Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

I'm knew to aquaponics, I have known about it for a while, I was introducted to it at uni but it has taken me several years to come up with the funds and time to set a system up

I am using a 3ft fish tank I had lying around which I have just about reconditioned.

I have a stand that has a 1000mm beam x 450 W and I need a grow bed that can fit on it....

I have looked around a bit but I am having a hard time finding a grow bed that is 1000mm or less length, upto ~600mm wide (I don't mind a bit of overhang) and equal or less than ~30cm deep.

Can anyone point me in the right direction!!!! I am looking to set it up over the next two weeks

Many Thanks in advance...

Welcome to the forum

Have you considered making your own. You can make a reasonably cheap GB using all sorts of left over materials like old pallets or timber off cuts from a local hardware or even the rubbish tip or something.

You have the frame so it could be as simple as baording is in and fitting a liner.

Another option is to get a plastic tub or something from red dot or similar. Or even a few buckets or pots.

Lots of options.

Hi Charlie,

I didn't even think about making my own, I had considered making a trickle with a few smaller containers staged side by side, but I also have to consider making the levels sot it works effectively and also my plant choice.

I have looked around bunnings quite a bit and I definately don't mind hunting around for a few bits an pieces, but I would definately prefer a solid grow bed as I am in a rented 1 bedroom appartment with it in my longeroom and I wouldn't want the realistate agent to flip out to much, alothough I have been there for 2 years and they have been very happy with me

I guess I will consider making my own GB or look to stage the levels, a further consideration is the lighting I am using, atm I picked up some different sized Fluros but I have an LED pannel arriving soon, so should be fun once its set up!!!

If anyone has build a sweet as GB from scratch it would be good to see some pics!

Cheers

How big is the aquarium, and how many fish and plants do you intend keeping?

Hi bboy

Here are a few pics that may help you out a little.
We needed to overwinter the Barra that we bought late in the season last year. Both systems are positioned in a North facing window and both have 13 Barra in them, however, keep in mind that the barra are on severe food rashions (just enough to keep them going) and have a heater in each that just keeps water from droping below about 21 degrees C.
The 5 GB is on the Eastern side of the room and the upright barrel is on the Western side.

Hothouse tomatoes in winter are divine

Hi Bunson,

The FT is a standard 3ft x 18" x 18" or 910mm(L) x 450mm x 450mm

The stand is 1000mm accross with a bit of extra room each side.

Unfortunately my veg garden takes all the sun the appartment 'front' where a balcony would be faces ESE, and only gets full sun till about 11am.

! But the stand I bought is 2000mm high, so the idea is to go for something like what rrjl6572 has gone for with the GBs above and direct drain constant flow system with the lights above and possible eachside of the GB if I grow tomatoes in winter which I like the idea of

Thanks Ron & Ruth for the photos!

I was thinking of a chichlid display tank as I used to breed them, but barra could be a fun addition!

Still deciding on a substrate for the aquarium, I was thinking a thin layer of large river bed stones, generally not suited for chichlids, but would suit to hide the 'under gravel pipes for pump out'.

I also plan to have a few rocks/caves in the tank so they have somewhere to hide.

I realy want to increase the size of my GB but also maximise the use of my artificial light, whilst making my FT look awesome!!!

In the future I have 3 2000mm(L) x 650mm x 450mm(H) tanks that have been sitting round that can sit on one stand that would make an awesome aquaponics setup, as well as 2 x large (2mx1.5mx~300-400mm H) corrigated black ponds, all of which has been lying around my parents place for a few years... :/

It is amazing that once bitten by the AP bug, so much of what was once useless junk is viewed with a different eye.
Somewere on our link is a pic of the barra last year in the glass tank. We have become a huge fan of barra. They are quite happy to eyeball you as you eyeball them. I even find myself talking to them - effectively calling them for dinner (not that it is necessary). Also, the constant sound of running water is very theraputic.
On the subject of indoor plants though, most plants will need to be hand polinated.

We look forward to seeing your build!!!

Hi guys,

Finally I have set up my system...

After sorting out a few teathing issues with sitting the grow bed on the stand and finding appropriate piping, gravel for the display tank and getting all of the stuff for the aquarium sorted, I picked up 3 fish on thursday for free, a large synodontis catfish, a large female bristlenose and a large silver bala shark. I was really happy with that and the guy was really nice, as he was going away and needed them gone, even gave me some food...







I have since added 4 small clown loaches and some black worms on sunday, which should multiply and give the catfish a continual supply of food, whilst also improving biodiversity.

All going well, although, pH started at 8.2 yesterday, it was down to 8 today and have since added pH Down which at last check bought it down to 7.2. Ammonia was up from 2.5ppm yesterday to 4ppm today and after adding seasol and fertiliser the nitrate is at 10ppm to give the plants a good kick start which i put in the grow bed on friday afternoon.

I'm really happy wiht how its started out

Cheers for the advise and pictures

Grow bed close up,

I have some lettecue, a single english spinich and I planted some pak choi seeds up one end...

Very nice... you may wan't to think about dropping the water level slightly in the GB to avoind algae growth on the surface

Thanks Chippy,

I already have

I did it last night, I prob need to drop it another cm or so that way part of the root zone will be free from water rather than 1cm of root zone

Cheers

I lost one of my clown loaches last night, so I added an airrator to the tank, Ammonia is somewhere around 4ppm, but could be higher.

Nitrite level is 1ppm, could anyone provide some info as to what levels are toxic to fish? Although I know that you need some nitirite so bacteria will colonise and change it to non toxic nitrate.

After lowering pH it is now stable at 7.6.

Cheers

Also LED's arrived this morning!!! Yah! I'm a very happy man!!!

I'm kinda new to this, but I'd be more worried about the ammonia than the nitrites. You can mitigate nitrites to a certain extent with pool salt ( 1-2 ppt )

In any case, 4 ppm ammonia and 1 ppm nitrites are toxic by themselves. Feed lightly (or not at all) for a few days until the numbers come down. I'd do a water change, but that might not be the best course of action.

Hey guys,

So we did a water change yesterday and used pH down afterward, pH is now 7, Nitrites 0ppm and Ammonia still elevated 2-4ppm...

some new pics with the LEDs doing some testing...