Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

We have been considering an AP system for a couple years now, but the overall looks of the system just did not suit our house. The only location we could have the system is right next to our Alfresco entertaining area, and is visible from the street.

Last week, we decided we have to go ahead and set up a system. We just love the idea of getting out own produce from the backyard straight onto the dining table.

This is what we done.


If I were to go further, I would have cladded the whole fish tank, as well as made the horizontal framing double width to hide more of the plastic. But time and effort in doing so would be a lot more.




I used composite (plastic) decking in 150mm width. They came in 3.6m length and has accessories like end caps, joiners, and corners. Many places sell these sort of thing (maybe higher quality Aussie Made) for around $20-$25 per linear meter. I got these from a friend (Modern Wood in Malaga) for much less.




Excess decking was used to renew a rotted table top for the bbq area.




My poor barra Too cold! Whatever has happened to Perth Spring




Plumbing is as neat as I could get it. Water cleared up easy enough. Frozen barra fingerlings hiding behind the pump. The water swirls around clockwise so it keeps the fish swimming.




Electricals all tucked away from any water





Viewed from the street




Seedlings and seeds are in the bed.

Aq couple questions please.

1. How full should the water in the FT be? Assuming on the end of the drain cycle.

2. I intend to grow some herbs or whatever floating in the FT. Any smart ideas on how I can stop the plants from floating off the front of the FT? As the front is the only place it will get any sunlight.

3. Any suggestions on what plant will grow quick and cascade down the front of the FT? This will help me hide the tank wonderfully! Preferably an edible plant, but not essential.

Very clean setup!

Tie the floating basket on a short leash to the front.

Try kang kong, but they only do well in summer.

And if you have barra in your tanks now, I would suggest adding a heater in. At below 18 degc for too long would not be good for them.

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A piece of fishing line tied at around half way between high tide and low tide at the point where you would like to stop your floating plants might do the trick. That way they would be easy to brush aside if you want to look into the water.

But if you want it cascading down the front, you wouldnt want it floating as it would rub on the rim as it moved up and down with the tide. This would leave the rim bit of the plants looking a little tatty. And if looks is what you're after you will get all sad.

So...

Another option would be to place small grow bed or beds into the water, but attached to the FT rim so that as the fish tank drained, the little grow bed would drain, as it filled, the little grow bed would flood. If you want to have something cascading over the side, you could then plant whatever you wanted without it getting tatty. It would also allow any kind of plant rather than just a variety that would do well in a floating situation.

There are two foot long plastic window box pots that might fit the bill. They wouldn't fit perfectly (ie there would be a gap) , but plant growth would soon cover it if you chose things that grow all year.

Do you want to cover the entire thing, or just break up the shape? If the latter, I'd go with a little herb garden.

Whatever you do, I'd make it just sit on hooks so you could move it out of the way if you ever wanted to do a lot of work in the FT. That way its out of the way, and wont get damaged.

Two sturdy hooks should do it.

Oh, and nice work.

Thanks for the ideas and comments. I reckon I will be able to somehow tether it with fishing line and a hook.

Water parameters for the record:
09/10/2011 - NH3: 0.0ppm, NO2: 0.0ppm, NO3: 2-4PPM, pH: 8.2, Temp: 22
10/10/2011 - NH3: 0.0ppm, NO2: 0.0ppm, NO3: 5PPM, pH: 8.2, Temp: 18
11/10/2011 - NH3: 0.0ppm, NO2: 0.0ppm, NO3: 10PPM, pH: 8.2, Temp: 19

Nice set up.. I like the decking.. I might get some for myself..

Maybe U can also hung some pots from the top into the pond, and adjust the height.
Does watercress hung down?
Another good plant that grows like a climber it is a type of Italian spinach or some of the pumpkin family,though they can grow too big.
There are some cherry tomatoes than can hung down too.
from the spices : Thyme,mint... is what I know of.

the memory herb ( i think its called brahmi - i obviously dont eat as much as i should do ) will drape nicely, and loves water. here it is down the side of my GB

Nice work "Grumpy"... but watch that plug from the timer doesn't fall out...

is that the extruded plastic wood fibre decking? very nice!

Hot glue that timer plug in