Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello everyone,

So I'm very new to the world of aquaponics, I haven't even built a system at all yet but I will be working on it very soon. I have been watching many youtube videos on aquaponics and am trying to pick up all the tips and advice I can get before I even get started.


I'm hoping to start a system within a few months and am currently collecting and sourcing all the things I'll need. I'm going with a large part of my build to be reused and recycled parts since my budget is almost nonexistent. I am hoping to make a CHIFT PIST (I believe this is the acronym, Constant Height in Fish Tank, Pump in Sump Tank) system.

I'm wondering if any of you have used fish safe EPDM pond liner to make a fish tank or if this is unadvised and it would be better to shell out the money for a poly tank or perhaps a couple IBC containers to use as fish tanks?

I'm also considering using the same EPDM liner to make flood and drain beds with plywood framing, anyone have anything like this or know if it will even work. Obviously I want something where the food coming out of the grow beds will still be fine, and some healthy fish safe for consumption would be swell as well.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any tips or advice I receive, I'm sure I will still run into plenty of bumps and be back with more questions. I'll also make sure to make a thread and keep it updated once I actually can start putting something together.


Also anyone have any experience or tips with making a 10gal aquarium into a little tabletop aquaponics system, I'm trying to think of the best way to do something. Considering seeing if a larger backpack filter would have the power to draw up the water a foot or so above tank level to drain into either a flood & drain bed or into a DWC tank...thinking a DWC tank would be better as a constant volume of water would be in the DWC bed and the tank, where as a 10gal tank may not have the volume to support a flood & drain bed.

Later Everyone!

Welcome ! !

EPDM is a fine liner for fishtank and growbeds!

As for the aquarium question, what is a backpack filter? My googlefu only brings me to survival/hiking equipment...

I'm also about to build a small window/aquarium system and I plan on using a small aquarium pump. The big orange box store has a good variety (as cheap as $20 for the small ones IIRC). Just be sure to check the height you need vs the table on the back of every pump that explains the gpm at verious heights (also called "head")

Hope this helps!

Thanks DutyDan,

Glad to hear that EPDM will work as it's far cheaper to make a fish tank like that.


As far as a backpack filter, I may just be incorrect about the name. But I'm referring to the standard aquarium filter that comes with aquarium kits in retail stores and such. I say a backpack filter because it hangs off the back of the aquarium as such.

I was thinking of extending the tube that hangs into the aquarium and moving the filter up to a bed above the tank so it just hangs on the side and dumps into the bed, then having it drain right back into the tank. Something small and simple just for the tabletop inside. I'm now thinking I may have to get a bigger filter as the standard 5/15 gal tank filter that comes with a 10gal aquarium may not have the power to draw up the water.

So I was just wondering if anyone had tried anything like that before, maybe someone could say, "Hey new guy, that filter/pump won't be strong enough for that, don't waste your time", or maybe it will work.

Anyway thanks for your time and response.