Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I just ordered a solar panel to run my pump and a fan etc... So yes I see where this is going and I like it

Well I went and did it now, I purchased 100 W solar panel, 30 amp charge controller, 400 Watt inverter and a 12 V 100AH deep cycle battery, at the moment it's running a .23 amp pump 24hrs. Next I hope to get a light an fan going. Here it is

It looks like my strawberries in the GB are flowering a lot more and have a lot more fruit coming in on them. Any specific reasons for this, or do they usually grow better in the GB? Their yellow in color compared to the dark green of the GB strawberries. Float tray lettuce and basil is doing great. No lost fish and I have some algae starting to show on the foam trays. Thinking of adding 10 more goldfish for a total of 18 in a 55 gallon drum.

Update:A nice storm came through that Kinda ravaged my greenhouse, which is great because I've had these palettes for a while and been waiting to use them. All the wood is reused the only thing I had to go get was some more 6m plastic. lettuce chives basil strawberrys are doing great. Really want to add some outside beds asap. Everything running off of solar power, I really like this way of gardening. And five years of gardening I've never grown such good strawberries, and the lettuce in the aquaponic is outgrowing my soil lettuce by 3x

Hi Saltywreck,

great new system, isn't it good being able to reuse stuff like the pallets and make something useful. I like the solar setup, good job.

God bless, froggo.

Great stuff!

Added a dutch bucket system today for tomatoes. I have a couple winter variety and some cherry yellow pairs that have bin popping up randomly in the garden. pretty much lm getting carried away/taking advantage of any space I can in the greenhouse. I think the fence is next

What happened to the second raft bed?

I had a problem with a leak due to my bad choice of fittings and 4 mil plastic. So I went and got myself an early Xmas present a 2x4 grow bed I'll soon be replacing all my beds with these. 2x2 bed for bio filter and 2 2x4's for the rafts. Well built thick plastic, and my favorite part, no leaks. I rebuilt the other raft bed for the time being, 6mil and a proper bulkhead fitting. Now to figure out how to connect the float beds. I'll probably just raise up the front bed to run over into the other/white one.

Picked up another grow bed on sale, did some more web browsing and started at it. I added 3 new bags of media in the GB rinsed well, planted Pac choy, my strawberrys, watercress, spinach, chives, and various lettuces in the DWC. I got to reuse all my original water by pumpin into 2 large cans while I was setting up "that was a pain" I thought it would be better to use my original water than start new. The chives kinda told me things were working. pH is my main focus as of now and just getting things happy. Including my belly.

:update 4th pic. Good day All. P.S. The bricks aren't holding up the FT Haha, just haven't moved them out yet.

Looking good! Are you going to put the original 3 beds back online? As this would about double your current grow room.

I finally got my solar components all squared away. Filled my second bed with volcano rock on the bottom and 1 bag of hydroton on top, I'm cheap . I also figured 21 heads of lettuce trumped the dutch bucket idea so out they went and in came the old DWC bed. Officially out of space in the 6x12 greenhouse.

looking good salty.

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Odd that no one has picked up on the "Foil-Lined" rafts..

Is it not a No-No to have aluminum in an AP system.. (or any metal other than Stainless Steel, and who can afford gold pipes.. :-) )

Likely not a big issue if using ornamentals as the nutrient source.. I have used brazing wire in Cichlid tanks for YEARS, and the fush do fine.. ( No AP/Food production)
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