Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,
I picked up a blue barrel from Byap on the weekend and plan to make a mini system.
The plan is to decant my koi into it while I renovate my old ft.
After the old tank is good to go i plan to put a trout crop through it over winter, I will put my four larger koi in with the trout and keep the little koi and goldfish in the mini system.
A couple of questions I have.
1. Should I leave the bigger koi out of trout tank.
2. As my blue barrel tank is small, how would I set up chift.
3. Does peeps use a smaller stand pipe guard for smaller GBs.
4. If the answer to q.1 is yes, then I have four very nice koi to trade.

Ps shop looks great guys, I think it's the best plant growth I have seen there. Lots of systems there now and all looking great.
Great shop, great service.

Well I am deciding to answer my own question.
To achieve chift I will just run pump continuously.
Another question,
Has anyone used the holes in top of blue barrel to connect standpipe drain to, if so what fittings were used?
The big koi, well hopefully I can come up with a larger tank for them later. I don't want to mix species again. They might be a little cramped in blue barrel for now but I will see how they look in there.

When I get the mini system up and running, just wondering about the initializing the system.
If I use the water from old system and gravel from old system how long should I run system before putting fish in?

G'day Skipd, I really think your big koi will be way too crowded in the blue barrel, I think your best option is to re-home them in my tank...

I reckon running the pump continuously is a good idea in a smaller system like that. Good luck.

I have 8 big golodies in my 55 gallon barrel. THey dont look crowded, but I am sure Koi will be way to big.

I had my gravel(or atleast 50% OF IT) cycling over my 55 gallon for a month before I set up the whole system. Water stayed clear and fish are happy and veggies are growing.

Hoping I don't have to run for a month first.
I was hoping for a couple of days or something considering that water and gravel will be coming from an established system.
I will see how they look Chrisamoo, if they are not happy then they maybe in for a road trip.
Have a great day all.

established gravel means Benificial bacteria

Hey SkipD I would love to say I'll look after your Koi.. But I'm in the wrong Area..

The Koi will not do in a Blue Barrel it is way to small for any medium/large[10" Plus] size Koi..
Now if they were babies yes you could have a number in a barrel, but then you need to keep your eye's on the nitrite's/Ammonia etc.. They are fairly sensitive to their water conditions..

Juergen..

Psst No photo's so it did not happen..LoL