures and share my stories when i get things up and running.

cheers

Hay there and welcome!!!!!

Sorry there is no cure, your trapped now

Turtle ponics, I'm not sure how well that would work for growing food but would definitely be great for growing houseplants seeing as you are hoping to do away with the whole filter replacement!!!!! Now we know the numbers for how much flood and drain gravel is needed to support a given weight of fish, however, turtles are going to need a different ratio (as do ducks) so you might need to do some experimenting to figure out the right set up for good turtle waste utilization Of course growing some house plants and perhaps some herbs and veggies will have added benefits beyond just avoiding buying filters. Improved air quality in the house and things like that as well as not needing to waste water doing water changes.

Most Ap systems are outdoors but not all, there have been quite a few aquarium systems and even some rubbermaid tubs set up indoors. Biggest drawback with the indoor systems is light. Most veggies like brighter light than we usually have inside our homes. But a little extra lighting can grow you some lettuce from your goldfish and most houseplants don't mind the lower light. Some herbs grow fine indoors too (beware of mint though, it will take over whatever grow bed you put it in.)

If you want to keep your aquariums looking nice like display aquariums usually do, you will probably want to look up CHIFT PIST this is a term that gets thrown around alot. Basically, use a sump tank to allow you to have a constant height in your fish tank pump in sump tank. That way your water level in the fish tank won't fluctuate when you flood your grow beds.

Good luck and I'm looking forward to your system threads and pictures of what you come up with!!!!!

I might be concerned about Salmonella. Turtles are notorious for carrying it. If you stick to plants that are not meant to be eaten, with a little extra precaution (hand washing, etc.), I think you would be safe.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Did you know that turtles can carry a harmful germ called Salmonella? Turtles' slow movements and tough, colorful shells may make them seem like the perfect family pet. However, if there are infants or small children in your home, turtles might not be safe pets for your family.
Salmonellosis is a serious infection of the gastrointestinal tract. (Information on this infection is also available in Spanish.) Diarrhea is the most common symptom of Salmonella infection, but other symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting can also occur. Salmonellosis can be very serious and sometimes fatal for young children, the elderly, and persons with weak immune systems. Therefore, families with children aged 5 years or younger in the home should avoid keeping turtles as pets.
Although many people think of salmonellosis as an illness caused by contaminated food, it can also be caught by handling a turtle or by contact with its environment. Salmonella occurs naturally in turtles and does not usually make the animals sick. You cannot tell by looking at a turtle whether it is carrying Salmonella. Salmonella bacteria are easily passed from turtles to people. Research shows that a person who handles turtles can easily pass germs to others because bacteria are able to cling to clothing and other surfaces such as our hands. Despite this, most people are not aware of the risk of Salmonella infection from turtles.
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/TurtlesSalmonella/

I assume you mean eaten 'raw'

This would be why I mentioned using mainly house plants in the turtle system since most reptiles have the potential of carrying Salmonella.

However, well cooked foods should be safe since heat kills salmonella but it might be better to stick with the house plants anyway since some people can't resist grassing on the AP veggies fresh out of the beds.

ya, those turtles are dirty thats for sure. i rarely touch them, and wouldnt be growing edible food because of the diseases they are known to carry. i still have no idea what to start with, but it wont be food thats for sure. thanks for the warning still.

i do have a 1000 Watt metal halide, so hopefully that would be sufficient for a smaller indoor system. but like i said, i'll start with the turtle tank system and go from there before i try to turn my basement into who knows what!

You can grow a great jungle of pothos, spider plants and other house plants with the turtle system even without adding much extra light. These plants can do lots for air quality. It can also be handy to set up AP systems to help keep plants watered so you don't have to worry about watering plants, just feeding the critters. Save the 1000 Watt metal halide for growing some edible plants from the fish tanks.

Just keep in mind that any fish tank you are getting food from, you will probably want to avoid any aquarium medications or treatments unless they are specifically safe for food production.