Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

as you can see we added bottom drains to the 'deep' end of the pool, as well as curved the sides of the corners - ensuring that the 'raceway was 1.5 metres all around - thus no dead spots. Bottom drains were installed, rocks are just for fill (concrete is really expensive)

We added additional solids filters attached to the bottom drains. These work without pumps as the water continuously tries to level itself pushing water through the filters and then returned to the pool via geyser / air pumps

At the same time we were constructing the hatchery

Almost complete, two koi ponds on the side for aesthetic appeal, original idea was to drain water from growbeds into these ponds and have floating rafts of lettuce - but levels of growbeds do not allow for this. So they drain straight to the main tank and we will implement a smaller AP system to filter the koi pond water.

Pics of the growbeds, not a great picture, but there are three of them, I will endevour to upload a newer image in the near future. Growbeds are 14m buy 2m wide, draining via auto siphon - possible upgrading to a flout at a later stage.

WOW !!!!!

I want one

Awesome work axle

Growbeds pics, sides are made from shutterply (cheap building plywood)- treated so they do not rot, 500 micron liner, with 500 micron black plastic covering the liner on the edges of the bed (no light = more longevity). We have compacted clay between each bed and will add a mixture of top soil and manure over this and grow grass to make the whole thing look neat and tidy.

wow what an amazing project. keep up the good work

Woah! It is the dream! A swimming pool as an aquaponic FT Fantabulous!

Looks like its coming together nicely, can't wait to see it up and running, great work so far Axle

Does anyone know how this system has been progressing?

Axle hasn't logged on since Wed Sep 08, 2010....

Hey Guys,

Interesting how the universe works, I haven’t been online for some time and just as I have completed the project and want to post – people start querying.
So here you go - a couple of images – I’m a bit rusty with the photo uploads but I’m sure I’ll figure it out again.

I've just realised that the images that I have on hand aren't the greatest, this shows the tank about two weeks ago - we just finished installing the deck - thus the tools lying around. I will go past site today and take a couple if pics of the growbeds that we are busy planting on a weekly basis. At this stage a variety of items are being grown, I haven't decided on which crops to stick with yet.

When this is done I think this will have to be in the top ten for "Best Looking AP setup"... might even be at the the top, will have to wait and see for the finnished photos
Onya Axle top work