Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok I have finally overcome my shyness and decided to show pics of my very first system (and my smaller second system). Its new and i still have heaps to do but ill talk about that as i go along.

I decided to post this today because im finally getting readings of more than traces from my test results.

So here goes.

Ill save you the pics of construction and most of them are pretty crap.

The complete system.
Still have lots of playing to do. Im experimenting with zinc-alum sheeting around my FT but i think ill replace it with fibro sheeting instead. Also around the GB's. Tidy up the plumbing etc

1 x 850l (roughly) FT

2 x 300l growbeds

400l sump buried under there somewhere
can be accessed from the back pretty easily.


probably should have cleaned up before taking the photos

So far its running along just fine.

I have 8 SP in the tank and 11 goldies
next mission is to re plumb the pump line to neaten it up and make it 25mm and add a third growbed which is still waiting to be cut.

Stats are as follows (from today)
PH 7.6
Ammonia just a trace (basically 0)
nitrites about 3.0
nitrates 80

a week ago there was traces only with a bit of ammonia.

I also made this yesterday for my kids
600l ish tank
300l gb

filled it with gravel about an hour ago added seasol and started the pump but no pics yet



will stock it with some mollies and goldies in a week

And finally heres something else im working on

Pulled the insides out of this today
not sure if ill make it a smoker or a steamer
but ill post more on that project later

Looking very cool Merrick

Some nice neat looking work there Merrick.

Wow, drank a whole keg just to make a smoker or steamer....

Shows commitment doesn't it EB?

It looks great, Merrick! Looks neater than most, so I'm wondering what "cleaning up" will mean!

Hey what are the timbers you've used under the growbeds Merrick? Looks like some beautiful big slabs of timber...

I was given 12 half sleeper about a year ago and used them. there actually pretty warped but i put the flattest side out... i think they're just some recycled stuff no idea what type. white ants liked some lol but i treated those with diesel never got touched

by tidy i mean enclose the FT and GB's to stop the algae and add beds and plant more veg and the list goes on lol

The keg i have decided will be a smoker since my wife just pointed out to me we already have a steamer and small bainmarie.
Im happy with that.
Now i need to work out how to make it functional for both smoking and making jerky

So it appears im cycled finally after what has to be close to 9 weeks

Amm - trace
ph - 7.4 - 7.6 im not touching it hoping it will sort itself out fish dont seem to be bothered
rites - trace
rates - trace

a week ago my rites and rates were off the chart so i think im sweet!

My kids tanks been seeded from my main tank and is reading like a new system just with a few traces of the goods but a much higher ph so ill add some iron later.

Anyone had luck with passionfruit or blueberries? Just planted some today so ill see how they go.

Blueberries, Passion fruit both failed in my system,

Dirt them and feed them ap water