Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok I've watched doomsday preppers once or twice and seen the different AP systems and I've always been a DIY person. I've decided to break ground this week on my own AP system.

I've had a torn down greenhouse laying in a jumbled pile in the corner of the yard far too long. It was 14x16 hoping to use it to build at least a 12x16 space. It was 12' tall planning on shortening it to have an inside height of 7' not including rafters. Considering a single sloping roof with high side on the north end of the GH. The existing walls already have 12 nice windows and I'm having all 12 of the windows in my home replaced in Dec of this year. Hoping to use my windows to nearly complete the sides of the GH. It should be enough since I intend on making most if the north wall minus the door solid with reflective insulation. Planning to install a heat exchanger above the entry door in the north wall at the highest point on a thermostat to expel excess hot air.

For the fish tanks I have recently picked up two preformed plastic koi ponds. One at 80-100 gal and the other at about 110-150 gal I'm not 100% sure on sizes haven't had the time to look for stamped numbers on them it's been a busy week. Going to bury then on the west side of the GH.

For the grow beds. I have two IBC totes that will soon meet the recip saw. The grow beds will be build in the center of the GH. Two grow beds per tank each GB at 12" will use cinder blocks to build up the height of my grow beds and then build a support stand with 2x6s or 2x8s to limit the need for an insane amount to cinder blocks. I plan to put the grow beds about 24-30" from the fish ponds to limit plumbing will build a walkway with pallets to protect the PVC.

I will use the east wall for starter traditional soil beds and fingerling safe houses. Have decided on flood and drain systems with bell siphons. Will use an old pool liner to cover the floor to prevent having growth their and either gravel flooring or good ole' astro terf I haven't decided.

Will build shelving / fish pond shading over the fish ponds hoping to build that shelving with enough strength to be able to grow duckweed there and shade the fish at the same time.

I would like to use local fish but don't know how my fish choices will hold up in an AP environment. I would like to put Bream in the smaller pond and either blue cat or channel cat in the larger pond.

Oh here's a cycling question I am on well water. Will my initial cycling tend to be shorter due to not being on "city" water?

Realistically would 20-30 fish in the above mentioned tank sizes be too many?

I'm still learning about pumps and lift and head and all that goes into pump sizes and have noticed people using gph pumps far exceeding the size of their tanks not sure as to the reason but I was thinking at 3' lift I could use a pump that moves 80-90 gph for my small pond am I correct?

I intend on taking and loading many pictures very soon. I have looked at hundreds of pictures here an have not seen any thus far that are anywhere close to the AP idea in my head. Maybe my hair brained idea will help someone else down the road.

Hey hair brained ideas at my house are always welcome, don't hate. Lol

If I'm not mistaken, even Aquaponics once was considered "hair-brained".

Kinda wish I had had more hair-brained ideas ..... I'm a bit "hair challenged", myself.

i'm not sure if you'll cycle faster with your well water, but it is nice to not have to worry about chlorine or chloramines..
but.. well water can present it's own challenges.. have you tested your water?- is it high in iron? hard water?
couple of things to consider.. make the growbeds deeper to provide more surface area for nitrification.... base your fish load on the amount of filtration.. you can cut the totes either way as well..vertically or horizontally - i use 1/2 totes for growbeds - oversize the pump, because in all likelihood you'll be expanding your system, and if you find your flow to high to the growbeds, divert some back to the tank to provide circulation and aeration.. add an aerator/airstones and get a water test kit
good luck, and take lots of pics

Keith

Thanks for the thoughts. I need to buy a new test it had one for the kids pool but someone left it outside and it's no longer much use.

I'm guessing my well water will be fair and free of most junk the soil here is very sandy which as we know is a great filter. But like you said best to test. I'm hoping to start very soon.

Still learning to adequately use the search function. No I'm not there yet. Anyhow has anyone found the perfect water test kit? With the amount of testing needed a larger kit would likely be preferable opinions?

Ceck out zsazsa's thread here on BYAP 'aquaponics Hungary', it's a passive solar greenhouse that could give you some inspiration

Edit: double post, sorry

api master freshwater test kit..test ph (high and low) nitrites, nitrates and ammonia

I have my water test systems in the mail ordered the API Master kit and something else. Hoping to break ground this week.

Okay have been looking at my original design and I've been drawing ever so badly, trying to optimize my space so I don't have build a larger greenhouse to expand. You would think a 16x12' space would be plenty. 4 sections of IBC and two fish ponds neither of which are larger than the IBCs. Planning on getting the IBCs cut and laying out the foundation of the greenhouse and moving things around and around. Any thoughts? Wanting to keep as much space available for future additions but also wanting to get to opposite sides of the IBC grow beds.

I received my pumps yesterday. I bought two 800 gph pumps. For my two fish ponds. The only reason I did not go with a larger pump is watts. If I do eventually go to solar it will be a lot easier with the lower watt pumps.

Going to repurpose two bathroom exhaust fans, a thermostat, and some ingenuity to make the exhaust system for my greenhouse. I have already put together a moc up with some stuff from around the house to test the output. So far I'm thinking it will work good. The fans are ment to be in a bathroom so the humidity shouldn't hurt them, and once the dozen of them that I have crap out they are only $9-$15 to replace. Much cheaper than anything else I've seen for exhaust fans anywhere. Plan to build the housing to easily get to the fans for replacement and to direct the air better.

One man wrecking crew was on the job today. Built a 16x14' footer to build my greenhouse wall on finally got the cement poured right at dark.

Hey what's the tap talk thing I keep seeing?

What are the specs for your pumps, Mrbinks? I have seen some quite low powered pumps in the 3,000-10,000LPH range lately.