Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Started with and idea...



Little did i know that my ratios were a bit off for FT to GBs. Plus pond size changed, along with the growbeds. Original idea was to make GBs out of wood frame with pond liner inside. However I ended up using ICB's, cheaper and easier!

Pond ended up being 25x15x4.5 feet deep. Used a tractor to dig the pond, so the pond goes from shallow to deep. Also could have used a little less liner.









Recently added the shade cloth over the pond to lower the water temperature. Dropped from 92 to 85.



Framed the GBs with 2x6s and 4x4s. Kept the GBs on a steady decline in order to drain back to pond. Used gutters under the GBs to drain back to pond.





After I finished the system I bought some plants from Home Depot that had all been started, cleaned the dirt off and planted. Gave a nice head start since the pond was completed way in advance to the GBs. After 2 months this was what the plants looked like.



After I finished the system.. A friend and I went and cast net some fish from a local pond. Got a little of everything. Some shiners, a bass, some bluegill, and 2 adult tilapia. One adult tilapia died within a month. Looking back I wish I had recorded exactly what I put in. Hindsight is always 20/20!

Originally you will notice we used 1/2 tubing and then inserted emitters in order to deliver the water to the GBs. Problem was the emitters would clog constantly because of the debris in the pond. So we installed a small inline filter to help keep the debris from entering the lines. BTW when I say small I mean small it was something used for plumbing that was 1.25 in inlet and outlet. Water had to pass through a 2x1inch mesh filter. Wish i had taken a picture of this thing so you could really get a good laugh in at me. We literally could have cleaned this thing every hour.

Just recently we burnt up a pump. Go figure since there was all the pressure building up against the pump constantly! So I started doing some research and discovered that I should be using a flood and drain method. So I tore into the system and changed it to a F/D, it is amazing how much the water has cleared up! Can now see down 3 feet. Use a golf ball tied to a string to measure the water clarity.

Yey, flood and drain is the way to go.

Hindsight is a blessing and a curse.
Looks like a pretty good solid system. Need more pictures and details.
That bass eating the other fish?
How long have you had that greenhouse up? Any issues with the wood getting moldy or rotting issues due to humidity or ground being wet? I shall do something similar with my next GH, so any no-no's would be appreciated.
How's the rain and flooding in Dover?

Keep up with the postings, let us know how things are going.

Wow!!! Hubby and I just found your system - and we love it!

We are looking at incorporating a duckpond into our system in the next few months... and love what youve done with your pond!

Will be watching this thread... keep up the good work

Gotta get rid of the ducks.

The best thing is PLUCK a DUCK and eat it cos it will eat all of your fingerlings tout suit.

I have gotta say, you are a guy with a lot of energy. I like that In a man.

Vous pouvez jouer dans mon bassin tout moment.

Last week we caught some of the fish from the pond to record our results. We chummed them up with a little dog food and threw the cast net. Came up with 108 tilapia. Average size was 3-4 inches. The larges was 7 inches.





We then threw the net a few more times. Came up with a few large shiners, 1 11inch bass, and a 6.5 inch bluegill.




We will be catching and recording the data again in another week.

Honestly not too worried about them eating the fingerlings. There are probably way too many fish in the pond.

Theres only 1 maybe 2 bass.. I would imagine they are chowing down on a regular basis but like i told Tevis about the ducks. Way too many tilapia fingerlings, so the bas are welcome to eat as many as they would like!

I built the system at a friends house. He has had that greenhouse up for 12 years I believe. THe wood is starting to rot but the majority of the frame is metal, so not a big deal.

The rain is becoming a pain in a my butt. I own a lawn care company and cant get ahead between the rain and repairs on the equipment.

Will definitely keep everyone on here updated on the system. Watch closely.. Because when I get back from my honeymoon at the end of September Im going to expand! Need approximately another 30 growbeds to get to a 1:2 ratio... YIKES!

I FEEL LIKE THE FREAKING MAN RIGHT NOW!!

Coming from you thats the best compliment ever! I found your system on the ICB PDF Backyard Aquaponics put together. Searched your name and found your system on this forum, then proceeded to read the entire thread. Your thread got me to change to a F/D method!

I think you should add your system to the "Size does matter thread" Ees a beeg one!

netab isn't the only one who'll be watching your thread

Just a quick point that I've mentioned elsewhere (several times) in the forum is that the smaller the pipe, the greater the pressure drop due to friction on the pipe walls. If you're going to expand, use a larger pipe size. You pump may have had problem with the pressure caused by a blocked filter, but undersized pipes are another problem.
I'll see if I can find the thread and post a link for you.

Edit: Here it is
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8219&p=270410&hilit=pipe+size+pressure+drop#p270410