Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Here are more pics of my aquapod systems. We are very proud of these systems. They are simple and easy to maintain, and very productive.

What type of fish are you using?
Are they 12 volt pumps or 115? Neat idea, how many can you sequence together?

We are fortunate to have a fish hatchery and access to all types of fish to try in aquaponics. We currently use bluegill, hybrid striped bass, pellet-trained largemouth bass, tilapia, and few catfish.

Our windmill hybrid system uses a 115v air pump but a 12v pump could be used. I am currently outfitting a 20'x60' greenhouse with 24 of these pod systems. The entire facility will run off one 1/4hp blower and be supplied by a shallow water solar well pump.

I plan to use many of these to spawn, hatch, and raise tilapia fry. Each is an indepent little system allowing for error and experimentation.

I see lots of opportunities.

Can you please tell us what an "aquapod" is?

Cant say Ive heard that term before?

Yes, can you explain how they are set up, and operate?

here viewtopic.php?p=437989#p437989

These aquapods (just my nickname for these) are simply a side-mount bead filter cut in half, with each shell turned up. The fish side sits on its base and is cut to be slightly deeper than the grow-bed side, because the unit is powered by an air lift which lifts water more efficiently as you go deeper with air diffuser. So on the fish side there are intakes sitting below a gravel bed. The 2" pvc riser coming out of the fish side has a standard air stone inserted and located at the bottom of the fish tank. See the vinyl tubing where air is inserted and delivered to the air stone. So with .5-1cfm of air this system works to circulate, oxygenate, and degas all at the same time. As water is moved over to the grow bed it runs through expanded shale media. There are 2 filter strainers at the bottom of the grow bed that connect to 2" discharge and return water to the fish side. The grow beds sit on used tires and hold water about 2/3 full all the time and are continuous flow operation. You can allow more water in the grow bed by adding a PVC elbow on the discharge port and turning it up some, but you have to allow for the grow bed to be at least 2/3 full of water. Main limitation of this system are tomato roots for example, which sometimes clog the filter strainers at the bottom of the grow bed. If this happens I simply blow the system out with compressed air, which helps dislodge clogs very efficiently.

Neat idea. I'd say you must have a good source for inexpensive bead filters as well.

i can't see how you get to the fish, is the tyre in the FT?

Can you show us some more pics please.

Hello Todd,

welcome to the forum.

Overtonfisheries, let me say welcome as well!

As much as I wanted to, I wasn't able to stop by on my last trip from Dallas to Houston, but I'm dying to come visit one day. That said, I know my stock of tilapia to be grand-children of some of yours, and I've been very happy with them, so at a minimum let me say thank you for being such a good source for fish!

Thanks yall for the warm welcome. This is a nice forum. I will post more pics of our greenhouse system very soon.