Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

62 tilapia and 4 goldfish. (The other 2 goldfish are seasoning fishtanks now. No goldfish deaths.)
Average 3 inches and ranging from 2-4 inches (50-100mm). (Estimated)
Average 17 grams and ranging from 12-22 grams. (Estimated)
Total gallons 125 (~500 liters)
Growbeds total 150 gallons (~600 liters)

Ammonia 0
Nitrite usually 0
Nitrate - Daughter and I debate whether it is 40 or 80.
pH 7.2

Thanks Janet and it really is looking like a jungle well done.

So how many boys and girls?

I'll let you know in 2-3 weeks, DT. My plan is to try to catch them all and sort them after my love shack and fry grow out tanks are cycled up. (2 50gal aquariums.) Then I have a place to keep the nicest females.

Are you using any supplemental light or is all that growth from the windows? I was worried about my light situation, but yours is going fantastic...gives a girl hope!

No supplemental light, RPM. The sunroom faces SW. I have been worried about the light, too. I do get some things that go a bit leggy, but it doesn't seem to matter much after they are established. I decided to plant a patio tomato, eggplants and cucumbers to see how they do. They're up and looking good. I planted some mesclun seed the other day and it's up already. I do think some things are growing more slowly than I hoped, but I think the problem is the short days right now. That will resolve in time.

Today was my day off, so I worked on the system all day. I re-plumbed all of the flows to the grow-beds with 3/4 inch PVC and ball valves. I'm using my new 1500 gal/hour (5700 liter/hour) pump. Woohoo, more power! I got a great sale on it, plus used a gift certificate, so got it for a song.

The PVC is branched 4 ways--1 to each growbed, plus one to just circulate the tank water and provide a little surface turbulence. I also went ahead and did better water distribution across the top of the gravel. As EB predicted, I was starting to get a poo deposit in the bed with a single point of discharge. The holes in my old distribution lines were too small and starting to clog. They were also pointed all different directions, and the ones that pointed upwards were making little fountains with the increase in pressure. Sounds nice, but where they constantly splashed the leaves, those leaves rotted out.

I timed the system, and each bed fills and drains in 10-12 minutes. I'm now getting a tank turnover of just over 3x per hour. I had calculated that my auto-siphons could handle 3x, but my little old fountain pumps could only muster about 2x. With the bigger pump, I can prove that my brain can handle the math.

I've been a regular at the local hardware store. It's a small family-run place that I like because they take all the time in the world to help you find what you need, and figure out how to do what you're trying to do. They were the ones who taught me how to tap a brass fitting into PVC. Brilliance. One of the clerks that I don't deal with as much heard what I was up to. His eyes lit up. I gave him this website address. He wanted to come see my system, so after he got off work, he came over. Too funny! He's experienced with aquariums, so immediately understood about the gravel beds and the plants. I told him that we would all consult on his system when he decides to build it. I suspect he will be lying wide awake in bed tonight, AquaPondering.

Mwa ha ha!!! Another one is lured to the Dark Side!!!

Sounds great Janet. Regarding the poo build-up, I am discharging at a single point and have had no issues whatsoever. I think the worms take care of it for me - in fact at night time, a few times I have seen worms stick their heads up out of the gravel at the point where the water is coming into the bed. Do you have any worms in your system. Remind me what your media is.

Media is a mix of 3/8 inch pea gravel and hydroton. Since it is the dead of winter, I have limited access to worms, however, I was able to nab 10 off the driveway a couple of months ago. Maybe I just need more worms. Ahhh...I need another warm spell and a bit of rain.

Janet - they worms I have in it are composting worms from my wormfarm. If you know somebody with a wormfarm - surely you could snaffle a few. I only put a few in there are now there are heaps. No matter shere I dig I find worm capsules (their egs which hve about 4 worms in each). As well as feeding on the poo - the worms feed on the old roots. When I dig plants out I often find worms and capsules in the root systems.

yep, was going to say that the compost worms wuld be the go.........earth worms are more for airating the soil............F&D's don't need help with that! What they may need is a garbage disposal crew, hence the compost worms

Me too, when ever i dig a few inches down i scoop a worm out...........would love to know how many are in there!

I seeded steve and anges system with about a doz. tigers the other day.

Rock on Janet!

If we all convert two other people that would be great!

You might check if 7 Eleven sells live bait around your place. Several gas stations around here do, and the containers describe what worms they are - you want the "red wrigglers" for compost, I think.

I found a place to get 100 red wigglers. I'm excited. Thanks all!

They "red wigglers" Janet or "wed wrigglers" LOL

wed regulars, I think.

LOL