Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Water looks good and clear, system coming on nicely. I have just started my own CHIFT PIST system.

@ Arctos can you order some on line from england, if new system you will need ammonia source, urine or fish emulsion then the seaweed extract for the plants.

Hi Arctos,

Regarding seaweed extract I would try online as suggested by Bear and I know that seller "look" that you mention. It seems that you are asking for Mars rocks or something like that.
Initially I added 1000L of tap water and let it rest for 48h (to allow chlorine to evaporate) then added old aquarium water until system was full (aprox. 500L) and yes I have "lot's" of aquariums. Then I let the system run for one week without any fish. Later I add 6 goldfish and they are in the system for almost 3 weeks.

My plan is to start compost tee and add it regularly to the system (2 times a week) and continue to add old aquarium water to fill in the aquaponics.

@Bear: Yes water is clear but algae starts to form in the containers especially in FT and Sump. I expect that goldfish eat algae in FT but in Sump I have to find a solution. Maybe I will add to the sump a kind of fresh water Crawfish that arrive to Portugal some years ago and its spread all over the place.

Cheers,
Joao A.

Cover the tanks to stop light getting in will help with the algie.

In regards to compost tea for nutrients I would be very careful and research fully. You will never know what you are introducing with the compost. Fish, seaweed extraxt and chelated iron should be all you need. In England they sell a seaweed extract with added Iron

Problems with algae went worst. Water is all green, FT and sump wall are covered of algae. I will have to find a way to cover FT and Sump.
I had some issues with clay balls that cog 2 pipes and had to make some changes. I sorted the flood I had yesterday. Some permanent changes must be done so problem won’t repeat but I don’t have time at the moment. I hope next weekend I can have some hours, let’s see.

Carrots and fava beans seeds germinate and salads are growing despite the cold that we had in the last days. This morning I had to scrap my car wind shield and temperatures are reaching negatives over night.

Cheers,
Joao A.

Hi from France :-)

You use an evacuation pump. AFAIK they are not designed to work for long, even if only intermittently powered on. It may break way sooner than a pond pump or aquarium powerhead.

Aren't the grow beds in a too shaded area?



Some medication often used in aquariums are not to be absorbed by mammals.

CU

Hi Natmaka,

Thank you for your words.
Regarding pump I'm concern with high power consumption that she has. I expect pump last because usually it’s used to evacuate sewers with all kind of debris. I know that this is not the best pump but I got it really cheap <30€.

System is facing south and it's on the sunniest place of the backyard. In winter (sun lower) it get 5 to 6 hours of sun (when not clouded) and in the summer I expect that it will get shade due to its location (high sun will be blocked by the house).

My aquariums don't get any medication and if I will use some will not use that aquarium water on AP system.

Cheers,
Joao A.

Hi,



It is tolerant to big debris, but probably not made for long periods of use.



It will show on your electric bill :-)



That's cool!

Take care,

Hi,

I have an update on the system. I took this pictures this morning. I had a few issues with cloging and decide to increase the diameter of some pipes. I also complete the raft and have it with more "holes". Wheather is still cold, few hours of dayling and cloudy past weeks.

I will try to update with more frequency.

Hi,

Two more pictures:

HI Joao,

You have a nice looking system

I plan to also include floating rafts and media beds in my system. How is it working out for you?

Are you still pumping 80% of your sump tank back into your fish tank?

Nice work there JoaoA.

Do you know of anyone else from Portugal doing Aquaponics? I better that you are creating a lot of interest.

Hi sickpuppies,

With my Christmas change, diameter increase in some pipes I have the taps that feed the grow beds almost completely open so I believe that now is more like 50/50 water destribution. So arround half of the pump debit is going to the grow beds and half to the FT. I have now 15 min ON and 45 OFF cicle, because 30 min OFF was not enought to empty grow beds.

Some plants have very slow grow at the moment. let's see when Winter give us (Portugal) a break if they star to grow.

JoaoA

Hi Faye,

I believe that there is another Portuguese Aquaponics enthusiastic in this forum, so at least we are 2. I was contacted by another person (I believe that he is Brazilian living in Portugal) that is building an greenhouse to host a aquaponics project.
I found on Facebook a movement that is working with Porto authorities that plan to bring aquaponics to help communities with difficulties. They have access to municipality land (for free) to start a project. I don’t know the actual status but they were starting.

Aquaponics in Portugal is still not too much spread (I talk with people and they don’t seem to know the concept, even educated people) but some are starting to be involved. I believe that in the future there will be more, I’m doing my share and educating my friends. 

JoaoA

I Joao my name is Tiago and i'm from Portugal as well, really nice system that i have built, how is it going?

i've new to the forum and aquaponic aswell. i have just one question, where did you bought the expanded clay, and where can i find that in portugal at a reasonable price. lool i live in torres vedras, i google it searching some companies, or stores, but i only found big companies that i really doubt that sell in small quantities.

Nice Sytem JoaoA, Good luck.