Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been reading about aquaponics for a some time and I decided it's time to make my own system, since i could use it next year for a Biology project. I'm thinking about a Flood and Drain System, seems the most viable choice. Any advises or pdf, sites, etc would be all apreciated

Welcome! You will find heaps and heaps of info on this forum. What size system are you planning? Then we can maybe point you in the right direction. Read the useful info section to start with.

I'm thinking about a flood and drain with a 1000L tank with Procambarus clarkii and other fish (i need more research on the fish compatible with aquaponic and Procambarus clarkii).
Growbed i planned is about 2m x 1m x 0.5m, about 1 cubic meter
As media on the growbed will be perlite
And as a bonus i thought about having an external tank, which i will use for organic material that fish and crayfish (or yabbies like aussies sez :b) that will have duckweed, elodea and probably java moss, to absorve all those nutrients coupled with some guppies to eat mosquito larvae, i hate getting stinged at night :b

Btw i forgot to tell thats going to be in a greenhouse (as practically all horticultures in Azores, like pineapple) and since i read about some topics one of the most useful critters seems to be earthworms in the growbed, I'm thinking about adding them. What's your opinion?

Great! Some members have issues with Perlite. It apparently tends to clog up the plumbing. I use gravel.

By flood and drain I assume you are using a timer on the pump and standpipes for draining back by gravity. What will the GB and the FT be made of?

Worms in the growbed do a great job of breaking down the solids. In fact there's a whole thread going around on that.

You could use the external tank as a header tank - where you pump up to that tank from the fish tank and then it auto siphons on to the grow beds which in turn drains back to the FT. Or you could use it as a sump to create a CHIFT PIST (do a search for that one- the button is on the right top of your screen) - where the GBs drain back to the sump and the water from there gets pumped back to the FT. The GBs are fed by an overflow from the FT thru SLO.

Do post a drawing / plan for the experts to comment/advise. Even pictures of where you are planning to locate the system will help. We love pictures!!

Cheers!
KM

Check out some of the info available here: http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/compo ... links.html

There are lots of pdf downloads full of info.

welcome to an obsession.

you are definitely in the right place, all these jokers here will make you feel right at home.

I'm going to do some draws sometime soon for you guys,
that tank apart from the system im going to use for organic material that fish wouldnt eat and that fast growing plants will love
I need to do some research on your vocabulary, there's some words i need to get its meaning :b

If you read the Basic Info section and the Useful Info section of the forum pretty completely, you should learn more of the terms that might be a bit confusing right now.

Then I advise picking a few member system threads to read through. Perhaps some one can point you to a member system thread with a greenhouse system of about the size you are planning.

I will also advise against using perlite. Even if you get the really big stuff, it tends to get broken up into small enough pieces to clog screens and get into the plumbing etc. Gravel, lava rock, or expanded clay are probably a better choice.

We know some folk in Lanzarote who are using picon in their system.
Just a thought .
WD

I found a design on youtube that inspired me, its quite simple, good for a newbie like me :b can i post embed videos?

There is a very simple one called Aquaponics in Honululu, Do check that out. Whats the one you found called?

They're not earthworms, but composting worms. Different species, different role. Composting worms are a great asset in the growbeds for cleaning up.

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i was thinking about doing a system similar to this one, probably larger in size and with a another tank for wastes and growing duckweed, elodea, etc. Probably at the beginning of the summer should be ready to rock and roll

Not able to access that URL.

What you can do - is open that particular video on youtube - copy the entire thing that appears on the tab on top and paste it in the forum reply box. Or just indicate its title.

That way it is easy for other members to access that URL and give comments.