Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone,

thanks, at least my 200 silvers are good, they are in the 5000litre tank so had plenty of air.

The trout were in 1000litres so they used up the air quicker.

I was waiting for the trout to finish before starting on a new trout tank for next year.

Looks like I can bring those plans forward now.

God bless, froggo.

Hi everyone,

my first pump bit the dust today. It's still working but at about 1/4 output. It was one of those under $100 chinese sump pumps 10,000lph.

It has managed to pump for 455hours, just two months over the 12 month warrenty period. I was planning buy a good low watt pump before it died, but as normal just before christmas when I've got no money it dies

It looks like another cheap one for the moment as I'm making the space for my system expansion.

I've removed the last of my dirt veg gardens and now have a extra 4x6meters of space next to the hothouse for a outdoor expansion.

The planning of the add on is taking time as I'm trying to set it up to fill the new growbeds from the draining hothouse growbeds, filtering the water twice/three times without adding to the pump time.

The fish pond( see pic page 1) may also now be incorperated as a sump. The pond has been in complete balance now years and always reads, PH 7.4 and the rest zero. The prob with this is I need some nutrients for the veg plants so it will require the removal of waterplants in the pond to slow down nutrient uptake.

I have to work out if it's a viable option as a sump.

Merry Christmas and God bless froggo.

Hi everyone,

long time between drinks. Change seems to be the thing with AP.

My old system has been powering along since my last visit. My 200 odd SP'S have grown big time and have now reached sexual maturity. The annual winter brown trout growout has more than paid for itself in beautiful fresh fish.

I'm at the point in my life where I'm looking to retire to a small farm and build the mother of all home AP systems to feed my family, friends and anyone who needs some help in my local community.

I'm looking to breed SP's, Cod and catfish to sell at low prices to my AP friends and community as well as stocking my own large swamp /dam system on farm.

A big thanks to all the people who have helped me in my AP crazy lifestyle, RupertofOZ, TCLynx, Dufflight and most of all Food&Fish.

At present I'm in the process of selling my current mini Urban farm property. When It's sold I will be moving to the Rural Farm full time and will setting up the second stage of my AP adventure.

God bless, froggo.

Hi Everyone,

work has started at "New Haven Fish Farm". The first part of my new AP system involves setting up the sump system.

The sump system will have a half buried 5000ltr sump tank, 1x200ltr swirl filter, 1x300ltr (float valve) auto level and pump tank and 3x1000ltr media filled constant flooded sump/grow beds.

Lots of fun digging the hole by hand again


Sump tank now in place after a few beers


View of the sump area 12m x 8m


The sump system will have fish in the 5000ltr tank.

God bless, froggo.

Cant wait to see this one evolve Froggo

You are the master at digging holes froggo! So neat and perfect.

Hi Charlie,

it's all about not digging anymore than I have to, believe me!

Thanks Faye, this system is going to be a bit different. Each section can operate as a independent system or as part of the whole.

I want this system to be flexible.

God bless, froggo.

Ooohooo, a man after my own mind

I'm itch to move semi rural and setup some big dirt plots and an AP greenhouse....except I'm trying to figure out how to do it before I retire. I think we are currently going on a ten year plan to get there, unless I get impatient and take a job I don't want to get more $$.

Yep looking forward to seeing your progress

looking great so far

Thanks everyone for your kind replies,

DrLuke it's always been a dream of mine to move out of town and I'm loving it now it's a reality. We all need goals so go for it mate

I've built a 200l blue barrel swirl tank, 500ltr pump and auto water level tank that I'm plumbing in now. Should be done by the weekend so I will post more pics when finished.

God bless, froggo.

Hi everyone,

got a few more things done over the weekend. Cone bottom swirl filter in place but not finished.



The CHIFT PIST pipes are 90mm. The pipes from pump tank to gravel filled sumps are all 25mm poly. The concrete gravel filled sump tanks have a liner, then 3/4 filled with 20mm blue metal and topped with river pebbles and 20kg of shell grit.



Some of the water plants that will be used in the sump system are waiting in a concrete tank to be placed. The tank will then be filled with gravel.



I will try to get the sump layout diagram posted soon as it's probably a bit confusing as to how it's going to work

God bless, froggo

Hi everyone,

switched the pump on today to clean up the water and get the sump system cycled. I will be planting some seedlings in the next few days then adding trout by march.

The sump system seems to be operating as planned with lots of excess water being returned to the pump tank. The extra water will feed the soon to be built flood and drain grow beds.



The amount of water entering the fish tank is a bit slow until the new beds are online.



The two flooded grow sumps should convert lots of ammonia. The idea is to have the water waiting in the sumps for the next pump cycle to be in contact with as much surface area as possible. The pump cycle will be 50min off and 10min on.

God bless, froggo

Lookin good froggo.

Howd you do the cone in the bottom of the barrel?

HI Charlie, I put a one inch bulkhead fitting in the bottom center of the drum as the drain hole. A one inch poly pipe then runs underground to my vegie patch with a tap and hose connection.

The cone is simply made by using concrete in the bottom of the barrel troweled into the desired shape.
There is a small issue with new concrete in the system but with a larger amount of water I don't anticipate any problems.


God bless, froggo.