Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Reference. Made dft system little more information pipes needs to be level used reducers on end of 4pipe ,giving just under halfway water levels. Inlet pipe consists of 2"inlet and 2"outlet pipes to give even flow of water concerning plant pots for system used 3" pipe cut down- for base of plant pots used net pots tied with zip fasteners .To stop evaporation used cling film around plant pots . Whickered tomato and cucumber plants on balcony giving plenty of light.

Thinking of making an air conditioner using freezer box idea from You Tube greenhouse- far too hot for lettuces ,say to cool down 16 square feet of grow bed .Has anybody made one of these ? .I would like to know how effective these air conditioners are . Weather has been humid -have had two thunderstorms.

I tried searching but could not find it, do you have a link or an explanation of how it works?

BTW how hot is it in your GH?

Hi The greenhouse inside temp 25C .Concerning the air conditioner it consists of an insulated freezer box - small fan secured on top that can be solar driven, ice put into container three vent holes made of 2" pipe ? to extract cold air- lasts for about five hours- can be seen on YouTube . There are small air conditioners on E-Bay that are worth considering reasonably priced .The homemade ones can spread germs -so would need thorough cleaning -the bought machines eradicate germs -would seem cheaper in the long run.

Hard to imagine that 25C is too hot, but we get winter day time temps near that over here!

Ice will work for sure, we used to measure air-conditioner power in tons of ice.

However I would have thought that just putting some vents at high and low level would give enough ambient air to cool the GH enough and be a lot more economical.

Small air conditioner will maybe cost a lot to run, how much is your electricity?

We grow lettuce here all year round (40C in summer) maybe a different variety of lettuce would be the answer?

Hi you could be right about ventilation -I grew Kos lettuces and they became very leggy- I need grow lights in greenhouse to correct this owing to the fact we have a large tree in the garden that shades the greenhouse. Water temp in greenhouse 21C, wondering would that have any effect on lettuces .Electricity is quite expensive ,will try air venting the greenhouse -a small solar fan might help to circulate the air .

I ordered T5 grow lights- sent back- they were throwing the trip switch - had an electrician out -found to be a fault in lighting system-rather disappointing .Have had some hot days- rain predicted but received very little rain .water tubs ran dry using de gassed tap water . Going to New Zealand on holiday during August- when back will build small extension to workshop. Also will make a sand water filter, buy extra water butts to supply the extra water needed to keep up with evaporation ,just not enough rain- PH about 7.5,have been working hard to avoid using tap water. Asking a question concerning grow lights- is it a good idea to buy a moveable track system- any real advantage? I just have two grow beds .

Rearranged pipes in the aquaponic system- the outlet pipe which was connected to the filter system did not work properly -I think it was something to do with the water pushing out from the bottom of the pipe ,slow to correct its self owing to air in pipe- fish tank overflowing .so now all pipes separated .Waiting for lights -the trip switch needs alteration- electrician;s job-hopefully will get it sorted out next week. Everything else seems to be going alright- ammonia ,nitrite ,nitrate ,PH OK -as the bed matures with the correct lighting I will be able to grow lettuces -the last batch turned out to be leggy owing to insufficient light .

I thought you're lettuces might be leggy because of those big trees around

Try some Miners Lettuce and Shiso (perilla).

HI you were right about the trees- light in greenhouse- alright in the morning -late afternoon the trees just stop the light .In the winter it will be better simply that hopefully I can rely on the grow lights .I like your school project ,are you going to build a greenhouse to house the aquaponic system in ? I like the idea of the fail safe system -I found with mine to achieve that to keep pipes separate .A friend of mine, a plumber ,fixed the outlet pipe to the filter and the fish tank overflowed losing 50 gallons of water -not very happy about that .It took me a day to separate the pipes ,one pipe going to the grow beds etc .I would like to send you some money for your school project ,simply to promote aquaponics .I shall try the Miners Lettuce and Shiso.

Money that's a nice thought - are you well off probably a good project to start at your your community garden or school my school system is in a poly tunnel


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Hi .Last year I offered to buy our local school an A.P- system there is quite a lot of red tape involved,still waiting to hear ,also making wickering pots to grow tomatoes for school .I have installed T5 grow lights that will make a difference to the plants -after my holiday I will try and get all this sorted .Money wise I am retired so A.P gives me something to do -promoting etc .

Hello, I'm in beds uk and hoping to start up an aquaponics system soon, is there any chance of visiting your setup to see what you havedone? You are the closest person to me I have seen so far, and I would really like to see an existing system before doing mine.

I am about to take a holiday .in three weeks i will contact you -love to show you around

I've tried those wicking buckets - they basically took me into aquaponics (searching for water wise solutions).

I had a few good success with them and other not so good moments (was on holidays in the heat of summer).

Here's some pics of mine John:


I then progressed to recycling crate wicking tubs (mantis design)


Then Blue barrels



Then aquaponics