Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am getting ready to set up FODDER growing systems in my basement and came across a link for this aquaponics system. Since the two CAN be used together....

I am here to LEARN as I do know where I can buy the IBC containers locally.

I will just need to learn how to keep the fish alive, what to feed them, and when to grow them, etc.

I am in USA Gardening Zone 5A, near the Eastern Edge of LAKE ERIE, located in Sandusky/Wood County OHIO just on the border of the two...

Since it freezes hard in Ohio during January and February, as I have to repeatedly break ice on my alpaca Stock Water Tanks, I have some concerns about how and where to locate my fish bins and whether any portion should be 2 feet deep or more in the ground, etc.

Thanks to you all. In the past I have investigated Worm Farming (helps cycle the manure the alpacas produce and feed the chickens & turkeys...) Maybe they can enter into feeding the fish?

I have run indoor fish tanks before, so maybe I can do this.

I grew up eating rainbow trout (STEELHEAD) from the Columbia River in Washington State, so I am also very interested to learn what kind of fish will be suitable to northwestern OHIO.

Sorry, I do get longwinded and can type FAST!

Bon Van Meter

Check out www.ibcofaquaponics.com

Welcome Bon..

good luck Bon, yellow perch are a good choice, and will grow well using a commercial fish food, you can buy from most feed mills, there's a privately owned pet store near me that orders purina fish feed when i need it... while it's ok to supplement fish feed with worms, bugs, minnows etc, you'll get the best growth of both fish and plants using a good quality commercial fish food
my system started outdoors, and moved to my basement the first fall after i built it, and after moving the gravel once, i decided it would stay in the basement.. i think you'd have to heat your tank to some extent to keep it (and your fish) from freezing solid if (when) we get a cold snap if it's outdoors..
start with bluegill or yellow perch and monitor your temps, to see what you'r working with and work your way up to trout (trout need much better water conditions, cooler temps, and lots of oxygen)

Hello Bon!