Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,
I am a newbie, trying to build an aquaponic using a 32gal fish aquarium, which has small 3 tropical fish and 2 zebra fish in it for last 3 months or so. I want to know the following questions.

1. Should I remove the gravel from the aquarium completly and use this gravel in my grow bed without cleaning it because it might contain tons of fish waste. It could act as fertilzers for the seeds.
2. Have a small pump that I am using from my indoor fountain. I want to know should I use a continous water flow system meaning water is constantly flowing to the bed. Actually what I am trying to ask is how much water does the plants need. Or I can use a timer to water the grow beds every 2-3 hours.
3. Is it a good idea to plants the seeds directly into the growbed?
4. I will be using two containers there dimentions are as follow (12"L x 8"w x 6"d) how deep should I plant the seeds.

Thanks

Good questions!

1) You have to balance out the fertilizer vs gunk build-up. I probably wouldn't wash it, but if it has large chunks of waste, I would try not to transfer that to the grow bed.

2) 2-3 hours is probably too long. Unless you have media in the grow bed that will hold moisture for a long time, you'll want to make the system either continuous flood, or to have it fill up fairly frequently.

3) I had lots of luck planting some seeds directly into the media (cucumbers took off) but other seeds just didn't sprout. Give it a try. Seeds are cheap.

4) Shallow is a good choice... They should be in contact with the water, but you'll plant most seeds 1/4" into soil so it will be similar in AP. With my cucumbers, I just scattered the seeds over the gravel and just rubbed my hand over the gravel for any seeds that were still visible.

Paul

can we see photos we like photos:grin:

As for removing the gravel from your aquarium it depends what look you want. If you remove it then it will be easier for the fish waste to make it's way up into the growbed. but if like the look you can just leave it in there. you might find it best to use clay or a larger size gravel in the growbed.



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I want to thank everyone for their response. Attached are some pics of the setup. I setup the system last night and when I check this morning, the top layer of gravel was dry. I am running the water constantly, the water level stays at .05 to 1" I believe.

So how much water do the plants need, because I read somewhere that we need to make sure that roots are not completely drown.

Is that a wire strainer in the right growbed?

Looking good Rosh!

As Arbe hinted at, I'd be removing all metal from contact with your water -- including the wire strainer and that copper T-piece. I think it could give your fish some problems down the track.

If you can find another plastic strainer like the red one you're using in the LHS growbed then that would be great, and a PVC T-piece is pretty cheap from your local hardware store. Just be sure to bring in a scrap piece of pipe so you get the right size fitting!

Is there a specific type of fish tank gravel you should use? or any specific ones you shoul avoid? Im thinking about starting a system and i have a bunch of left over aquarium gravel. Im think about just using it as a base and the adding some other media to the top half.

you can use any kind of media in a growbed. 3 factors you need to watch out for.
1. Salt and other minerals in the media - some plants don't like this and some metals kill the fish, do test the gravel with a glass of vinegar or make about 3-4 drops of it onto the gravel and it should fizzle if there are metals in the media. if it fizzles then you should not use it.
2. Size - the heaviness and size of the particles. some people like porous stuff like clayballs because it is easy on the containers (and their hands!) others don't mind river rocks (health pending) or the actual pea gravel because their systems can stand it.
3. Availability.. is it expensive? hard to find. you really should get some that's easy and within your own budget ... don't try to find stuff that's hard to get because if you need more because you'll become helpless and hopeless if it feels too hard to run your systems. Go for good quality stuff after you have done your first system and know what you're doing.

There's no such thing as knowing what you're doing the first time. because you really don't know anything till you try it.