Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

After seeing the article on Costa's Garden show a couple of weeks ago the boys and I have been having a real good read of all things aquaponic. It just makes sense, all those years where I kept aquarium fish and battled to keep the nutrients down, generally by harvesting the water plants and just throwing them away. What a waste

Well, we have set up the simplest system I can imagine. Two old recycling bins, a storage bin on special at Bunners and a water feature pump. Went for a pump in sump and continual flow system as it seemed to be the easiest to set up.

Its up and running now with some sweet pea seeds for SWMBO to see if we can get this to work. As you can see from the photos there is plenty of room on the stand for another bed which I will set up in the next week or so. This one will be an auto-syphon, hence the sump. Its really basic but its all up from here and if we can get this to fly then I have a great level bit of yard with a dropoff beside it for a MUCH larger system.

Cheers
Rob.

More pictures

Next phase already. We were a bit impatient and as we were just using a few comets and our water is really good we decided to give it a go this weekend.

Added another growth bed, the white one so we have our club colours Half a dozen small comets, had to add a "filter" for the overflow to the sump as the fish were taking turns on the slippery dip ride. An old plastic pot works and the water flow actually holds it in position. Decided to stay with continuous flow for the second tub as it was easier. Added some conduit where the water returns to the fish tank so it is quieter for the neighbours and to reduce splashing. Added some spinach seedlings we had to the new bed and we are away. Not to mention the landscaping the boys did, now it really fits in.

Photos say it better.

Rest of photos not uploading time to give up I think.

See ya

Nice simple system Good to see you did your research first

Well, the "filter" to stop the slippery dip ride is not perfect. Looks like at least two of my fish are smaller than the holes in the bottom of the pot. Two in the bottom tank, one chewed up by the pump

The boys put the live one back in the top tank and put some bird net over the outlet pulled tight so it closes the holes up quite narrow. So far its working.

Now we are already planning the extension to go along the side of the big rock. Does this ever end??????

I was over your way just last week
Just wondering where abouts in the BM? bells line of roads, lithgow, katty, nice spot.
I always like to drop in and see the local setups.
...and possibly share some of my experience.
C1

Nope, it doesn't end. Welcome to the addiction
At least it should keep you and the boys out of trouble
Well until you run out of your own yard space and start plotting to incorporate the entire neighborhood

Oh, and the thing with fish taking rides through plumbing, isn't it amazing what a fish will try to swim through. I think I once even had a small tilapia survive a ride through a pump to make it up into another fish tank even While they are small, it requires fairly small netting to keep them out of the plumbing and therefore a little extra maintenance to keep the screens clean oh well.

Welcome

One got through the bird net so we have gone to some shade cloth. Now to see how they get through that!

Plans are already in place for two new racks with four more tubs to make a horse shoe shape setup. The spinach have already made new leaves, the plants left in the garden are OK but really only just sitting there in comparison. Now, what to put into the new pots, beetroot, brocolli, turnips..............

I'm not sure what you climate is like but perhaps some artichoke, I've heard they like AP. I know I really enjoyed the ones I grew last year. Sadly I only have one good plant this year.

Sweet peas are up today.

Do legumes add nitrogen to an aquaponics system like they do the soil?

Sounds like a great research project for a grad student.

Bl***y duck weed!! The fish love it BUT it clogs my overflow with the shadecloth filter into the sump which causes my FT to overflow. Have to think this one out a bit more..........

make your overflow an SLO (do a search)
and then you'll have no duckweed in your pipes, and a cleaner FT to boot

Knew there had to be a simple answer to the escaping fish and duckweed problem. Its quite amazing just how many little bits n pieces go into even a basic system tlike this to get it right.

Thanx