Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It would be very interesting to hear more about your work and any progress that you have made with the reed bed idea, danielnars. Why not start your own thread in the Members' Systems area and let us know how you are going with it?

Hi all,

I live in the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide. I have kept fish for as long as i can remember, mostly tropicals and some natives.

I have a small CHOP system that has been running for a couple of months. It consists of a 'wheelie' bin fish tank housing some goldfish, sump, swirl filter and a 50lt growbed with gravel and clay balls. All is going great.

I'm in the process of setting up another AP system using 2 IBC fish tanks, partially buried. I already have x15 200mm trout in one tank and will have Silver Perch in the other when complete. I have been doing regular water changes until the system setup is complete. The trout are doing great and feeding well. The plan was to release most of the trout into a club dam(fishing club) when the water gets too warm.

I'd be keen to checkout your system Jimbo sometime.

I have already put a post of my setup in the new member section, but will put it here too.

"Been thinking for a while how to grow fish at home. I have always kept fish in aquariums, but wanted to try something a bit different.

I came across aquaponics(combining aquaculture with hydroponics) quite a while back, and since then i have thought about it quite a few times over the years.

A few months back i thought bugger it I'm going to try it. Did some internet research. At first I started small. Just a 'wheelie bin' system with a few goldfish and some simple vegies. Seemed to work well, so I upped the scale.

Scored a free 1000lt IBC tank from work and bought 1 for $50. The bought one had previously had PVA glue stored inside. Easy to clean i thought, yeah right! Took a while to clean it out.

Site sussed out.


Sump tank hole partially dug.


Sump tank filled with water.


Grow bed getting lined and insulated.


Grow bed in position.


Grow bed filled with scoria rocks.


Sump tank lined and insulated, so is the fish tank in the background. Plumbed up and running.


Some of the fish.


Caught 4 this day!


I will add another grow bed soon. Great thing is that it's been mainly made with recycled materials. I had all the wood and other things from prevoius projects. The main costs were the pump and plumbing fittings, second tank, and various items.

The plan is to have Silver Perch and catfish all year round, and grow trout over the cooler months.

We'll see how it goes, and probably expand a little. Maybe run 2 fish tanks and more grow beds."

Welcome Samrota

A great way to start. I would watch out for seeds from the bird cage in your grow bed.

Hey I'm Jamie. I live in the Paralowie area. Haven't got a system up and running yet, been researching for a few weeks and want to start an IBC system. I'm currently having difficulty with finding a IBC so any help would be appreciate. Thanks

Welcome Jamie

I found it difficult to locate reasonable priced IBC in SA so ended up using rainwater tanks.

I am in Modbury North so not far from you. You are welcome to visit.

Thanks Johny, just found a place in Wingfield that sell second hand IBCs for $80. The lady on the phone wasn't sure what was used in the tank so I'm going to go down there tomorrow and have a look. Thanks for the offer, I might have to come round and have a suss, I've never seen a system myself, just online. So it'll be good to have a look around one before I build my own.

Welcome..

If it's not Pat the Drum Man you're going to see, you could go there too.. he's at the stratco end of Cavan Rd, in the back street that runs between the truck sales yards (which is also called Cavan Rd).. Lots of blue barrels too..

If you cannot tell what was in the drums I would not go near them.

Any time you like just PM me and will give you the tour.

Got my IBC today, I've cut it and washed it. I've got plumbing a parts all good to go. I've googled aquaponics in Adelaide but I can't really find any places that sell expanded clay. Any suggestions guys?

I have bough a few bags from Hydro shops. That night be a place to start.

yea, use scoria from a landscaping place...... 1/100th the cost and a better substrate....

Got mine from Highland Grow and Flow in Holden Hill about a year ago.. they had a few pallets of different brands..

I too use Scoria. At around $100 per ton, way cheaper than expanded clay.

Only downside is the mega dust, needs rinsing well and is rough on the hands when planting.

I might try topping the growbeds off with pea gravel with the scoria making up the bulk underneath. I know i'll get some mixing eventually. But this will be easier and nicer to plant in and may help reduce some temperature rise from the sun on the dark rock.

Samrota, flood your bed as far above media level as you can when planting/ removing plants.
You will find life 10x easier.