Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Okay, new thread, a few years ago I built a pretty good size system (2,000 liter for fish, 1,000 liter sump) and it worked very well, till power went out and I lost my tilipia, and then I got really busy. Now, I have time and ready to give it another whirl.

First of all, I have decided I absolutely will not to autosiphons... Too much time spent making sure they keep siphoning, and I really don't get into watching them like a cat watching a mouse hole.

Just picked up a 3200 GPH pump which should do a transfer of 3,000 liters in roughly 15 minutes, so I am looking at 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off. Also, I want to drive it with solar panels and batteries, with less runs at night. So, throw me in the flood and drain camp, and let's see how I can foul that up...

Instead of tilapia, it is going to be my favorite fish, channel catfish, of which I have a lot in my ponds, which have started to breed. Unlike tilapia, you pretty much have to beat catfish to kill them, this is the fish for me!

Substrate will be peagravel, in blue barrels on the half shell, like before. I am going to use gutters as much as possible instead of closed pipes, to make them easier to clean, also I have an idea how to keep the roots out, or at least make it easier to clean them out, we will see how well it works.

Look forward to seeing MarkII CRT...

Just a suggestion, It's been said that peagravel might be too small and may cause some "anaerobic" areas in your grow beds. 3/4" gravel is supposed to be better if you're going the gravel route. Anaerobic basically just meaning there's not enough oxygen so bad bacteria grow and kill your nitrates and convert them back to nitrites as I understand it.

That pump sounds massive can't wait to see the system.

I've used 1/4" gravel for years with no issues, I think that's a myth.

You could call Jamie & Adam

Yeah I have used gravel thats 1/2 inch and smaller at home for a long time....

We live in Costa Rica, pea gravel is closer to 3/4 to even 1 inch, with some smaller, in other words, river rock, screened. All I know is that it worked fine for a long time for us and is granite - and our water was completely neutral, no leaching.

By the way gnash, I love this "Unattended children will be given an Espresso and a free puppy". Seriously thinking of making a sign saying that for our shop.

I was thinking of changing it to "Unattended children will be sold to the circus"

More than a few parents might drop their kids off if you did that... but the espresso and a puppy is sweet revenge.