Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am in the process of setting up a system in my basement and am looking for any advise,suggestion or tips. The tank will be approximatley 270 gallons, I had planned on having 2 grow beds (2'x8') but I am limited in hieght, only 6' from floor to cieling and considering my tank will be 28" tall it does not leave me with a lot of vertical space. So I am planning on doing 1 3'x8' bed and a smaller 3'x3' bed and some duck weed tanks. I intend to grow Tilapia, starting with 50 fingerlings. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Have you got any pics of the area you have to work with BP? You might need to do a chift pist system with a large shallow sump tank perhaps, so that you caqn get your growbeds down a bit allowing for lights and plant growth.

howdy from northeast ohio and a fellow basement grower!
i'm still trying to get gravel to expand my system, but i already have an 8' kiddie pool in the basement with minnnows and crayfish..i'm using cut down IBC's for growbeds.. i may use one half tote as a sump, with a drain from the pool into it, then pumping water up to the growbeds, which will drain into the ft/pool.. but when i was fiddlin around with stuff this weekend i half way convinced myself to go constant flood, that way i can drop my drain line down to the floor..
my basement is probably too cool for tilapia, unless i heat the water.. i might grow some in a regular fish tank that i'll heat, and use the fry as a food supplement for the yellow perch and bluegill that i already have..
oh, and i'm just using 32watt t8 shop lights
good luck and take lots of pics

My plan is to use pallets, which I get for free, to build the tank and grow bed or beds and use pond liner or a pool liner for them. A few shallow totes for duck weed. I will need to heat water, but I'm insulating the tank with R-19 all the way around and on the bottom and top.I'm hoping for an Ebb and flow system. I just painted 2 walls and cieling this weekend. I will be building tank this week and hopefully bed or beds next week than put up the other 2 walls. My goal is to have the system up and running by the end of the month. Once the room is built I'll take some pics. My basement usually sits at 67 to 68 yeasr round so I think with the system being well insulated it shouldnt cost to much to keep water temp at 74. Also plan on building a solar heater to help out.

After several days of back and forth hospital visits with my 3 year old with 106+ temps, it was back to work today, got my wiring and outlets in and my plumbing done. Time to start the tank build! As soon as I get the tank done I'll post some pics.