Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok so I figured it was time to begin my own system thread.

I've been lurking around the forum whilst I line up all my ducks to get started

I started by buying a tank and growbed from Backyard Aquaponics, but a few weeks later we decided to move house, so I waited.... then I decided to wait until we installed a new patio to create a sheltered area, so I waited.... This took nearly 6 months.

Patio was completed last week and I have begun site prep for my aquaponics area. Next week I should get the liquid limestone poured and after alot of patient waiting I can then start moving the system into place.


Just hoping it won't be too late to get some trout for the winter...


Anyway here are a couple of pics

As you can see I been busy levelling out the patio area ready for the limestone pour. Tank is 1500litres I think, 2m diameter, I have one growbed and will soon be picking up a second.

Nice start there lloyd. Better to wait the couple of months and have the site 'just right' then for impatience and wack it in any old how.

Looking forward to it coming together lloyd

Ok update time, I've been very busy last few weeks with many projects around the house.

Here are a few pictures with the limestone freshly poured and I also installed a rainwater tank. Had some brand new drainage (flooding) issues during the recent wild weather thanks to the new roof and limestone floor but i think I've managed to sort most of those issues out.

those pics were last weekend. Today I set up the plumbing, washed the clay balls, filled the tank and planted some veggies. I bought way too many veggies which means that second growbed will be added soon.

It all seems to be operating correctly.

I'm planning on going out and finding some fish tomorrow, perhaps just some goldfish to get it started sounds as though trout are difficult to get at the moment.

I also have an aquarium indoors so I'll be using water from there to get the cycling happening quicker.

Having just put the veggies in, should i be giving them a drink of fertiliser (e.g. seaweed) as it'll be a while til they start getting the nitrates they need from the fish??

Any tips would be a appreciated.

I will add some up to date photos tomorrow.

thanks

how much sunlight would the growbed get? looks quite shaded

Nice to see it up and running.
And just like most of us aquponic addicts the expansion is already in planning nice work

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

I was a bit concerned about this, but about a 3rd of the growbed is not undercover, and I think the whole growbed gets sun most of the day, worst case I will tear out the stratco sheets and add clear sheets.

The next growbed will be will be further back and not under the patio at all

Yes that part needs to cycle up (mine took 6 weeks), to create nitrates.

Seasol is not a fertilizer but a conditioner.

I cycled without fish using charlie carp and maxicrop.

ok so todays update

you can see from the attached photos that I had to strengthen the growbed stand design and added more jarrah sleepers for support in the centre.

Veggies all planted out.

Went to Golden Ponds to get some advanced trout but they only had 1 left for the day so left with 10 silver perch probably 20cm long.

Veggies and Fish both seem very happy in their new home.

I'm a little nervous about the cycling with fish and I'm hoping I won't have to keep changing out too much water, but I've been through this a number of times with Aquariums so I'm not kidding myself.

First water test:

PH 7.9
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
didn't bother with Nitrate test.

I'll be feeding the fish maybe monday or tuesday but giving them small amounts for a month or two.

Here are some pics

and a few more pictures

Nice work Lloyd and nice to meet you yesterday and see you today also. You shouldnt have to do any water changes at all. Your water readings are fine. Just stop the feed if your ammonia spikes and nitrites. You are playing it safe with 10 fish even though they are on the larger size.

Nice set up Lloyd.

I started with 21 SP from Golden Ponds. They were my ammonium source for the cycling. (1,500l tank, 2 x grow beds). I got them in March 2012 and so far I have had just one death. It was delicious.

Don't be dismayed with the poor plant growth you will get over the next six months as if your SP are like mine they will not eat much until the temperature turns up in Spring. I know I was disappointed with my plant growth until Feb this year as the system matured. Now broccoli has taken over.

If I were you I would try a couple of trout with the SP just to get some nitrates into the system over winter. With 1,500l of water and the second bed on the way you should have plenty of capacity to cope with the wastes produced by that number of fish.

It looks like u have that center beam resting on the edge of fish tank, I would be concerned about that, because over time the weight of the grow bed could buckle the side of the fish tank. I would put some sort of support under that beam.
Just saying

I reckon SP are a much better option for cycling than trout- prob best to wait till fully cycled until adding any trout in the mix (assuming you can get some!).

Had same concerns about center beam - I have a 10cm high bed on a FT and it is slowly buckling (dropped about 1cm)