Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello fellow hobbyists… Ok, so i have set up my Urban Auqaponic set up on my balcony an am looking for advice.. Here is the set up

45 Gallon Fish Reservoir
15 gallon Water Res with a DIY BioFilter in it..
600 GPH Pump for NFT and side plants
950 GPH for circulation and Oxygen
DIY BioFilter (Bucket, PVC, Nylon Scrubbies, Spanish Moss, PeaGravel and Bacteria)
NFT trays are rain go Gutters with special lids
Hydroton for Media
3 medium Goldfish
13 Feeder Goldfish
2 Medium Growing Koi (forgot they type)
so a total of about 23-26 inches of fish.
Spring time Koi/Goldfish by tetra pond
Of course there is more fittings, pvc, grommets, Polyester padding....But you get the idea!

Here it is:







Here is a pic of some of the fish...



The BioFilter: I just added baby plants because I wanted the Biofilter to get going before I added plants. Its been about 3 weeks now.. I hope this Bio Filter is efficient for the system. Any Ideas?! I had a smaller one in mind but after a design flaw I decided to go with a larger bucket and scrubbies vs. Bio Balls or Material.. I did go with a rising filter so if the filter happens to fail I do not lose all my bacteria. Here are the items used:



I didn’t have a good pic of the start but here is a early pic of the First design, same lower level. Basically a plastic screen that separates my Spanish moss(1st filter layer) from the bottom of the Bio Filter. I used about a 2" of Spanish Moss to act as a first layer of natural filter/bacteria bed.



Above the layer Spanish Moss I used about a 3-4 inch layer of Nylon Scrubbies bought from the 99 cent store to replace any Bio balls or Bio material. You can use just about anything porous with lots of surface area.. ie, Aquarium gravel, Sand, PVC scrapings, Pea gravel, or just about anything that wont rot or rust.. Do some research if you like but Scrubbies seem to be the best Home Bio Media..



A good layer of Nylon Scrubbies



Over the layer of Scrubbies I put a layer of washed Pea Gravel for extra surface area and to hold down the Scrubbies. I also added crushed the oyster from my first BioFilter attempt to help a little with PH and filtration...



So here it is... I did add some "One and Only" Bacteria to the Bio Filter to get it started so I don’t have to wait as long to get my plants in.. As a suggestion from Debbie at the Swap Shop, I am using Polyester Pillow stuffing as a pre filter for the Bio Filter as I do not have a skimmer and need to keep as much large material as I can out of the Bio Filter for obvious reasons... (Cleaning)



Recommendations, ideas and criticism welcome.. This is my first attempt at AP..
Cheers all!

Here are the Baby Tomato plants just added.. Might keep one ore two of them in the trays and go with Spinach and lettuce for the rest of the slots.. Happy Growing!

Is it going to be a problem that my trays run into the Fish tank then the sump? I have it so it goes through the BioFilter into the Sump/Filtered water and then into the trays and back around.. I kind of need it this way becasue I am using 1/4 inch tubing to feed my trays and I need filtered water with no solids to make it past the final filter and into the trays..

In Most the sytems I see the it goes Fish Tank, Trays/Table, Sump and back around..

Hoping its all the same?!?!

Jon

Impressive looking system there and it should work fine with the water going straight back into the FT (so many ways to run these systems). My only concern would be the "crushed oyster" you have used. Won't that raise the pH too high? Generally we avoid putting any calcium carbonate into the systems.

tried any medicinal plants in it yet? curious if its adequate enough to make happy trichomes.

cool compact system tho. i have been working on my dirt garden lately so no work on my compact system.

Thanks for the replies..

rmcpb~ Thanks for the input! The PH was kinda low when I first started and I saw in a video somewhere they were using a crushed oyster shell flow through as a "ph Buffer". I washed some and did the same and it slowly raised the PH to 6.8. I then made the bio filter and figured it couldn’t hurt to throw it in with the Pea Grave. Since then its been back and forth on 6.9 and 7.0.. I have a Hanna Continuous meter in the water so I'm keeping a close eye on it... I'll be careful what I add from now on..

sarsnavy05~ Good to hear yours works fine with the same set up! Cheers!

brando~ lol, no.. This little system is on my balcony in plain view.. This is my first attempt at AP and am just going to do vegetables to see whats possible and how I do.. Maybe When I get a real yard I can try something like that.. Your name looks familiar?! You on RIU? If so my name is N!pples there. See other fun grows there..

Happy Growing all!!

Generally true Rob... but the oyster shells are hard... and only breakdown and release the carbonate buffer gradually... and only do so as long as the pH is sufficiently acidic to do it....

Like "shellgrit"... it becomes somewhat self-regulating....

Thanks for clearing that up Ruper, you rock!!

Jon

Uh O! Inspired again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VObZy8n0u8&feature=player_embedded#at=332

Going to make a Vermiculture tray so I can raise some red worms, for all my Soilless culture pots and maybe even feed the fish.. The water will drain through a thick layer of hydroton where I will feed them oatmeal and the water will flow through to the fish tank, then through the Biofilter then through plants & worm bed..

Also gonna make a more attractive Flower pot surrounding for the Fish that will be a little more insulated for the summer heat.

So many Ideas.. I'm officially hooked on AP!

I'm back! I cant stop... lol

Me and my buddy built an enclosure for the Fish tank to make it look better and insulate it from the summer heat thats sure to come.. The Vermiculture try is almost set up and podering if I should add it or not..





Here are my reading as of yesterday.. Nirtites are high and my phosphate levels are through the roof.. I need the plants to grow and quick.. I did add 2 more water lillys and the others are starting to take of.. Yay for Spring!

=), Looking better! Maybe the management company wont make me take it down?!



Happy Growing All!

quote The Vermiculture try is almost set up and podering if I should add it or not..
quote

Go on be a demon and a pioneer and add it lets know how it goes
over the last 4 years there have been a lot like you that have tried things some work some dont but gee we have learnt a lot
In those few years its anazing the advances that have been made in aquaponics

Your setup looks good -my other half wouldn't let me get away with a full on Aquaponics setup so I made this hydroponics setup a few years ago, almost there!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8745365@N04/2509195715/

Food&Fish~ lol, I swear I saw a clip where someone was doing this.. I just cant find it and didn't see how it panned out in the end.. =( Just saw healthy worms living in a cycled hydroton bed.. I dont really want to be a pioneer, I just want lots of fruiting plants and not sure my small system can handle it with out the worms..

Picutes and progress coming soon!

Noutram~ Someday my friend, Gotta start somewhere!!! I wish I had a yard!!! The link you posted sent me to family Pics.. Didnt find the hydro system yet(I'll keep looking).. Cute Family BTW

Jon