Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

When I started aquaponics all I had were Lauke sinking pellets and now all I have are floating. The fish grow fine with either

Stupid trout still not eating in this tank and pellets piled up on the floor of the tank. So I netted them all out and put them in the big tank with the other 10. Then netted out the 40 odd baby catfish I had in the sump of the big system and put them in the ibc
Hoping the 10 normal trout will teach the dopey ones how to eat

Dopey
something in the water

Got home before to find one little catty had been sucked up the SLO into the growbed. He was still alive so I carefully netted him (learned a couple of months ago that you don't handle even the babies as the sting is very painful and lasts for hours), and back in the tank

Yeah... the little buggers can still sting... even after they're dead...

Trout all smashing the food in the big tank. Pulled the slo out of this system to put some plastic mesh around the input end of it to stop the babies being sucked up, and the amount of gunk that came out of it was amazing , so maybe this was upsetting the trout
Now, how are 40 small catfish going to power 3 sqm of growbed, not well me thinks.

I've got an SLO thats 90mm with holes on the bottom and on the end I used the 90mm cap with fly screen.
I did a test today throwing worms into the fishtank and they came out on the growbed so the suction must be working. Its just a length of about 80mm running into an elbow and then up to the outlet at another elbow.
Do you think I need to check for gunk everynow and then like you have?

Well after getting sick of netting out gunk from the bottom of the ibc fish tank, and fish generally not being happy in there


Decided to get a 1000L aquaculture tank with sloping floor and bottom center drain, just like the other tanks in the greenhouse and the big system.


Also knocked up this radial flow filter to put inbetween the fishtank and growbeds


This growbed is going as the new tank is wider than the ibc so need more room. The RFF and a 3 or 4 tiered channel setup with 20 net pots will go here


Also made start on the new paths (gravel with stepping stones) that will go through the what was lawn, (anyone want a used mower). Lawn gone to be replaced with fruit trees and vegie beds


Now when this is finished I will be able to throw food in the tank and not worry about build ups as uneaten food will be sucked out, then dropped out in the RFF.
Loving the RFF on the big system and I bet the dirt vegies are too

Wow! Will this system expansion ever end?

Whole back yard is getting a makeover since the missus gave me the go ahead to kill the lawn. Espaliered fruit trees and lots more vegie dirt beds and wicking beds
Bring on spring

First part of makeover done with the growbed removed

Looking forward to your revamped backyard Mantis!

Got the tank in place today along with the RFF. Some fittings not glued yet as I fell short of two fittings to finish it. Need to drop the overflow level 40mm then glue up
Tap and the top of the sump pump pipe will be the take off for some tubes with 80mm net pots in a cascade system





Now I need a fish tank lid

looks the good mate... just a tad jealous down here!!!

Man i want one of those tanks. Trade you an IBC for it?

A very productive backyard mate. Nicely done as always