Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Made this to try out aquaponics from mostly things I had lying around. Been into fish since I was a kid and gardening too. A friend bought some IBC tanks and I thought Id give it a try. It is in the ‘laboratory’ (pronounce as in British English) in the basement utility/storage room.

I think Ill try swamp crawfish and tilapia. They appear to be the best as far as raising them for me. Id like other types of shrimp or redclaws but these will work and I should be able to manage them well. The bottom tank is about 225 gallons. The top holds about 50 gallons and the bed is about 12 inches deep.

Its ran off of one pump and an airstone setup. Ill be adding to the setup shortly after I get my lava rock or hydroton. They are both about the same with delivery of the lava rock in the 3/8 range.

Anyone else in the Pacific Northwest?

Welcome to the forum DIYSeattle. Neat looking setup

I got my hydroton In and waiting for it to settle down. Deciding on crayfish. Red swamp or blue crayfish. Appears they grow about the same. The blue look like it has a smaller carapace.

Very neat system DIY....

How big is your pump in there?

I'm not sure to tell you the truth. It pumps the top tank about 25 or 30 gallons in 3 or 4 minutes. It's on a timer to run for five minutes. The rest overflows the standpipe. The pump turns off and the browned drains.

Welcome DIY!

Thanks for the warm invites.

Welcome, it is always nice to see another state side APer. I grew up in Kitsap county, but migrated towards warmer climes.

DYI Seattle, Where c an I get some tanks like that I want to set up something like this as well to grow fish, plant food for my poultry and crayfish sounds great. msf1949

I'm up in Gold Bar. It's a grip of a trip to Seattle for me. My wife and I make it down there about twice or three times a month.


I'm just researching for now. I'm not too sure what will grow well up here...

Check out Craigslist. search "totes" or "IBC", and you'll get a decent list of some. I was just looking on there for some today, and found several ads for anywhere from $50-300 each.

How about an update on your system? I am looking to build a very similar system....

Sadly, I think I saw this setup posted on craigslist yesterday.

Yea, I saw it too....