Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi every one,

I have a 30k Koi pond at home and where thinking of creating a Aquaponic system with it.

For me water quality is important for fish viewing but I do not know if I would like to have to use a lot of gravel.

Just for the record I know very little so please help me on the right path if my sugestions will create major pains for me.

I was thinking of having 110 mm pypes mounted on stands and having water flowing through them. This is very simplistic but I have to start somewhere.

Thanks for reading and any sugestions.

I have attached photos to help you get an idea of my site. Please ask questions if you need to know any thing.

My pond.


My Anoxic filter system for Bio


Settlement Sump. Would like the water to return here.

Hey I-broke it.. Glad to see the pond finished..

I think if you wanted to add a AP setup on the filtration side you can fairly easily..
I'm not to sure I would go with a pipe NTF setup as they might rise the water temp higher than you want..

- I think a series normal grow beds might work better for you... run them constant flood and have them higher than the returns to the pond.. Maybe even plumb them into one of the TPR's for the pond..
[The grow bed's upper edge[Water level] would need to be about 6-12" higher than the pond water level so the TPR will flow right]

The normal grow-beds with the stones in them should be ok for the Koi Water Clarity..
- If you have any worms in the GB's and they make their way into the FT the Fish get a bonus feed..

Juergen

I draw up some plans. Lots of blank space. If I put in grow beds with meduim. What will be better. Pave the hole area and put half drums or build raised beds with bricks put a liner inside. What size is ideal for size.

Thanks.

Which area is in the the sun the most..

that is where the grow-beds should go..

Juergen

Hi, Where the washing line is, is the northern side of the house. Sunny side.

This drawing is the place for the grow beds. The fish is already in a 30k pond.

Thanks for the help.

Hi all,

I am thinking of putting brushes in the settlement chamber. This will remove all the large solids. Should I put shrimp in there to break the solids up a bit?

After this I am thinking of putting in 110mm pipe with media (expanded clay, shade cloth, packing peanuts, other suggestions) for BIO. How much will I need?

After this stage I am thinking of doing NFT. I am leaning towards this as I have limited area and I feel I can go up with NFT (Vertical Garden).
Any comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

No input means it is spot on or complete crap can someone please let me know?!?

I was thinking about the bio and thought that I can create strawberry towers above the current sand filter. Cover the whole wall from door to dish. Would orange bags or plastic shavings be a good media or am I looking for trouble. I do not want the tubes to be to heavy.

Thanks.

Bump. Please help.

if you look at other members systems it should give you some good ideas, as for the brushes i think that they would be unnecessary because the gravel beds act as a complete filter system but definetly look at others threads such as jt's it will help you a lot

these two threads should give you some very good ideas the first is ryans and second is jt's
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8754
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5259

Thanks I was thinking of using the brushes > filter basket > pump impeller for the NFT? Would the roots of the plant create enough area for the bacteria to grow on if I only use NFT?

a koi filter will hold the bacteria system as well as the tubes i think but why use a filter system? if you use a growbed full of gravel you will increase the growing area that you will have available as you will be able to grow some plants in that growbed while that growbed is acting as your filter

For lightweight media, you can use hardwood lump charcoal. Not briquettes or anything with starter. Just pure burnt until it turns into carbon wood.

stay away from charcoal. you need some thing more like expanded clay