Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My first post :
Hi to all. I thoroughly enjoyed trying to read through all the important info here on the forum. It is of mind boggling proportion and it took me about 2 months to get an idea what could be perfect for my situation.
8 month ago I invested in a little greenhouse (2.5mx3m). Our block is quite small, no much room available so one IBC is now ours. Cut to 1/3 and 2/3 it leaves 675Ltr for the FT and about 300Ltr for the GB. Having read that 2 growbeds are better for that amount of water in FT I am thinking to invest in one of the proper growbeds (2.2mx1.2m). 65 years of age should be young enough to get some return out of this whole story for my husband and me. 5 years of maintaining a hydroponic system with 3 channels and 2 strawberry towers have made me wanting a better result and maybe a fish or two .

It would be great to hear, if my plan sounds ok:
Additional GB has to sit low, about 0.3 to 0.4m off the ground (greenhouse highest point is 2.10m with 1.2m on the sides). Otherwise not much room for peas, beans, tomatoes etc.
IBC FT sits on floor with IBC GB on top and for a sump tank I thought, I could dig in a 200ltr rainwater barrel to make sure there is enough water in the circle (or maybe 2?) and have them sit upright.

1 IBC GB height=0.3m on top of IBC FT
1 growbed 2.2m x 1.2m 0.4m off groundlevel
1 IBC FT capable of holding 675ltr
1 ST =180Ltr
The pump I have should be fine, got a more powerful one in our uncovered pond (Guppies only in there, unfed). One of the pumps should be fine and the pond water will hopefully help to get the cycling started?.

Up till now we only cut the IBC and bought some light media (I learned a lot about the heavy stuff in the forum)

Pictures could be made.......there has to be something first though

Welcome to the forum Gran. Best I don't give any advice right now. Good luck and look forward to seeing your pics

Thanks for the quick Welcome but why not give any advice???
Does that mean my plan has potential and gets your or not ?????

seems like Faye doesn't want to scare you away

Faye's post was made at 11:24pm last night. I bet she had enjoyed a few glasses of wine by then.

Anyway, welcome gran.

Yeah thats righ Arbe, but I didn't want to say it at the time.

Perhaps look at the ibcofaquaponics for more info and you may find a similar design to what you are looking for Gran. You can then click on the link and look at the forum thread for that design.

Scaring me isn't very easy, so any time spent on that is time not well spent

On my way to look for that specific thread. Have been through a lot of info as I already mentioned but I am sure I've overlooked plenty allthough I have read and even printed the 187 pages of info....................

Just in case somebody has a link to follow for that specific system please post it, would help my husband not getting a late lunch today

Well, went through the IBC of Aquaponics again and just like the first time I learnt that my plan is most likely not "wrong".
Would've liked some confirmation about the ratios in my plan but since it is soooo hot here in the moment I shall be patient and wait a few days sitting just next to the aircon waiting for somebody to tell me "NOOOO, that's not how you do it" or maybe something a little more encouraging.

Have to get that hobby going, comes the end of March the trout has to go in, right?

[/quote]

Have to get that hobby going, comes the end of March the trout has to go in, right?[/quote]
Umm noo probably not. It will be about the temps being consistently below 23 degrees. Last year that was not until after Easter from memory.

Thanks Faye, not a problem to wait longer than the end of March since nothing has been built yet
Shall keep that temperatur of 23 degrees in mind. Wouldn't want to chuck the icecubes into the FT

Hi Gran, welcome to the forum.

Your system design idea sounds fine to me. Im trying to think of the best way to plumb it up so you dont need 2 pumps. Maybe, pump in the sump tank that supplies the GB on top of the fish tank---> which drains into the fish tank--->the fish tank then uses a SLO (solids lifting overflow) to supply water to the lower GB---> which drains to the sump.

Or, another option could be to bury the FT about half way or 3/4 into the ground then you can have both GB's set at a lower point and dont have a sump. FT supplies both GB's, run both CF (constant flooded) and they return to the FT. Bit simpler design and both GB's will be at a nice manageable height for you.

Thanks for your thoughts Charlie.
I have to rethink the project. The growbeds should ideally be on the same level, the FT higher and the sump tank lower. Easy in theorie but..............gotta go rethink the situation
I would like to run it as CHIFT PIST.....................need to get comfortable with all the abbrevations too!
Anyway that system would suit my situation best and then I read your entire thread and now I shall go and get the BackUp air pump, that will be done at the same time when I get the other growbed from BYAP.

Yea cool, if you want to run CHIFT PIST you will require a sump. But, you will need both GB's lower than the FT of course.

I just had in my mind you wanted to have one GB on top of the FT to save space. But yea, if you have the room, CHIFT PIST would be even better.

Haha, what I want is more room on the tiny block and in the tiny greenhouse then all my problems would disappear.
You were right with your suggestions, the IBC GB has to sit on top of the FT, I can't put it anywhere else because of the space restrictions I have. I guess I can only play with the height of the different components. Lots of digging or the opposite to do and there is probably no way around it.
Thinking....thinking...thinking.
I have read that CF is not good for all plants and since I have the hydroponics still running (too many nice strawberries in there sending shoots) so I am leaning towards that CHIFT PIST system....................