Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all, pleased to meet you. I've just started a small barrelponics set-up at work, hope to provide a bit of fresh salad for lunch and some entertainment for our employees kids when they drop in after school.

I've got a small outdoor hydro set-up at home, which I intend to replace with AP at the end of the year. The barrel at work is a test-case.

No plants or fish yet, but everything seems to be flooding and draining as it should. Getting the sediment out of the pink quartz in the gb is proving difficult, but I think it will be OK after a few more days.

Hi Aidan...

Is your system along the lines of Travis Hugheys barrelponics system? Have you got a picture? Everyone here is going to ask for one so I figured I'd get in first...

You should find your sediment drops pretty quickly..

I just did a quick search for Travis' design, mine is a single barrel system. 1/3rd barrel grow-bed sitting on top of the other 2/3rds of the barrel. I'm using a loop siphon, and a 1000lph pump on a timer.

I'm hoping the change in water level doesn't bother the goldfish too much, but other than that they should be pretty happy in there. The main problem I foresee is clogging of the loop siphon, I've put the loop inside the bed which, although tidy and less likely to be knocked, will mean mucking out the entire bed if it fails.

Everything is set up so that I can move it around with the forklift, one of the (several) benefits of having it at work. I'll take some photos and put them up soon.

Welcome to the forum!

The water is now clear, and 6 goldfish have been peacefully swimming about for a few days now.