Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have decided to move my posts from new member to Members Systems. I have been researching AP for about two and a half years now, but am only six months into building the system. There are many additions to come like WAY more grow beds (Chift Pist. Tired of Float.) and some modifications.


I had been battling some serious pea soup, until for reasons unknown some plumbing blew over night . I awoke to a little less than two inches of water in the pond , LUCKILY neither fish nor pump were harmed in this little goof:D. I fully expect to be battling the darn algae some time soon.


The bucket pump was the solution for finding fry's in the filter. That crazy PVC looking thing is a "frypartment" courtesy of the Ms's.




Electrical by me. lol not sure if its up to code, but I feel like I did a great job running it.


Ran the electrical to the side of the grow bed in a weather proof box. The right side is on the timer left is always on.


Some Babies


These nice little cement mixing trays were meant for growing duck weed. I'm afraid to pull the duckweed out of just any pond around here.


My puny float bed, the nets were out for cleaning. I am using the hydroton clay pebbles and/or rock wool.


The multipurpose lid, fighting algae and the animals that believe my pond is their dinner buffet.


And the overview, it has been a fun couple months.

Did I mention the LACK of plant growth is kicking my ass. Plenty of algae very little(NONE) veggie.

Cover up the whole thing, lack of direct sunlight will stop the algae right off.

Try adjusting the flood/drain time on your GB's might be affecting the plants.

Are you testing the water? The test results might shed some light on the situation. Grow media in the beds isn't limestone/marble based is it? Test it with some vinegar to find out. If it is, it has to be all taken out and replaced

Nice looking system!

I agree with Abdul, cover completely to help with the algae and a water test will be the fastest way to see why your plants are not growing?

You would want to see goo nitrates and PH around 7.0, if it's too high it will lock out the nutrients to the plants.

Keep up the good and the photos!

Hi Sean,
Just re-read above and I can not see any sort of bio-filter or media for the bacteria to colonise? With out this the ammonia will not convert to Nitrite then to Nitrate to feed the plants?

Or did Just just not see it in the photos?

Yay! i love replies . lol to begin. The plant nets have Hydroton and rock wool. I am going to convert over to only Hydroton. The Pump is rated at 4800 gph at the height and filter restriction I figured around 4000 gph. Timer is set to 1 hour off 2 on, and it is a float system so the GB never drains. Ph is HIGH 8.4ish, I am afraid to use standard aquarium PH down and have been using gallons of vinegar or lemon juice. Small increments at a time of course, but PH never seems to stay down. That blue drum is a pressure biologic filter. The filter is a recycled food grade 55 gallon drum. The drums filter media consists of 75% Bio media and 25% filter, gradually changing from rough to fine. The water is pumped into the top of the drum and travels through the rough filter and ends with the bio media. A PVC pipe was run from a second hole in the lid on the drum to the bottom which collects the filtered water and sends it to the grow bed. As far as the full shade goes I will have to see what I can come up with. I live in a deed restricted community complete with its very own HOA, YOU KNOW the people that drive around with a really big list and write really pretty letters if something doesn't meet the neighborhoods specifications. I appreciate all the feed back I feel like we just might be on to something here.

Ahh, beginning of the over engineered filter. This is my attempt at recreating those really sexy Tetra pressure filters.

The bio media going in, Hydroton, Platic bio beads, Eggshells, Clam shells, and a little shot of bacteria starter. After the bio media went the fine filters the medium, and finally rough. Couldnt find a picture of the lid so that will come tomorrow.

Hi Sean,
The bio-filter should be able to keep the water clear. My test system was an old fish pond and I never had an issue with water quality only some green algae on the wall where the sun managed to hit it.

How long has your system been cycling for?

Before I discovered AP I had a bio-filter on the fish pond as I was sick of it beginning green all the time and not beginning able to see the fish. It took a few weeks but it finally cleared up and I never have green water again, even over our hot summers. Mine you it was only 400l, yours looks a bit bigger.

Maybe you just need to give your system time to cycle and balance it's self?

I think one way to over come the high PH locking out the nutrients is to add Iron Chelates, maybe some one can help confirm that?

Put in a couple of media filled gb's. The more bacteria working the lower the ph will get. How many fish?

I remember reading that the walls of the pond and the floating raft provide more than enough surfgace area for the bacteria, no harm in adding GB's though as you are already very low on the FT GB ratio.

Look into whats in that filter of yours though, mayhaps the egg shells and the clam shells ahve buffered the water pH high and are also making it harder so the pH comes down even slower.

You can cover the pond with just a big plack piece of rubber or a few planks

Maybe try a skippy filter. They seem to help with the extra conversion. There is a good example on the forum. at this link viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8126&p=244470&hilit=skippy+filter#p244470

You can also just google it.

on another note is this a good year for the Bucs.

Did a little work on the system today, and pictures to prove it.

I like to sprout my seeds indoors.



Moved the H from underneath the float to on top. (trying new things)

Fun camera angles.

Winter is approaching, any suggestions on keeping my water warm through the cold?

The easiest way is to get fish that can handle the cold....that way you don't have to heat water
Other than that there are commercial water heaters but I would imagine they would cost a fair bit in electricity, I think Monya has one it may be best to ask him

As far as the bucs go, I am not a sports guy lol so I couldn't tell you. I do however like that Skippy filter and will have to give it a go. I will be getting really thick shade cloth for the wood frame I have over the FT already. As for the GB, once the money rolls in I already have the design in my mind thanks to decals by JT and this really sweet soda pop bell siphon (cant remember who I got this idea from) credit to them though. The eggshells and clam shells were said to stop raising the PH at around 7.2, so there is another underlying issue in the system that I cannot determine. Right now it is tough to give an exact count on the fish, the system began with 25 (10 goldfish, 15 Tilapia) there have been several broods now and am waiting to see them get past fingerling stage before I try and count. What is the exact definition of a full cycle? The pump is very powerful 4000 GPH and is ran 2 hours on 1 off, that is 16 hours on 8 hours off in a 24 hour day. In 1 day the pump moves a total of 64,000 gallons, does this constitute a full cycle? I would say it has been running with fish and bio media for 5 months.

Thank you all for the replies.

I am going to look into trout as I see a lot of people using this fish. For now i assume i will pony up and buy a heater. I could be overreacting as this will be my first winter with fish. Better to be safe than sorry?

Whats the lowest temp you get Sean