Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

A big hello to all. I got linked to this site only 1 week ago and have already planned my first system and sourced all of the materials needed. I am addicted and I havent even started yet.

I stopped at a vegetable grower after noticing a large pile of IBC's near their shed and I asked if he wanted to get rid of any and he told me I could take as many as I want for free......SCORE. They have had chemicals in them but have been assured that after a good wash they will be fine. I will be running the system with minimal fish to start with to ensure that this is the case.

Below is a terrible rendering of the planned system. I would love to know if anyone sees any potential hazards etc..

Hi Danboya and welcome to the forum. Well like the rest here, I guess you are probably hooked now
Free IBCs that is a good score Have you downloaded the free IBC of aquaponics, it will tell you all that you need to know as well as linking directly to peoples threads if you would like any further information
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/compo ... onics.html
It is always great to see photos including before shots of where the system is to go and you will get lots of help and interest here.

What diameter is the non-kink hose... you really need at least a 25 mm delivery to the IBC IMO...

Can't remember off the top of my head but I am pretty sure it is 25 mm. I did think that anything smaller wouldnt flow as well.

welcome to the forum, your in the right place to learn thats for sure!

Be worth dropping into teh BYAP shop to have a look at their setups(and see the fish feed!)

Was just there myself a hour ago, got some fish food after getting some silvers from Wavey off the site.

I definately will try to get over there. It is quite a trip for me but would love to have a look in the new year. I have found a place to get silver perch near me for $3 each if i buy more than 10. Is that an alright price?

Plan looks good. Welcome

Hi Danboya....

depends on the size of the perch, but it's probably not too bad...

You were at the shop today Roodog? Hope you saw Faye working hard....

Yea when i walkwd in Faye was hard at work nwar the front door.

Showed the kids baz they saw the chickens and got to pat one( my daughter remembers it as the chicken place)

Thought i saw you walk in but you vanished so didnt get to say gday and Faye was not there when i left.

Sorry to have missed you, think I may have had to move the truck. Was there an Ibc leaving about thar time perhaps?

Plan looks pretty standard so it is a proven winner. However, I would make your GBs a bit deeper. Generally 300mm of media is a good depth so you GB should be about 350mm deep IMO.

Ibc was leaving when we walked in, well the one on the trailer. Looked like a ibc kit as they had hydroton as well.

Rmcpb has a point. You could raise your fish tank a bit to get bigger growbed depth or sink the sump partially in the ground.

Pretty sure your sys will do 20 odd fish

I get my IBC's tomorrow, getting super excited. A few newbie questions because I am over thinking everything.

If I make my grow beds 300mm (roughly 300 lt) will a 600 Lt sump be big enough without draining itself?

Would I be better running a constant flow and having loop siphons?

Thanks in advance.

Dan

600Lt sump would be fine, of the 300LT growbed only a portion of that will hold water(30-40%, its early and im at work so I cant remember the correct % lol). So say 2 x 300L growbeds would be about 250L of water in them at any time.. you need a bit of water in the sump so it doesnt go dry.

I guess if you wanted another 2 growbeds you could plumb another 600L sump into the existing growbed too.