Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I made a system with a mix of aquaponics and aeroponics. A high pressure Sump pump mist my roots rather than flood or drip onto them. To control my water temp I have made an ac system for my res with fans and old Swamp cooler parts. This is my first anything ponics. My plants are growing but not as fast as plants I out in ground. I Think I May Not Have Enough FISH For My 35 Gallon res. Is there a good rule of thumb

This outdoor system is a summer project but I am more interested an indoor system.

Dan

Welcome Zlove007, what kind of filtration are you using? Aeroponic heads clog easily, and the number of fish you can grow out is proportional to your filtration.

Just those microfiber sump pump filters. I use those plastic garden sprayers not patio misters. it sprays fine water at the roots but does not make a mist cloud.

Im also using growstone media made right here in my home town.

http://www.growstone.com

Still my system is not working as it should in theory.

i water 5 min on off on a timer with a light sensor. auto turns off at night.

theres 6 gold fish and 2 koi.

I am thinking i'm either watering to much or not enough fish for 35 gallons.

Again, how are you filtering the water? You need a biofilter of some sort for your colony of nitrifying bacteria.

so the rock bed is important.... F...

It does not nessisarily need to be a gravel bed, it could be any sort of bio filter. Moving bed bio reactors could work

I think the moving bed biofilter would work better for my system. Do you no of a diy link or something that explains how it works. I couldn't really find much info. Just people explaining what it does. Also I would like to know about water temperature. The cooling system I built. Will take it to the low 80s if it's a high 90s day. It's working but i'm still concerned.

I would recommend using a fish that can handle the temperatures, as opposed trying to cool the water. You will use less electricity, and the fish will grow out faster. As far as the MBBR design goes, look at some of the "aquaculture" builds here.

I know you are only saying you "think" a MBBF is the way to go but how have to come to form that opinion without knowing how they work?