Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was wondering how difficult it would be to convert an existing tropical (fresh water) aquarium into a simple aquaponic one by simply adding a styrofoam floating board, holding a small split sponge containing lettuce seeds. The sponge would be split, to allow the roots to grow down into the water. Please see the enclosed diagram for a sketch.

Does anyone know if something like this will work? Will the lettuce (or basil or whatever) grow to edible size? Would I need to substitute a plant bulb instead of my existing aquarium fluorescent bulb? Would anything else need to be done?

Has anyone else converted an existing, small (20 gallon) indoor aquarium into an aquaponic one?

The plants will grow directly through the foam. Just put some suitable plants on the top of the foam and let them grow. They will survive without water whilst getting estabilished because the air is saturated. I used to have a lovely PS foam box with a lawn on top because the grass seed grew through and the box was full of water (to stop it blowing away).

Steve grew plants atop his aquarium for a while - cant remember if we heard the final outcome of it:?

Can't remmeber who, but someone in a recent post was using scotch pads and foam trays on top of an aquarium.... did a search

try here DD's System 2007

No it was Dthawk in El Salvador

All three are correct?

All,

Thanks for your quick responses. I saw the photos that you recommended and I am encouranged to try this out. I think I will pick up the seeds and foam this weekend for a quick tryout in my aquarium. Thanks again.

Plants grow very well in foating foam...

Joel, you rememinded me.............that lebanese water cress POWERS along once its established, huh?

I might give it a haircut oday and have some salad

My previous house had a greenhouse with bathtubs, and I had a bunch of plants in grocery boxes floating around. Works a treat, and you can put soil in the box if you want, or cocopeat.

All this talk about putting different things in a box has me thinking of this (NSFW, Saturday Night Live skit from a couple of weeks ago, mentions men's private parts):

http://www.pistolwimp.com/media/55184/

that was well worth it

now i'm going to be singing it all bloody day

no, we've been watching Aunty Jack (farewell Aunty Jack...) that's what my five-year old is singing!

well my system is run almost fully on my disused aquarium stuffs (apart from the growbed that act as the biofilter)

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=961

but i use natural sunlight instead of aquarium lighting.

Yes, we can convert an existing aquarium into an aquaponic system. It's quite easy to establish as compare to set up a new aquaponic system. We can save a lot of money by converting aquarium into an aquaponic one.