Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have had a fish tank or tanks of some sort for the past ten years or so. I have always loved low maintenance setups and a few months ago I decided to take it to the next level and add enough plants to have pretty much a self sustaining system. It started out with buying a few aquatic plants and then dropping some pothos and vine clippings in the filters which quickly rooted and started growing into the filters. I decided to take it to the next level and try to grow plants out of the aquarium. I made a top out of acrylic to hold some net pots. Then after some research I decided to add a flood and train setup behind it to replace the traditional filters I had removed to fit the top. I encased high powered LEDs in Epoxy and glued them under a couple net pots to illuminate the aquarium.


I am a fabricator and designer so I decided to draw it up in CAD and get one CNC cut.
This one is marine grade polyethylene.


My plants started out a little stringy because my light was too far away. Now that I moved it much closer they are getting a lot bigger and stronger.


Next I will be getting a planter box made that will replace the storage bin in the back. It will be 4" deep by 10" tall and go the length of the back of the tank. It will be plumbed similar.
The flood and drain is currently on a hour on hour off schedule which seems to be working great. The filter sucks in at the bottom of the tank and has two power heads that maintain circulation in the tank so it stays very clean and all poop gets pumped into the box in the back where I put a handful of red wigglers. I have gone from light regular aquarium twice a day feedings to 4+ times a day feedings. My fish are getting fat and amonia, nitrite and nitrate are nonexistent. I want to get a couple other fish to throw in the tank but need to find things that will get along with my bristlenose and Jack dempsey. I used to have a clown plec in there but when the BN got about 2/3s his size he started beating up on the older bigger plec. The 1" JD got real mad when I threw in 4 cory cats. Him and the killis have also eaten most of the RCS which is unfortunate. I also have a blue crayfish and red claw crab that do some cleaning.

I also have a 15 Gal with a similar top with the corys, the clown plec, RCS 2 blue crayfish and a betta. I put a bubbler directly below each large planter and the circulation of the bubbles carry the waste up into the clay media. This is it's only method of filtration and seems to be enough at the moment.

I decided to get a batch of tops made to try to sell them. Thought maybe others might be interested in a cheap solution to getting into AP. If the planter box comes together for a decent price I'll probably see if they will sell too.

Sorry, did I miss the forum rules somewhere or something? I looked around a little bit.

I don't know why that middle pic came out so big.

Is there no way for me to edit my first post?

You can ask a moderator to do it.

When they adjust your post, perhaps they can then edit my posts to be back in a normal font too.