Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Evening All,

My name is karlos, and I have recently been consumed by this new crazy addiction I am sure some of you will be able to help me with... called Aquaponics?

In short, I am 31 (nearly 32) full time graphic designer and marketing web geek, work hard, train hard in the gym and was in need of further stimulation. I also keep an eye on global events, especially in consideration to the economy, which moves on to the cost of food and from a health perspective - GOOD QUALITY FOOD

Some peoples new years resolutions were too, lose weight, join a gym, quit smoking, eat more healthy... well I never smoked but had already done those things last year. After watching a program recently on American Preppers and seeing a guy who converted his backgarden into a complete food production outlet, I got interested in aquaponics!

From then I have been reading, googling, watching youtube etc etc. Then whilst tending to some garden maintenance last weekend, I realized I had a few spare tubs in the garage and a lot of creative ideas. So I found myself at the garden place, buying a few more tubs, designing irrigation systems on the spot and getting home to bash together my first aquaponics system

It's small, It's not perfect, and it's on a fishless cycle at the moment, but it's been great fun, and I can't help waiting to get home to check on it, sample the water levels and just the water flow around the system. To the point where I think my four legged friend is feeling a bit shut out - poor fella! (he is half laying on my laptop now)

Anyways... enough about me, all we care about are the systems!

My system is small, designed to be a test case and already I have plans to expand it (in my head) but I thought low risk entry first and foremost. My old planter tub carries between 40-50 litres, so it will be my fish tank in time - only for goldfish though - above it I have 4 smaller planter tubs, roughly holding between 40-50 litres of expanded clay - and currently probably a little over planted with my favourite veg and salad selections.

It's a continuous flow system, based on my initial ignorance, and on the tubs I bought. I built the irrigtation system, then drilled several holes, then several more... and then a few more thereafter - just a cheap pump which can move up to 1350 litres an hour, some aquarium gravel - and a nice bridge for the fish (when they arrive in a few weeks).

My ammonia levels are slightly off the charts at the moment, but reducing in colour - and today I started to see my Nitrite levels increasing slightly

Anyway's the pics - it's hardly anything compared to what is on this site, but it's a start and it has me well and truly hooked so thanks for the inspiration people







It does hit full sun for the most extreme hours of Perth, Western Australian Weather - but I figured the increased temp would help the cycling process - I will be working on some shade/shelter before the fish arrive

So G'Day forum people! I look forward to your input, advice and fellowship lol

Welcome Karlos... while there's no known cure for your addiction... we are more than willing to support you in your addiction...

It's the kind of addiction I think I am happy to keep bud

Welcome Karlos, you are not alone. Very unique system there, I don't recall seeing one quite like that before, it is a good thing

Thanks Faye - I kinda just threw myself in at the deep end! I love tinkering with stuff and this just seemed to be the most spontanious thing I could have done - all being well once cycled and fully functional, I will extend it, and try and turn it into a thing of beauty... but form follows function, integral design rule lol

Weolcome Karlos.

Are you using the overflow from self water pots as the return to the tank? Neat idea mate.

Pretty much bud! Works quite nicely and also acts as a nice divide between media and container - similar to the surround outside of the syphon most people has ensures the media doesn't clog it up.

Simplicity is often the key to success... but it took me a few tweaks to realize I should have gone the easy way to start with

This is how I had the system initially, with the plant beds shitting across two big planters (one only used for stability though).


However trying to do a low-tec return flow was proving to be somewhat of an issue, with limited tools etc



This image doesn't really do my complexity justice - it worked ok for the two pots over the fish tank, but the other two planters were leaking too much over the spare tank, resulting in far too much water loss. In just two hours it had shifted about 25litres of water, so at 8.40pm I was outside, with a torch, a saw, and trying to hunt for any viable beams I had laying around. It was then the simple option kicked in and I am pleased to say water loss is now at an absolute minimum and dare I say it looks far nicer too!

In time I plan on using the bottom two planters as both media tubs, planting bigger fruit/veg/salad in them, leaving the top planters for smaller herbs and salads - and then hoping to add some form of 150lt tank for fish - that would give me 150lt of grow space in balance with the fish tank... but not until this one is functional... and I have saved a few pennys up

You've already learnt one of the most important lessons in AP I reckon....