Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Overview:
-This will be a basement system in Columbus, OH, USA
-I'll be using 55 gallon barrels: 1 for the FT, 1 for the GB cut borizontally so I don't have to deal with bracing, etc, and 1 for the sump.
-Buckets from ohiobarrel.com - Any feedback?
-Will be getting fingerlings from sugarcreekfishery.com - Any feedback?

Parts List:
$45 - 55g barrels $15 x 3
$10 - PCV parts - http://3x5aquaponics.blogspot.com/2011/ ... -list.html
$15 - T12 lights
$90 - 150 L Home Depot ViaStone
$10 – 2x 5 gal jugs for reserve water
$10 - Water Test Kit
$100 – Pump
$20 - Heater
System Total - $290

$100 – Fish
$10 – Seeds
$5 – Fish Food

Notes:
-Slits cut on all 45 degree pipes for aeration
-Is the sump big enough?
-Pump – 55 gal in 15 min = 220gal/hr
-Pump recommendations?
-How to install a window in the Fish Tank?
-How many fish can this support?
-This will be in my basement – 65 degrees F, do I need to heat it?
-Is Home Depot ViaStone ok?
-Anyone in OH I can visit? Would love to see a basement system up and running.

Here's a quick sketch :

Welcome to the forum Paul and merry xmas. Don't forget to read lots and share photos too. We live for photos

Nice accounting for the supplies needed. It is smart to determine your budget for this hobby in advance.

How many of the T5 lights do you have planned?

Rob (web4deb) did a video about installing a window in a fish tank. http://youtu.be/kGj-qqxSUMc.

Forgot to update my picture. Going to start with a 6 x 4 foot T12 Craigslist special. Then going to work on a DIY led project.

i purchased fish from sugercreek, 1 mortality in the shipment of 25, they all took floating pellets..
i've also purchased Yellow Perch and Blue Tilapia from Shelby Fish farm in Anna, i drove and picked up myself, bought 100 yp, and the owner threw in 20 or so "extras", i think they were around .75 each, and yellow perch from Fin Farm near toledo.. all were good stock
stock to your level of filtration, you can grow out about 20 to 25lbs of fish for every 100 gallons of media filled growbed
try to find a stock tank and used the barrels as your growbeds, but that does waste some vertical space.. IBC's make good growbeds and you can set the depth of the gb (more filtration/sf of space than barrels)

OK - The system is up and beginning to cycle. A coupe mistakes and some questions for the forum:

-I don't need this much of a pump for this system. I took back the 1000gph pump for a 550gph, and its still over powered. Is there a danger in using a ball valve to restrict the flow into the FT?

-I'm still confused at the best way to get the water from the SLO into multiple grow beds. Does someone have a picture of an elegant solution here. I've got this big 1.5 inch pipe taking up space in my grow beds and its not a pretty picture.
--Should I go straight down with the 1.5 inch pipe and branch off to two 3/4 inch pipes, each into the side of the GB?

-My SLO drain was not big enough at 3/4 inch - Upgraded to 1.5 inch and it is fine now

-I still need to clean up my siphons, but the good news is they are working well.

-Gaskets don't work well on he side of a 55 gallon drum but plumbers goop works very well.

-Any other comments?

Yeah thats a big pump... If it's a standard submersible pond pump you will have no problems cutting back the flows with a tap.. Stick a tap just before each bed to adjust their flows as well..

Or to simplify things a lot more, throw away your sump, drop your tank down, then pump up to your beds and have them drain straight back to your fish tank...

If I use a tap before each GB i wont drain the FT fast enough and it will overflow, right?

I think I can get the flow right. I'm really just looking for a routing improvement for my pipes. To get them cleaner looking and put of the GB.



Right. But if things go well I'd like to expand this system and use it to learn about issues with a sump.

Thanks.

In reference to the new pipes I'm thinking about in the green color:

Will this provide enough hydro-static pressure to push the water back into the GBs?

Will I get too many solids collecting at the bottom of this pipe from the FT to the GBs?



Thanks!

Bump

The answer to 1 is yes, the answer to 2 is probably and you have no way of cleaning it.

Is there any particular reason you want to do this?

Just trying to free up room in the grow beds. Not a must have but interest in options.

Thanks!