Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

First, let me thank the community here for the resource that you are. I spent a lot of time here researching and finding solutions. THANKS!

I've been on the fence about building a system for the last year or so and when I learned that an old friend was in the same way about AP. We pushed each other off. We started about 6 weeks ago on my system first(I lost the toss) with a rough plan and tweaked and changed it almost daily. It has truly been a blast. First true cycling started today.

With limited space and finances considered here is the lowdown:
I have approx 500gal FT mostly above ground. We ran into a lot of buried artifacts so the bottom is not level -average 7" dig. 590 GPH pump to bio filter and aeration. Grow beds are 12 recycling containers(Gretna La. stopped recycling after hurricane Katrina so they are available). 12" of grow bed -2" lava rock and 10" Washed Gravel. Bell Siphons -Hawaiian University style. UNISEALS -love these guys! Fish were "fished". Between 40-50 assorted local pan fish caught here in Jean Lafitte National Park -mostly Bluegill, a percentage Sun Fish, a few Red Belly and one Channel Cat will be taking over for the 40 feeder goldfish that my lady wanted to name.

would like to meet any local APers

Few Questions:
1. a lot of FT for GB will this be a problem? plan on adding more at end of summer if things go well
2. will these fish eat duck weed? I've received conflicting answers to this
3. any experience with these fish in AP?

answers/comments/tips/any replies -thanks

here are some pics of my system and a creepy eye

That is a really gross eye shot Janitor.....

Whats the car undercover there?

77 VW beetle sedan

That's exactly what I was interested in EB.

is the eye injured? Poked it while installing the plumbing? I always thought we should have an ap injuries thread.

System is looking cool. What media are you going to use?

Welcome to the forum!

Yeah, nice work Janitor... welcome

Grand canyon janitor?.......hehe


welcome mate

Welcome to BYAP from Mississippi. Nice looking setup. Not sure of the answers to your questions except that the species of fish you have don't normally eat duckweed. No experience with those species of fish in AP. Lots of experience with them in earthen ponds and flow thru tanks.

How many pounds of fish total do you have in your tank?
How many gallons of growbed do/will you have?

Oh yea, creepy eye.

A bit disappointing about the Duckweed. I'm trying to keep pellet food to a minimum.

I have 360 gal of GB. I could not begin to guess the poundage of fish. The average size to the assorted pan fish is about 5".

updated pic here

you could raise a total of a little over 80lbs of fish.. that's at the grown out size..
i have some bluegills that did eat a bit of duckweed, but not much
you can get a good pellet feed for less than a dollar a pound, i found "silvercup" for $35 for a 50lb bag.. purina makes some good fish food,, you really want to use a high quality pellet for best growth of your fish and veggies..

Nice work Janitor!
Must've had a good helper.