Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have included some photos of the system I built about two weeks ago. I used the 1000 gallon US Koi pond for the system. Used five 55 gallon food grade barrel halves for the grow beds filled with 3/8" washed bank run gravel. A 900 gph pump for filling with the lift and 90's in the run it is reduced. My flood and drain cycle is about eight minutes each bed.
I know it is late in the season here in Buffalo, NY and do have some plants growing. Next spring it should be going great guns.
To me this is a massive bio filter for the pond and a good produce market for us.

Welcome Sparky! Nice system. Every koi pond should have one!

On the drain for the system at first I did not cement the pvc just the friction fit. The problem I had was that when a bed started to drain the weight of the falling or draining water would cause the pipes to separate. Also I did not vent the drain this would cause all of the beds to drain whether flooded or not. I then proceeded to correct the problem by adding a vent pipe and a clean out on each end of the drain pipe and cemented all pvc joints. Problem solved and I can if needed clean the drain pipe of any build up. If you look at the pictures you can see the vertical vent on one end of the beds the same is at the other end.