Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

We are currently digging holes to build a roof for our system.
Since we are new at aquaponics I wanted to go with something simple. The system is planned to be constant flood with a sump under one bed and an one IBC for the fish.

Since the Florida climate is pretty brutal we'll be putting on a roof and wrapping insulation around the water tanks.

Here is the plan


And current progress


My to do list keeps growing!
I need to cut the sump a little shorter, build the roof, clean out IBC's, add plumbing, wrap water tanks with insulation, test and then get system stabilized...

Is there a type of pump that you'all recommend for a system of this type? It sounds like getting something bigger than needed is a better idea but I'm all ears.

Thanks

looks like you're onto a plan
Kool!

I've been modifying my system and preparing it for fish very slowly=not moving fast!

I finished up the raspberry pi monitor v1. It's recording temperatures from 2 DS18B20's and updating the temps to cosm.com.
I'm planning on adding a water level indicator and hooking a fish heater that will trigger as the temps drop. Also need to get a better prototype board and solder the connections for the monitors more permanently. I sealed the box with some silicone caulk.


I painted the IBC's and hung some spare roofing to keep the sun off the fish tank.


I'm adding another barrel tomorrow to ensure we have enough media for bacteria.


I can view temps online at Cosm.com https://cosm.com/feeds/131289
I have cosm.com set up to twitter me if temps exceed or drop below safe levels.

The system is finished for now, well it's cycling and once complete will have new fish friends.
I have two growbeds, one constant flow, one siphon.



Backside with piping


and V2 of my RaspPi monitor. I upgraded from the breadboard to a soldered proto plate mounted with stand offs and cleaned up the cable routing. I'm currently pushing the Case and Water temperatures to xively.com.



I've got the xively monitors set up and have rolled the sensors live but haven't played around with the api enough to register the devices "officially"...whatever that will get me

https://xively.com/feeds/412741963

I've been adding Ammonia for 2 days and it looks like I already have nitrites and nitrates...which i am confused about as I thought it'd take a lot longer. The system was running for several weeks before adding the ammonia.



I'll need to search around on how to lower the pH as mine seems to be climbing

Nice going there David.

Enjoyed the pictures.

Well now I'm REALLY DONE adding to the system. I have no more hydrocorn, piping, totes or barrels.
I added a barrel for watermelon and will grow lettuce in the plastic post/net pots.


Almost done with the cycling kit. Ammonia drops so quickly I can barely keep it over 1ppm...but the nitrates are sky high.

Looking great.
The gutter placement is really neat.

Yeah right. Good luck with that.

Nice work David. What fish are you looking at getting?