Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Howdy all,

Ive posted some info and pics about this system before, however that post was asking for advise for the system as it was being designed and constructed...and now its basically finished and producing!

So I think that warrants a new thread, just showing the pics I took today of the growth etc. If people would like me to also add the pics from the construction phase as well, I am happy to do so...

Now a recap on the specs....

- CHOP mkII (no other system would allow me to have the fish tank and all plumbing so hidden)
- recycled 2000L fish tank
- 1720L of gravel grow beds (1 x 800L, 2 x 460L)
- 1380L of buried sumps (3 x 460L all connected with underground pipes)
- 1 x 13,000LPH pump
- 50-70 Nile Tilapia (to hard to count...)

Growing tomatoes, Thai coriander, chilli and some type of gourd

Already harvested about 2-3kgs of gourd, about 10 massive (10-12cm long) green chillies, and the tomatoes are fruiting after 3 weeks in the system.

Cheers!

Floyd

Well I will comment. That is super cool
How are your water readings with that many big fish ?

Yep.... niiice Floyd....

The biggest fish are about 18-20cms and the average is about 12cms....

anyone got experience as to at what size the nile tilapia start to breed? The larger males are turning red and getting territorial which may mean they are feeling horny, but are they physically capable of reproducing at that size???

Readings are pretty consistant at:
ammonia: less than 0.2
nitrate: 20ppm
ph: 7.8 (im adding hydrochloric acid every few weeks to bring it down slightly)
salted to about 3ppt

Floyd.

oh, and the total price for materials was about AUD$600!

Bloody bargain. gotta love the price and availability if HDPE products here in Thailand. Plus tilapia fingerlings cost 1baht each...which is about $0.03!!

But all the pipe, the fish tank, timber etc is recycled from scrap found on site and in the jungle...

Bloody excellent... Don't let my Mrs see it, she will want me to "beautify" my system to match. Well done and please post more pics

Looks great Floyd, though I am not surprised

Regarding when they breed, when first got some they bred while still fingerlings practically. The critical thing is to get the water temp to 86F degrees. I would always find babies in the sump so if there is a safe way to get the babies to flow away from the adults that might help them survive.

Tis a beautiful system Floyd.....

For those wondering about the building process, here's the thread... viewtopic.php?t=10325

Thanks all!

The fish tank is behind the old palm frond fence, behind the first GB on the left.

Hi guys,

here my first ever youtube vid explaining the system



Its in 2 parts, the 2nd is to follow. INternet here is supremely slow, so will do it tomorrow.

Cheers

Floyd.

Looks awesome Floyd Haven't watched the Youtube video yet though, may get time to do that tomorrow.

Hey Floyd,
Welcome to the forum from Chiang Mai
I have just started rebuilding my system after a house move and a long break (nearly 9 months)
Great to see another system in TL and such an aesthetically pleasing one too, nice job
All of mine look like building sites or car parks !

That is a great looking system. You have done well.
You commented that you might use galvanized pipe for the supports for the second and third Grow Beds. That would not be a good idea if you are also putting them in the tanks. Galvanized coating will leach out to the water and damage your fish and who ever eats them. Could you make you stand sit just outside of the sump into the ground instead. That would be safer and would increase your sump volume also.

+1 Don.