Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been meandering through the site and magazines, and newsletters...

...and of course, I'm thinking of building a few aquaponic systems this summer/winter indoors and outdoors (I have only a balcony).

I would prefer to have a system for pumping water that doesn't use electricity, maybe a few cranks to turn for five minutes at night, or sit on a pedal bike for five minutes each night...?

Mostly going through different ways to setup a system. Maybe have the fish tank be the highest height of the system, and a series of small tubes jetting the water downstream, in a fountain from plant container to container? Is that too ambitious?

I will be thinking.



P.S. Let me know if you have any ideas or heard of someone doing something along these lines.

Pictures would be awesome, videos would be great too!

later all,

jeff c

P.S. I'm from Ocean Shores, WA USA ( North west coast of USA )

I guess it could be done.

Here is a link to turn an exercise bike into a generator. You could charge a battery with it but I think it will take you more than 5 minutes to generate enough power to run a pump all day.

And all night...

Atleast it would keep you fit ...

Thank you very nice!


jeff c

Well, I've been pricing the equipment that I will need for an aquaponics system, and it's all too expensive!

CRAZY

I am currently on the lookout for inexpensive barrels to start a small system.

If there are any near Ocean Shores, WA, or grays harbor county, WA, please let me know guys. If you are from Washington, and want to give me some or sell me some extra barrels for cheap, please call me at (360) 580-0423.

Thanks a million!

I will also take free or cheap aquariums for raising fish.

later,

jeff c

Only reason I was asking, is because currently I am pricing equipment and this is what I've found so far:

75 Gallon Aquarium NEW from petsmart.com $229

Lights (since I'm growing plants indoors) $230 for 600w bulb, ballast and reflector package, or $160 for 400w package. (from hidhut.com) and they also sell other items for hydroponics like expanded clay for $45 for 50 liters.

Haven't priced much beyond this, because I'm not sure of my budget, I have about $1000 saved, and I kinda don't want to spend it yet. Even $500 or $200....

oh well,

jeff c


P.S. So what I decided was to keep these items in mind, and if I get serious enough about starting this, I'll make a few purchases. I know that I'll get some money (over $2000) next feb 2012 with tax refund, so as we get closer to that time, I will become more bold with purchases.

If you want to do AP on a reasonable budget, then find a local retailer selling Rubbermaid stock tanks. There are various sizes to choose from with the largest (300 gallons) costing about $200. A 100-gallon tank runs about $70. Or, buy some 2 x 4s, a couple sheets of plywood, and a pond liner and build your own tank.

Start small and inexpensive, then grow from there.

Your local farm store (D&D, Tractor Supply) will have bigger stock tanks around the $100 mark. Even Home Depot might special order them if you ask customer service. For cheap growbeds, I have read a lot of people using cement/concrete mixing tray from home depot for under ten bucks each. For containers, you could also search craigslist.org in the for sale-free section. I just recently changed my indoor growbed into a somenumber-quart cooler with the top off. If you are determined with a pretty aquarium setup, then it would be best to keep it at the lowest level and pump up from it so you do not have to drill any holes in it.

Since you are going to set it up indoors, then just use compact florescents that fit in a normal light bulb outlet. They are cheaper than what you listed and use less electricity than incandescent lights. Comparable size LEDs are still too costly. Clamp lights are easy to move around, I use two on a timer and the nearby window.

Human powered is a far fetch to try to accomplish without a community around to refill the growbeds every hour, every day (vacations?). Third World places it may work for but not a luxury we normally have. And be sure to turn on a fan, oscillating is better, to help harden the plants. If they think they are too weak, they may flower but not produce.

awesome thanks guys.

later,

jeff c

The growth of your plants will likely be very related to the amount and quality of light you give them. Some plants grow better in low light than others. Do lots of research there and shop around. What will work for you will depend on your goals. Also system design should also take into account your goals for the system.

Like if you simply want some aquarium fish and some herbs then a small very simple small system will do.

If you are planning to grow 50 plate size fish that is a totally different matter.

Figure out your goals and that will help you direct your system.

Human powered.......... Think about what is involved in moving the volume of water in the fish tank at least once each hour. To manage such a thing by only touching it once each evening you would need a header and sump tank for the system that are 24 times the volume of your fish tank, some how I doubt this will fit well in the spare bedroom. When you think about the electricity costs of all this, the electric water pump is going to be the least of your electrical costs if you get an efficient one. The lighting electrical usage will be the big cost.

Looking at your prices it looks like the expanded clay is way to high, You should be able to get Hydroton for about $20 per 50L bag. Look for a local hydroponics store to avoid the shipping costs. It's been awhile for me but I believe it takes 3.5 bags to fill a 50 gallon rubbermaid stock tank. You can also get volcanic scoria in our area and it's much cheaper than Hydroton but it's much heavier and hard on the hands.

I agree with Thorn on the Compact Fluorescents. Don't bother with the HID lights - most stores around here have troubles selling them anymore. You can also use T-8 fluorescents which are relatively cheap. You don't need T-5 fixtures and bulbs which are much more expensive (the hydroponics stores would love to sell you some ).

Tough Totes from Home Depot (27 gal) would work for grow beds and Lowes has something similar (17gal or 27 gal about $10 each). I don't believe these are listed as food grade so it would be use at your own risk. There are lots of options, some free.

I originally (earlier this month...) thought I had about $1000 in the budget...but now I have approximately zero.



I am however, going to fix the problem...maybe.

I owe approximately $2000 in taxes...quite a large sum for me, but it's just $600 to income taxes...$900 to local street construction levy, and $500 to real estate taxes...maybe more. So I have to find out how much I have to borrow to pay this off, then ask my parents for money.



Then, figure if I borrow some extra money to pay for a nice aquarium ( still thinking that I want the $230 aquarium from Petsmart.com ) so I can view my fish while I raise them....and other supplies...well, then I'll probably have to disconnect my internet, but I still can use it from work!

Hopefully between my parents, and my $1000 savings, I won't have to borrow much to start this nice system.

I think my goal is to have as large a tank in my small living room and as large of grow beds (plan on 2) in my living room as possible...and still keep my bowflex somewhere in the apartment too.

I live in a small one bedroom condo, I'd say the living room is about 10 feet by 12 feet, maybe more give or take a few square feet here and there.

I know it's crazy. I also thought about approaching a few of my friends and acquaintances, and seeing if any of them are interested in starting an aquaponics system...what I would REALLY LOVE...is to start something along the lines of cabbage hill farm, and help run it! All I would want mostly is to help run it, and have some food every week from it! Ultimately, I would want to have one of those systems for myself too!

But this is all just dreaming for now, it will probably take a few years to get this going...but you never know!

later all,

jeff c


P.S. Thanks TCL and Scotty

...I'm just glad I realized all these taxes that I owe, before I went and spent my money...


jeff