Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Newbie here too would like to hear more as the build continues. That message of check the medium seems really good I think I'd do multiple checks as I worked along. Cups and vinegar being cheap and digging out culprit gravel would be back breaking and tedious.

Make sure you wrap or paint around your containers for algae prevention. I hear of people having some problems with this. I havn't heard of any using those algae eaters they get good and big in a larger size tank.

Also I havn't heard of anyone using snails to help clean up both tanks and GB's seems like they'd do a good job. I'm an over the road truck driver with my wife so it will be a long time before we can try out Aquaponics and other types of farming but for now am gathering up knowledge.

I've heard stories from people who didn't check the media before adding it to their growbeds and then they wondered why their PH was so high or low.

I had an issue during the cycling phase where my PH dropped to around 6.2. I didn't do anything for over a week just to see if it would adjust on its own. I know that patience is needed when dealing with an AP system. After a week of low ammonia and low nitrites but no change in the PH, I went ahead and added 2 cups of crushed oyster shell that I purchased on Amazon.com. This is the pure crushed oyster shell, not the chicken feed type that is mostly other stuff besides oyster shell. I put it in a mesh bag and hung it in the sump tank. I left it for a week and tested everything again. PH was up to 7.0-7.2.

No fish deaths or plant issues. I've kept the oyster shell in the sump and the PH has not changed in the last 2 weeks. I'll just keep it there as a buffer since it only dissolves in acidic water anyway. Plus, I read the oyster shells are good for crustaceans like crawdads. I don't have any crawdads so I can't confirm if this helps or not during the molting phases for the crawdads.

On another topic, I'm not happy with the greenhouse covering that I used temporarily until I can get the polycarbonate roofing panels purchased and installed. I thought I would get at least a year out of the 6mil plastic but I had a hard time getting it tight along the roof so the wind has basically shredded it. The walls seem just fine. I'm planning on getting more wood and the polycarbonate panels this weekend to do it right! I'll post some pics before and after if I remember to take them first.

Looks great Chris. Can't wait to see the new roof! I'm going to use the corrogated polycarbonate panels on my greenhouse, once I get the second GB up and running.

Still not finished with the polycarb roof. I don't have an easy way to get the 12' roof panels home without a truck and I don't want to rent the big truck from the big box store. I'm just going to bite the bullet and buy more wood at the same time as the roof panels so I can justify the delivery charge. I need more wood to finish up the half wall siding on the outside of the greenhouse as well as wood for some DWC's.

I also tested the water this weekend and here are the results:

PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

I only have about 20 goldfish in the 300 gallon tank with a GB:FT ratio just under 1:1. The gb's are only 12 sq. ft each (50 gallon tanks with media) x 2. According to the sizing calculator, I need at least 28.9 sq. ft of gb. I'm just at 24 sq. ft. I expect the plants in the gb's to use up all of the nitrates anyway but the gb's are not planted that heavily.

i picked that ripe tomato in the video and ate it. yummy

that is all.

Hi Chris,

I've also just noticed your thread, I don't know why I haven't seen it before?

It's all coming on nicely and it won't belong before you're building the next system in your head like the rest of us

I already have my expansion planned and am currently gathering the resources to make it happen.

The plans include 2 DWC's (4x8) as well as another 150gallon fish tank. I also plan on adding at least 2 more 50 gallon growbeds for the main 300 gallon FT. I have the room in the GH for this expansion and if it goes well then I can always use the storage building as my fish tank building which will allow me to get more FT's. I can then expand even more in the GH.

I'm still trying to finish the roof for the GH. I don't have a truck anymore which makes it difficult (and expensive) to have materials delivered. I'll get it done soon though.

The next step after the roof is finished is to purchase some solar panels and get them installed. Does anyone have recommendations for solar panels or just some advice on how to pick the right panels and such. Solar is something I don't have much experience with yet.

Check out the solar forum over at http://forum.solar-electric.com/forum.php
Best solar advice i've seen on the internet.

Thanks smatthew! I read some of the "basic" posts and it was over my head. I'll look for some beginner sites just to get the basics down.

I like your tomato plant yummy

Thanks jay! I just finished catching up on one of your system threads. I'm currently working on my expansion to the system and hope to put in some DWC's soon. How is your DWC doing?

The Pipe system is great!! In the best position for sunlight. Have huge success with lettuce and bokchoy, strawberries are now going better now I've reduced salt.

Love your system. Mine will be very similar. I love your grow beds. Where did u find them? Probably were not cheap huh

Sandiegonewb,

The 50 gallon growbeds were purchased through Zorotools.com They are the Rubbermaid Resin Stock Tanks and are only $77 each. The 300 gallon tank is only $230ish. Once you sign up they will send you coupons via email for even more of a discount. Plus, shipping is free.

These growbeds are much easier to setup and more cost effective for me than building a tank from scratch and buying the liner. This is just how I went about it.