Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello all,

My name is Parker, I am located just west of Fort Worth, Texas. I have been a fish enthusiast ever since I could remember. My dad always had a large saltwater setup when I was growing up, he has been running the same 220gallon reef setup for 28+ years (survived 2 divorces and 3 or 4 moves along the way). I always enjoyed keeping freshwater fish, especially African Cichlids, I have multiple tanks with some really cool species, I will try and post some pics eventually.

Anyway, enough about all that. I have been working on a system for my backyard, I have a pretty small backyard, and a pretty picky-about-the-way-it-looks, but wonderful Fiancé. So I am attempting to make it look "somewhat decent." I am working with a buddy on designing a larger system on his farm not far from my house where we hope to incorporate aquaponics and several permaculture practices into a small CSA. But I was itching to get a system up and running at my house so here it goes!

Bare with me, I will attempt to post pictures, hope that I can get them the right size!

The system has a 4x4ish Media bed that will flood and drain via bell siphon into a sump that doubles as a DWC.
I will be using a 275gallon IBC for the FT that will overflow into the media bed.

I will be doing 2 coats primer and 2 coats paint on all pieces of wood due to the fact that I used pressure treated lumber and want to make sure that the wood is sealed enough as to not leach harmful materials into the system.

During the time I was painting the wood it was unusually cold around here and we had snow for several days, which made it seem like the paint would never dry, my fingers never thaw and the construction would never even begin. Luckily I was following the golden rule of all work areas: Have Cold Draft Beer with in arms reach.

All this painting making me hungry, enter large toasted club on jalapeno bread please.

So the construction begins!!

Attaching the 2

Installing foam... The first night I did not have a handle for my dull razorblade... this lead to a lengthy very shotty looking uneven application of foam... but I knew it was to be covered with liner so I didnt worry much.

Got the foam in

and then the liner arrived. I found a site with a pretty good deal with FREE shipping on the duraskrim 20ww liner that several members of this forum use.. Applying the liner gives me a new found respect for all of you that make it look so nice and easy!! I guess I should have learned to wrap chirstmas presents, it does not look great but will work!

Welcome! Great start, looking forward to seeing more progress! Do you have any sketchups on the final product?

A random Iphone picture of one of my favorite freshwater fish. Enantiopus sp Kilesa one day I will get a real camera, learn patience to wait for decent shot, and clean the glass.....maybe!

Back to the build, had a bit more painting to do for the plywood and few other pieces, thats pretty much done. on to the top section, one of my friends helping me out on the system

getting closer...

I did the liner for the top section by myself and it looks even worse than the bottom! Oh well!

Ok this is the last update today, this is pretty much where I am up to now. Basically finished with the build, have some touch up wood and paint work to do here and there and add a guard to the bell siphon.. I have switched my efforts to leveling a section of the backyard to place the system. Here are some of the pics of the almost finished build!





I will take more pics and continue to update this as it moves along. Greatly open to any advice and or suggestions along the way, feel free to ask any questions, I may not know the answer but I am sure someone will!

Thanks for taking a look,

Parker

Great start, welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum, Parker.

Always happy to see another Texan here. Your system looks great. If the fiance doesn't like it let me know and I'll come pick it... no charge.

I'll be watching for updates.
Mike

BTW, where'd you get that samich? That makes me hungry!

Thanks for the nice words folks.

Mike, Helomech, agreed great to see fellow Texans.
Mike, the sandwich is from "The Shed" a restaurant/bakery that does lunch inside the john deere stove shop In Aledo, TX/ Willow Park, TX depending who you are talking to. They use all local, fresh ingredients and have some awesome items, I highly recommend them, just leave me some carmel sea salt cookies!

-Parker

I've heard of 'The Shed'. I sometimes travel through Aledo when I visit my Sister-in-law. I'm making a note to myself to be sure and stop there next time.
I take it you are in the Aledo area?

Mike

Looking good! Don't worry too much about how the liner looks, it will be mostly hidden.

that looks awesome, keep the pics coming