Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello Everyone,

Here is my build thread of my solar greenhouse aquaponics system.

Jason

12" poured concrete walls with three fish tanks built into the back wall. Each tank holds 1100 gallons.

Finished greenhouse is 48' x 24' with top ceiling height of 18'.

Back filled the inside with 18" of rock and perforated drain pipe for a heat capture system.

Aquaponics system consists of 8 IBC beds, three 12' drain pipes for thin film, and 14 buckets for a drip system. and an IBC duck weed tank. All of these are ran off one 1000 gallon pump.

Current status as of May 31st, 2014.

Fish tank on the far left is the sump. It pumps to all grow beds and buckets.
Fish tank on far right where buckets are houses 120 tilapia and some gold fish
Fish tank in the middle holds about 50 gold fish right now.

pH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 40

Concrete tanks sealed with X3

Middle tanks drain to a 55 gallon drum that gravity feeds under the rock up and over to the sump. Fish tank on the right, drains to fish tank in the middle, drains to sump. I have a 60 gallon swirl filter in the sump that captures solids.

My plants on the back wall under the north roof are doing just as well if not better then the ones in the middle of the room. South glazing is Solexx 3.5 duel wall poly. Windows are all duel pain solar gain energy efficient. Doors to greenhouse are poly carb sheets.

In case anyone wants a tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlnaEJ1H1g0

That is an awesome setup! Chemistry looks good. Good luck with the growth.

Wow what a dream system you have there jwnova99!

Thanks for the complement Guys.

Thank you for the complement Guys.

I agree, fantastic set up. How are the temps going?

Awesome

USA: My outside temps are 80 - 60 F, Inside is 90 - 70 F. Water is 75 deg.
AUS: My outside temps are 26 - 16 C, Inside is 32 - 21 C. Water is 24 deg.

I have several things going to regulate my greenhouse temps.

I have a DIY 4x8 hot water panel on a snap switch which so slowly heats the water. I will be building a much larger one this summer.

4000 gallons of water, and 40 tons of concrete suspended 2' in the ground and backed up to the ground. At the start of spring, it would raise to 65 on a sunny week then back down to 55 on a cloudy week which is my ground temp. Currently my water will reach 80 on a sunny week and then drop down to 75. That tells me my concrete and ground are warming up to about 75.

When the temp hits 80 inside the circulation fan blows the air under the stone in the floor. The stone is about 72 deg right now which carries it through colder days and nights.

My Solexx is 2.5 R factor so it heats more slowly then plastic or glass. My solar profile to the sun decreases as the summer hits. The sun right over head has a profile of 55% of the sq ft, and in winter its 100%. So it self regulates sunlight as the season progresses.