Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have been lurking and reading a lot while setting up a system in my back yard. I currently have an 180 Gallon FT, two beds and 8 goldfish (had 10 but two died in the first two days) setup and cycling. It has been up and running for just over a week now using a 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off flood and drain cycle.

I was initially going to give a syphon a shot but decided to go with something I thought would be a little simpler for my wife to manage if I am out of town. In each bed I have two drains, one is 1/2 inch and the other is 3/4 inch. the 1/2 inch drain is the bottom and as the pump kicks on starts to drain back to the FT. The 1/2 drain doesn't drain as fast as it fills so it eventually fills to the point where the 3/4 inch drain kicks in. I set the 3/4 inch drain at the max level I want the water to flood. Both drains have screens to prevent any large objects from entering the drains.

I intend on changing my fish out once the system is cycled and stock something that we can grow and eat. I am still doing research as to what I can have in my backyard in San Diego

Sorry if I am not fully up on all the terms yet, there is a lot to learn and I have been reading as much as I can. I took a few pictures of the build as I went. I will post those later once I go read the post about how to resize photos.

Thanks,

Theron

A few shots of the system setup.


The fish tank as well as the pump I used.

This is the location I used in the back yard.

A picture I took today after I put up the sun shade.

Great stuff Theron, you will be eating fresh vegies before you know it.

I'm not finding much information regarding fish we are able to grow in California, specifically San Diego. Does anyone know what is or is not allowed in my area? I don't mind running the system with just goldfish, but I would rather raise fish I can eat.

This is frustrating.

There are a bunch of Californians, hopefully one of them will chime in with some info.

Welcome theron, nice and neat system you have there.

Thanks, Charlie. I had a look at your thread the other day. You have done some amazing stuff.

I am actually in the middle of redesigning the layout for my system. I changed which containers I was going to use mid install so I wasted a lot of space in the far corner. I also left the top of the fish tank open to the sun so am currently in the process of fixing both issues as well as adding on three more smaller grow beds.

Here are a few shots of the changes I made this afternoon. This will make better use of the yard and allow me to get a few more beds in. I hooked up the pipes to the two original beds just to get the system back online. I intend on redoing the who system once I get the other three beds ready.

Do you get enough light ? If not you could put some reflective or white material on the fence.
I like the tubs

I get four to five hours of direct sun each day on the garden. It is actually too hot and requires shade on some of the days in summer.

Haven't had all the time I wanted to get the three new beds installed. I managed to get one online today after a lot of trial and error with the water return pipe. I managed to get it setup though. Here are a few pictures from todays work.

Good to see your system coming along... It would be a good idea to try and get a media guard around those drains. If you don't, you'll find they get roots into them in no time and become blocked.. A media guard allows you to see the level of water in the beds, and be sure that there's nothing block your drains.

+1 for a media guard.

Also make sure you can fit you hand in there. Save you scratching your head trying to work out how to pull out roots Ask me how i know...

I was out of town for a few weeks and came home to some decent growth and a cycled system. I have yet to get to the media guards, they are next on the list. Here are a few updated pictures.




Still have the original eight goldfish in the tank and they are doing well.

How did I miss this thread? Don't believe the rumors that there are other Californians on this forum Especially not in San Diego! I grow tilapia. So many have been released into our waterways, that they are considered native now. Of course to be considered a native San Diegan, you only need to live here for about a month! I, however, am not a lawyer. So you may do a bit more research on what fish you want to grow.