Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just a simple note to introduce myself to the forum. Residing in Minnesota will offer it's problems. As a carpenter and handyman I figure I can handle the actual labor portions of AP (especially building), but the technical stuff will be more difficult. The state (as it relates to fish) and the city (as it relates to what they will let me do without sticking their nose into my business) codes here are ridiculous so I'll be fighting to figure those things out. The city says I can 4500 chickens without talking to anybody, but if I want to put up a 10x20 greenhouse and sell the veggies publicly, I need a special CUP (conditional use permit). All this and I live in an area that is zoned rural.

I had thought about a 200 gallon FT (using an IBC's locally for $60 each), going to a couple of DWC beds, as I have the land with full sun, and sloping ground, but then figured out I'd need more 'stuff'. Then I saw Countryboy's idea and liked it. It seems like the FT, a couple of 3x8 GB's before a DWC bed(s) (3x12?), then a sump would work. If this 'dream' worked, I could consider it a node, and duplicate to increase capacity.

My difficulties will be the winter temps (we've had WEEKS of below 0*F). Then determining fish. (I wanted to do redtail minnows for fisherman because they sell for $10/lb, but I can't buy the fry, I don't want to hunt them down in creeks, and I don't want to add the added difficulty of mating them as a newbie.) Maybe walleye as that is very popular up here. I've also thought about some bigger rearing ponds as, again I have 15 acres (not all usable, but here is a pond on my property)!! Actually that last part wouldn't have to be part of the AP system, just an added bonus.

I've read the Basic Info, FAQ, Useful info, heavily perused the Member Systems, and read so much my brain is on overload. I need to get more specific so I can focus.

Anyways, hello.

hay there and welcome!!!!!
This is addicting so you might want to take a deep breath and start small. Perhaps a little indoor sun room or front window system so you can cycle up some gravel with an aquarium and learn how to use the test kits and learn a bit about the water chemistry of fish keeping and the bacteria nitrogen cycle. As you are learning what your source water and gravel are likely to do, you can keep reading and planning/designing while you wait for the spring thaw.

This way, once you get a bigger system put together, you might already have some experience with fish or at least cycling up a system. Then you might even use the gravel from the indoor system to seed the grow beds or filter for a bigger system.

Interesting that you mention that (regarding size). I've noticed how some posts are surprised at size of a 'start-up system. I think it's a problem of relativity. People have huge gardens and then figure they want a lot of GB space. Personally I thought the DWC would be the easiest method, but didn't find much on this site about them. I don't relish the thought of all that rock. Then I read somewhere that it needed to be cleaned periodically creating more work. Do the worms take care of the cleaning aspect?

By the way TCL, don't move to MN, you won't like the codes here any better. Plus, this where the snowbirds live in the summer.

My late grandpa used to have a summer place up near grand rapids. My fondest childhood summer memories are from up there. We would fish for northern pike in the morning, harrass the neighbors girls in the afternoon and sneek some of grandpa's burbon after the lights were out. My brothers and I looked forward to it all year! The only thing negative I can remember were the mosquitoes - even head to toe coverage with Off barely kept them at bay.

Very nice state you all have!

Mark

I grew up in Michigan, at least up there the mosquito are only around when the snow isn't.

As to gravel washing. You wash the gravel once, before you place it in your grow beds. Then yes, so long as you design the system with ample filtration to support the fish load, then the worms can take care of keeping it clean. That said, I have gotten two 6 ton loads of gravel delivered and I don't want any more. I have had problems keeping the nitrates down in hot weather since the fish are eating well but not all plants like our summers here so I've been thinking of adding rafts to the system as well.

If you decide you want to do rafts without any gravel beds or if you only put in a very small amount of gravel beds and try to make up the rest with rafts, then you will be cleaning the gravel beds and/or filters regularly. Raft systems require separate filtration. Remember that Aquaponics is a triangle. Three important aspects, Fish, Plants, and filtration (Filtration has two parts, the bacteria for bio-filtration and then you need some sort of mechanical or solids filtration.)

Now you note that there isn't much info on here about raft systems. Yes that is true, this is the place if you are interested in flood and drain definitely, we know lots about how to design systems based on that method. Many of us add some NFT or Raft elements to our systems but they are only additions. If you really want to learn about raft systems, you will want to look up the university of the virgin islands aquaponics info. Friendlies Aquaponics also runs raft systems for tilapia and there are some other companies around that are selling raft systems in the USA. However, I like the ease of operation with the gravel beds. Now in your climate, things will be a bit different but there are some people doing aquaponics in cold climates so it can be done. There is a forum member in Iowa with a small backyard greenhouse, if you go small scale, his thread might be a good one to read.
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=480

If interested in going larger scale, you might want to look up Growing Power on the internet. They are up in WI so perhaps not as cold as where you are but they got a big operation going.

I had read Gotfish's thread with interest, especially for the heating, but he seems to move his fish indoors for the winter. I had leaned towards DWC because it seemed the lowest cost to make. I've got the space, and lumber is easy to come by. I also thought of this system as a good learning system, as I live very close to an urban center which opens a lot of options for sales.

Growing Power has too many avenues for me. I don't think I want too spread myself out as much as he does... although I read he got a $500,000 grant to do whatever he wants with... that part I like!

I had wondered if Friendlies systems were any good, or if they were 'fly by night'? Not much mention on this forum made me leery, but I had seen their stuff and was really intrigued since it seemed to fit my circumstances.

Voodoo; When I (hopefully) get to heaven, I want to ask God the purpose of the mosquito.