Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, here I am. Guide us through the craziness! So much to read, we're trying....oy!

We are small family farm on 10ac already growing and selling eggs (chicken and duck), pasture raised chicken and pork. We also raise our own milk but it's "illegal" to sell in Texas. We've tried growing in the ground but we can't beat the Bermuda grass. It chases water with a vengeance and grows right though weed barrier! We have participated in a veggie co-op because our raised bed kitchen garden just doesn't grow enough for daily meals let alone canning/ preserving. This seems like the natural progression of things.

Our main goal is the veggies. The fish are an added benefit and a means to the end.

A couple considerations.....

-Space is not a concern. I have a 60ft x 60ft area earmarked for a green house. 20ft wide x ? long...http://www.hoopbenders.net/

-Climate - Our "winters" (HAHA! I grew up in Michigan) consist of lows rarely below freezing longer than a few hours at a time. I think we are going to do cat fish. They are here naturally so I'm confident we can grow them. With a green house I think we will be able to grow veggies year round =)

-Budget - Oh the almighty dollar. Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm willing to take some time to do it right rather on the cheap.

-Fish food - If we can, I'd like to grow our own, duckweed and minnows. Compete nutrition?

-Since growing veggies is the main goal, I'm thinking CHOP system to get more grow bed/ fish. Is that correct thinking?


So where to start? The local Tank shop has 1525 gal tanks on sale for $550. I think that is 50% off! But the sale ends TODAY! Fish or cut bait time!?!?! Pun intended!

I could cut that tank in half for my FT and Sump? Can I seal the lid adequately?

If my math is correct, if I do 6 grow beds 3ft x 8ft (24sqft x 6) =144 cuft x 7.5gal/cuft) that is 1080 gal of grow bed volume and I will need a sump of equal size? YIKES!!!! Add a FT of equal to as low as 1/2 that volume.

Do I factor in the volume of the grow media when considering SUMP volume needed? I am reading conflicting threads. I've seen where some say only 40% of grow bed volume is actually used so I can plan smaller.

1000 gal sump just seems enormous to me. Am I thinking too BIG to start? Bigger is better right? If I want grow bed space I need SUMP volume.

Would it be easier just to do the basic flood and drain with the whole 1525 gal tank? That would leave roughly 500 gal for fish with the grow beds flooded. Is that enough remaining volume? Rule of thumb is 1lb of fish for 5-10 gal of fish that's 150 fish. I'd be thrilled.

Sorry, I guess I ended up just putting lots of thoughts out there. Obviously I am in the planning phase but I need to get off the computer and do "real" work! LOL!

Thanks for reading and any experience/ opinion are welcome!!!

Kip


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hanson-Family-Farm/147414739088
http://hansonfamilyfarm.com/

Welcome Kip!

That's a lot of questions, if you're for real going to start a system you could go ahead and start a Member's thread and get things going there.

FWIW I was able to get a 550 gallon water tank from Craigslist for $80, use that if you are looking for bargains. You might be able to get as much volume using IBC totes if you can source them cheaply, as well.

The twice as much grow bed as FT rule is a loose rule, and depending on how you configure the system a sump might not even be necessary (for example if the FT is the lowest item in the system). Flood and drain is not even required based on testing at the BYAP shop among timed flood and drain, siphon flood and drain, and constantly flooded beds.

The 40% number is the water volume used in a grow bed, so if the bed is 100 gallons you will need about 40 gallons to flood it completely since the media uses up most of the space.

Click on the "IBC of Aquaponics" link at the top right of this page if you haven't already seen that.

HTH!