Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

We (me, my husband, son(13) and daughter(11)) are in the process of setting up our system. We have built a 10'x22' greenhouse to house both the fish tank w/ sump (both IBC totes) and the grow beds. We have the grow beds built but I'm waiting on the pond liner to be delivered. I"m planning to use pea gravel size granite as the grow media because it is always available in this area.

We already have the fish tank set up with gold fish and will get it all plumbed together with the grow bed once the liner gets here.

Aquaponics is a new adventure for us! We have experience in both fish (had a 500g salt water reef system) and gardening.

Anybody in this area that could share your experience and/or give advise?

Thanks,
Kristie

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome,

There are variations to this rule but generally it goes "If it's built there be photos!"

LOL

James

Here are a couple of photos. It shows the frame work for the green house and the IBC totes that will be used for the fish tank and sump. We haven't put the ends on the greenhouse yet because we are still having to get a bit of lumber in for the grow beds. Once the grow bed is complete we will install the end walls. I'll post more photos this weekend.

It seems like it is taking forever to get the greenhouse up and going. A very gracious neighbor gave us some old windows that were taking up space in his barn! They were the perfect size for the entire south wall of the GH, the east and west walls also have windows and the roof is clear polycarbonate panels. The north wall is solid with no windows.

The grow bed (2 1/2 wide x 22 long x 1 foot deep) has been constructed and lined with pond liner. Got the plumbing finished with the main feed to the growbed being 1" PVC with 3 valves and reducers down to 3/4" pipes with holes drilled to fill the bed. We have started filling it with the granite pea gravel. After several attempts we were able to get the bell siphon to work!!!

Hopefully we will be able to get some plants started this weekend!

I should get better at taking photos of our progress but I get busy and forget the camera.

I've attached two photos: 1) shows my hubby putting in one of the windows on the south wall, 2) is filling the empty grow bed to test the bell siphon.

Neat, have you seen JT's system? Yours reminds me of that. The siphon may behave differently once the gravel is in, the water level will raise and lower faster.

Hi Kristie,

I'm in Monroe. My husband and I are about to get started on our greenhouse and system in April.

I like your grow bed. It's so nice to see someone nearby doing this!

Hey there - I'm in Athens; wondering where you sourced your IDC Totes! Found some on craigslist, but if you know a better place to grab one I'm all ears.

Very new to all this - like, today new. Just feeling out all the parts and pieces to get a small system going.