Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm currently debating trying to rent field space from a farmer to put a polytunnel in. However, my next issue is whether there is power there. It's likely there isn't. So how can I power a system with up to 3 1000 litre ibc tanks? I have absolutely no idea about electricals, and I'm in the uk, please can anyone share their wisdom, in very simple terms?

Portable generator or solar system. Don't know too much about either except that they will work in remote places.

A generator will be noisy and you'll probably have to refuel every day, if not twice a day.

Solar will be pretty expensive upfront because you'll want to make sure you have plenty of battery backup for long periods without sun.

Or a combination of both.

At this point in the development of off grid technologies I would consider not doing it. Especially on such a small scale.

It can be done but its expensive.

I would tend to agree with Stuart on that.

There are systems that run successfully on very little power, do a search on LEAP. Your problems would be your location, your proximity to the system and of course the rent.

My question to you is Is this a buisnes venture or a hobby farm.
A hobby can soak up lots of money and still be worth it; where as a buisines
venture most make profit.

Please tell use what you are trying to do.....Daucie

I would think with 3 x 1000L IBC's as the basis for the system it's far from being commercial concern.

Hobby! Preferably providing most, if not all, our veg and fruit needs. Happy to sell or give away surplus but not really doing it for a business as I can't afford the start up costs, plus I know nothing about fish, veg or running a business, so it seems like I should start small.

My proximity is about 9 miles away if you mean where I live opposed to where the farm is, but I live in a town, with the farmland around about to be built on. My husband is going to talk to a farmer whose land he shoots rabbits on, and see what he would charge us.

Getting a field with power nearby would be a solution.

Yes, yes it would. However we don't have much option, so if that isn't possible (and I don't know yet if it is or not, may find out tonight that we can't even rent some space) I was looking for other options.

I have done some calculations, if anyone can pinpoint any errors I would greatly appreciate it...

An 85w pump, with a 3000l/h, should need 8.5amp hours for 24 hours. Or 59.5amp hours for a week of running. So if I have a battery or 2 with more amp hours than that, and a solar panel which produces more power than that, so it can run the pump and charge the batteries, would that not work? It runs on 240v, so I would also need an inverter I believe.

What size solar panel might I be needing? And does that sound about right? Thankyou!

Hi Katali,

85w x24=2040 watt hrs/day. So a 200 watt solar panel x 10 hrs clear sun would do it.
Now double that for clouds and you could put it together for about $800 or so.

One thing you haven't mentioned is your water availability and quality.
My cities water is near perfect to go strait into my FT, So I just siphon off 10% every day
into my garden. That gives me a water change every day plus 17000 BTU of cooling per day.
That way you could run a 10 watt fountain pump just to splash enough water for oxygen.
let a float valve refill the FT


Just a thought....Daucie

Hi
a supermarket called A*L*I has 800w generators for£60
Titus

Daucie, why do I have to pay more attention to wh than amp hours? I've tried looking it up, but only got more confused. You know, I have no idea about water, I'm sure there'll be some somewhere, it's a farm! It won't be a mains water connection though, so I don't think that would work.

Thanks titus, but generators came out very expensive to run!

OK, I may have calculated my amp hours wrong, should I have devided by the voltage of the battery or the voltage of the pump? The pump is 240v, the battery is 12v, so it makes quite a difference!

Hello Katali

85 w /12v =7.08A x 24=170 amp hrs.

85w /240v=.354a X 24= 8.5 amp hrs

Same power at different volts. So you would need 2 100AH deep cycle batterys to supply
your inverter
.
. Daucie