Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Guys,

Just thought I would post a picture my first system I am building, I dont have much cash to spend on this so I have used materials and components that are free / cheap to me.

I built my grow beds from off cuts of 400dia PVC pipes (1500mm long) with end caps welded on and the tops cut out, the supporting frame is made from Unistrut, its a material that we use in the construction indutry that is basically just a big mechano set, it all bolts together.

I bought a couple of drain kits from BYAP this week.

Not decided on the FT yet, might use an IBC, was hoping for a propper aquaculture tub but I dont think my funds will stretch to that.

I already have a sump pump but think it is too large for this application (350w) I might just use it during cycling to give me a window of time to save up for a pond pump.

More pics to follow in the coming weeks

Karl

Hi Karl

Welcome to the forum and yes we love pics.

Welcome Karl, cant say Ive seen that done before. Excellent work.

Hi Karl & welcome - looks a neat job - have you calculated the vol of the GBs?

Welcome, Karl, it is good to have you on board - especially with your obvious skills! I strained my eyes trying to identify the weld lines for the end caps to your grow beds, but failed to find them. They look terrific!

I can weld but I like the idea of a bolt together strut system so will be looking into that some more.

By my calcs, the capacity of each of your grow beds is 188.5L, without the cutout. My estimate of usable GB volume is ~120L each.

Synaptoman did a similar thing years ago.... but his pipes were longer...

Thanks for the welcome and comments guys, I recon the media volume will be about 150l each one, planning on using expanded clay pebbles, is it worth going for the more expensive stuff rather than the cheap one?

Unistrut can be purchased from places like Reece HVAC or Tradelink, but as I work on construction sites there is often lots thrown away at the end of a job so most of it I found in site skips etc. Its a good system for adapatability but its not the most cost effective way to go if you have to fork out for it.

The pipe comes in 6m lengths but I wanted to keep it compact for now, and also I coudnt fit a whole length in my car and also I think my wife would give me a load of grief!!!

Thats it for now; off to fit the BYAP drain kits, more pics to follow soon

Ahh yes, thanks Rozzy. Memory like a siv over here. cheers

Good news today picked up a black IBC from a local place for $75 dollars, it looks brand new, only been used once for some 'non toxic water based solution' or so im told... I went for a black one so I didnt have to paint it, Ill defo give it a good clean out anyway.

Going to use it for my FT but not quite figured out the exact plans as yet, the original plan was to cut the top off and put it under the grow beds but now that I have it Im thinking about just cutting an access hole in the top and get something else for a sump?

More pics to follow over the weekend...

Nice work
Reminds me of the cryo pods in the aliens movie

Welcome Karl.

You could go constant flood and avoid a sump alltogether or untill funds are more available.

Got my system up and running over the weekend here are some pics;



Not got any fish yet, will probably give it a few weeks, also need to get an air stone going in the FT

When I stated out on my AP quest I didnt know what materials and equipment I would use to build my system, one of the benefits of using an IBC as a fish tank is that I now have an extra grow bed for future expansion!

That's looking really sleek Karl, hard to believe a lot of it's from scavanged parts!

Have you read up on fishless cycling? It'll be good to have a bit of ammonia in there if you're going to be without fish for a few weeks - will make it easier on the fish when you do get them in.