Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well I guess a little about me. I (like everyone else no doubt...lol) have found myself absolutely infatuated with the idea of growing my own food in the limited space I have. My sweetheart and I live in a small housing cooperative in Victoria BC. We have a small yard but have a nice waterside view complete with great blue Herons! I already KNOW they're gonna want their share of my fishstocks and will have to design my system with them in mind. I currently have a "Bottle wall" set up off of my lil 20 gal aquarium that hangs in my study window. The strawberries I got as seedlings out of my dormant garden seem to be adapting very well to their new environment. The outdoor setup I am planning on building over the next few months so I can have it cycling as spring starts to warm things up. The major issue I can foresee (Other than water quality etc..normal stuff) is going to be keeping everything warm when fall comes around. I plan to create insulated GB's and tank surrounds in the initial design and hopefully be able to extend my growing season a little that way. I also have a keen interest in Alternative energy sources. Eventually I plan on testing a Bio-gas water heater that can be fed on AP waste's and algae. But first things first Rain water collection....check. 55gal FT...check....45 gal sump...check. 10gpm pump,3x20gal containers for GB, expanded clay for GB's various fittings and pipes check check check...searching for bulkhead connectors...Grrrrrrrr! Anyways I will try and get some pics up as I go as I would like any help or suggestions if something doesn't look right. Oh by the way...I grew up in a large family and we always had large gardens. I also grew up owning aquariums since the age of 8. I spent 7 years working in a public rec center with swimming pools and ice rinks. I have also done restoration of flooded homes and business' for the last 6 years....Guess you could say I know water...and Pumps...and heating, cooling etc. This I feel will come very handy in my exploration of AP and who knows maybe I can contribute to my new community as well

Have a great day!
Dave

Hi neighbor!!! Your just a few clicks NW of me. Love Victoria, BC. My wife and I had a home on Quadra Island, BC for a few years before we moved back down to Wa. I miss it alot.

Sounds like you have a good plan going for your AP system. Hopefully we can see some pics of it in the future. I'll be posting pics of my simple setup soon. I just want to make sure it works first so I don't embarrass myself lol.

Ahh. Another West Coaster. So much better than living on the East Coast. Anywhere.

Welcome.

...and wait for the bites.

Hi Dave,
I'm in Victoria myself, and I really want to get into AP as well. I grew up on a plant nursery, spent one semester in an aquaculture course (10 years ago ) Now I'm living in Victoria, and my gardening escapades the last couple years have brought me back to fish... I'll be watching your system closely, I really need some local advice, to boost my confidence in setting up the right system with the right fish and plants. I'm trying to start some seedlings in hydroponics, was thinking of trying an indoor aquarium system, but that could cost more that a 1000l outdoor system. I also bought a pump and set up a ebb and flow grow bed, but i'm stalled there.

Hello!

Nice to meet you guys, another Victoria guy here. I am a few weeks away from cycling my first system, its been a long process. I started the build last summer but got way to busy with work to get it up and running, then before I knew it winter came.

I have spent the better part of this month getting everything together. All i have left to do is paint my totes, install my bell syphons, purchase the grow medium, and fire up the pumps.

Im not sure exactly if the IBC i have is a 275 or 330 gallon tank. I think its the 275. Assuming it is, I am running a 1000 liter fish tank, three 250 liter grow beds, and approximately a 400 liter sump? All of that is a guess, but i guess it gives you a good idea. I plan to raise trout, and experiment with a variety of vegetables over the season.

Definitely very excited to get on it, and cool to meet a few other enthusiasts in the area!
If you are interested in checking out what ive done so far let me know and maybe we can set something up once I start cycling.

Cheers.

Hello!

Nice to meet you guys, another Victoria guy here. I am a few weeks away from cycling my first system, its been a long process. I started the build last summer but got way to busy with work to get it up and running, then before I knew it winter came.

I have spent the better part of this month getting everything together. All i have left to do is paint my totes, install my bell syphons, purchase the grow medium, and fire up the pumps.

Im not sure exactly if the IBC i have is a 275 or 330 gallon tank. I think its the 275. Assuming it is, I am running a 1000 liter fish tank, three 250 liter grow beds, and approximately a 400 liter sump? All of that is a guess, but i guess it gives you a good idea. I plan to raise trout, and experiment with a variety of vegetables over the season.

Definitely very excited to get on it, and cool to meet a few other enthusiasts in the area!
If you are interested in checking out what ive done so far let me know and maybe we can set something up once I start cycling.

Cheers.