Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,
I'm new to aquaponics but I've been reading about it a lot - especially on this forum. I've taken a look at other members systems and I think I'd like to start with a large system and try to raise tilapia.

I have some components already on hand and thought that would save some money. I have an indoor pool that I am thinking of converting into my fish tank (the attached picture).
The pool's dimensions are roughly 5m x 3m x 1m.

What size growth beds do you think I can support with this tank? Also, how large should my sump tank be?

Thank you for the help.

Welcome Aziz! That will make quite the fish tank! You can use as many growbeds as you can fit. Just remember that the number of fish you can stock is dependent on growbed volume. Generally you don't use sumps with pool systems. The ammount of fluctuation in water level will be hardly noticeable. That is a beautiful space.

Hi Aziz, and welcome
That's going to make an amazing looking fish pond!

Just make sure your growbeds are narrow enough to reach everything, and so that you don't fall in the pool when you're harvesting!

How much room do you have on each side?
Maybe some narrower but deeper beds might be best for you, it will make it easier to plant and harvest if they are a bit taller too.

It looks like you will have plenty of wall-space if you ever wanted to put some NFT-style pipes up as well. Can't wait to see how you go with it all. Best of luck


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Sorry for not answering your questions, I'm just here to compliment your future fish tank.
It looks superb!
And welcome to the forum too.

Well, maybe a small answer - you want at least 20L of media per fish you stock into your pool.
There is often a bit of an issue with large fish tanks diluting the nutrients but if you stock enough fish in there you should be alright.
Personally I wouldn't bother with a sump in such a large pond either (as Ron said), especially one with a fish tank below ground level.
Hopefully some members who stock tilapia and who use large fish tanks/ponds/pools can help you more than I can with more details.
Good luck and keep us informed, I really like the look of this and would love to see how it develops.

I have a couple more thoughts too.
I wouldn't advise using the original pool filter, the solids in an AP system are likely to block the pool filter and it would be likely to cause you problems.
Also, if dilution of nutrients is an issue, you can only partially fill the pool to help solve this, assuming you aren't using the original pool pump (I'm thinking it would need the pool to be full to work?).

Nice pool, Yes as Bodgy says you can't use the pool pump, you need to take water and fish waste from the bottom of the FT.

I would put one or two pond/sump pumps in the bottom of the pool, where are the GB going are they outside? the pool is inside yes? if you can just pump to the GB's and drain back to FT (pool).

You don't need to have the pool full, looks like about 15kL however you will be able to power anything from 5 to 20m³ of gravel GB's.

Slowboats pool to pond conversion is amazing! Listen to every word he says.

Hi All,
Thanks for all the advice. I will have some growbeds inside and the majority outside.

I'm also going to make a smaller aquaponics system to test out some of the local tilapia and see if it works well.

I'll keep you posted.

Local is always best! You know they can handle your climate.

Very cool area to start! You could use your current pool pump, you would just need to replumb it and pull from the bottom of the pool.. Depending on how it's currently plumbed, you may be able to just adjust the Jandy valve and shut the skimmer suction off and pull from the bottom. I would suggest an intake screen of some type over the bottom suction line, as the suction without the skimmer would be pretty strong and you could suck in some of your fish. You could also use a submersible like already mentioned. But if your pumping along ways, the current pump may work better, and you already have it. Tilapia love heat, and you should have plenty where you live. Good luck Aziz!

That would work, the main drain would allow you to pull from the bottom and you could either switch off the valve to the skimmer or plug it using a threaded plug. Done some pool remodeling in my time. Then just By pass your filter, but keep your strainer basket in place to keep anything large out of the impeller. Take the discharge line and and a "T" to run your grow beds with and then if you want to go back swimming, open your skimmer, switch the valve on the "T" , harvest your fish and veggies and add clean water and chlorine.

Why would you ever add chlorine? I would much rather swim in a pool with a large bio filter than to have to deal with chlorine...

Good point Ron, you could swim with the fishes. You could also use a salt water generator, or ozone. Chlorine is still the most widely used and accepted bacteria and algae control, but not the only option. I think most people who go back and forth with their pools, break down the AP part each swim season and then clean and sanitize their pool for the season. Don't know on that last part, as I've only seen a few threads. I'm keeping my pool, as we enjoy swimming and entertaining in it.

+1

Natural pools are cool.

Wow. Now that is a decent fish tank.

If the budget stretches far enough, it may be an idea to add a deck and grow beds above the pool. Make it with access panels for easy cleaning. Then you have the total area of pool as grow beds with walkways between.