Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey everyone.

I figured I would start a thread of my system that I am building. I am relatively new to aquaponics and the bug has bitten me. I love the idea of producing enough fresh veggies, fruit, and fish for my family, but also of recycling scraps back into the system to create a loop. Just by talking about it to friends, I already have two other people who are very keen to start their own systems, pending mine turns out ok!

About my block of land:

I live on almost 1/4 acre, and have plenty of room to start my own aquaponics setup.

My block is on a slope and I intend on using this to my advantage as gravity will drain the growbeds back to the fish tank. Initially I will not use a sump, and will plan on using 1 pump. Hopefully the drainage back to the tank will airate the tank enough. If not, I will need to get a pump thats dedicated to airation.

I have included some photos of my land, and also the tank. I have outlined approx where the tank will sit. It cannot sit in the very corner unfortunately as I have a easement access point there! You will see a green shed in the photos. This is where my block ends. We were getting new fences when the photos was taken. The green shed is my next door neighbors.


The equipment so far:

I already have purchased the following components:

Fish Tank 3000L :$300
Ebara Optima MA pump: $300
2 X Blue barrels: $40

I don't know If I will use the blue barrels as my wife has specified that she wants this setup to be partially cosmetically pleasing and not look like a pile of junk in the corner of our yard. I may end up using them for my BSF/Worm farm scrap wastage. The 3000L tank will be partially buried into my sloping block, and shaded with a shade sail which should help with temperatures, and also foliage in the water, etc.

I am on the hunt for some larger grow beds, and am considering two of these from ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Aquaponics-Grow- ... 334db1e51d

They offer a great volume for the price I think, compared to other options. I would get 2 to start with, that will offer 1000L of grow beds initially, which I presume will be enough to get a feel for how it all works.

I will be setting up a BSF container and harvesting to feed the fish.

I will update this as often as possible with news/progress. I would appreciate any comments, advice, and help as I go, and on the initial setup to make sure I get it right!

Here are some pics of the area, the tank, and my proposed setup. Excuse my bad sketchup skills. I am sure you will get the idea!

They're cheap Chinese jobs Adzza... not UV stablized (from memory)... not food grade HDPE...

And bow severely when filled with media and water...

Spend the extra money and go with the BYAP growbeds... or if the Minister of Asthetics finds them acceptable... try the 600L Tilkey Budget Troughs ($135)

viewtopic.php?p=99571#p99571

Excellent. Just the kind of information I need.

Will chase them up.

Thanks.

Just phoned Simon and he said they are now $140. Can take up to 2 weeks to come in, and payment on pickup is ok.

http://www.landmark.com.au/

Ballarat - 03 5334 1030 (Simon)

Will be placing an order in the next week or two with him for 4 X 600L black beds. Will beat the blue barrels thats for sure.

So I will have a 3000L Tank, with 2400L grow beds. That ok for a ratio? Also any idea how much produce 2400L grow bed space will produce?

Cheers.

As I am using this as my journal I will also be updating with research/ideas, etc so that It can be my one stop shop for when Im ready to go, and its a great way of capturing ideas, etc.

Thanks to kenour, I will definitely be using this system for a drain tube.



Thanks Kenny!

Going to combine Kennys idea with Earthbounds:







Thanks Earth!

I like the dial a flow, I have a similar setup on my home system to allow constant flow out of my siphons to keep my NFT going. I have tank bulk heads, female side facing up with one 6mm hole in them and I screw the threaded socket in as far as I need to adjust the flow - further you screw it in the more of the 6mm hole it blocks. Works a treat and means I can increase flow to feed additional NFT channels when I get them.

My wife has also told me that the system must be asethically pleasing and not look like a pile of junk so BYAP beds are on my shopping list to increase filtration as my fish grow by number and size.

On your covers for the standpipes just put the holes down the bottom 1/2 i have trouble with bees getting in and blocking the 6 mm hole

Get some end caps for your media shroud. Put four small tek screws into them to stop them being pushed right on, that way it keeps stuff out and does not go on far enough to get stuck and cause the shroud to lift when you get the lid off. I have put these on all the shrouds on the school system to keep little fingers from dropping rocks into the drains.

Buy 'dust caps' they're a quarter the price, and fit looser.
Also a couple of cuts with a saw (axially) will make them easily removable.

It's the dust caps I got, didn't know what they were called, what the plumbers use on rough out over 100mm pipe. I found they still got stuck after a while and that's why I put the teks in.

fair enough... interesting how different ppl solve the same problem isn't it?
You built to fix, I destroyed to fix, does this say anything about our characters? I do know that the fact that my solution is cheaper (saved on the tek screws) says something about me too

What tree is that and is it staying next to the fish tank.

If you put a cut out "C" piece around the top you get "height adjustable" too:

Really, no really, there are some geniuses around here. So so simple yet these ideas are awesome!! The beauty of a forum like this, sharing of ideas that one alone (at least me) would never ever think of. I am definitely going to use that adjustable height thingy. Gorgeous.