Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Newbie here, and I have searched a bit and found nothing about this one aspect.

I am looking to set up an AP system and I live in a typical texas suburban neighborhood. My back yard is roughly 60' wide by 30' deep or so. Its looking like the best place for my fishtank and growbeds will be near the rear right corner of my yard. This would put them right next to the fence (imagine its in the NE corner of Arizona in the 4 corners area.) In the summer, does an AP fish tank have any notcieable/offsensive smell typically. I have kept a koi pond for about 10 years and never found any smell, but the stocking density is much, much lower than I anticipate.

I am not concerned much with any smell, but rather for nosy neighbors who might complain.

Thanks in advance,
Richard

If everything is running correctly there should be no noticable smell, if its not there will be a slight ammonia smell but nothing to upset neighbours......of course if all your fish die and float to the top the stink will be awesome

Hi there Merkurmaniac,
I can honestly say there is absolutely no smell at all.
My system is right at my back door adjacent to our entertaining area. the sound of running water trickling makes it an asset and a relaxing past time.

You may also find that giving your neighbor fresh fish and vegetables every once and a while may stop them from complaining.

Yeah no different to any pond really, I've never found smells unless a fish has jumped out and started to go smelly..

My system smells no stronger then my indoor aquarium...and if either were offensive, the wife would make me get rid of them. One of my neighbors loves the system, and he often comes over to have a look and welcomes the extra fresh veggies I pass his way. None of the other neighbors even know it is here. You cannot hear it from more then a few feet away.

You might be the first from sugarland that I have seen around here...although sminfiddle may not be far from you.

Welcome to the forum!

Very slight "creek" smell, only detectable by placing your nose directly over the tank and taking a big sniff

looks pretty unanamous!

Thanks for the answer.
Richard

btw, dejavoodoo, I read your build post and I am wondering what part of Houston you live in. I am guessing somewhere on the north side, since you mention being not super far from the fish farm in Corsicana. Are there any other AP people on the south side of Houston ? A buddy of mine from work is planning his new AP system as well. He lives in Clear Lake.

Richard

Yeh I've always found a well balanced system smells like a creek. A system which is being pushed smells slightly fishy.

+1 Had a system in the basement and it didn't smell much. Worst smell problem would be if fish died and you hadn't cleared them out. I also think that depending on the fish food there may be more of a smell (higher protein higher smell from the food)

I noticed when I switched my indoor aquarium over to aquaponics the slight smell went away. (I was very lazy about changing the water).

My outdoor system smells like a fresh spring shower. It's quite refreshing!