Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Redesigned BSF composter as last system was letting grubs escape! New system uses one tote with lid cut to form inner and outer ramps. Also added a drain plug and filled system with clay pebbles to act as a filter for the grub waste and leachate. Hopefully this one will work better. Photos of the new system are this album:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151530908131832.1073741825.698581831&type=3

Ordered 30 channel catfish from Smith Creek Fish Farm (http://www.smithcreekfishfarm.com/).

Cheers!

Jackal

The aquaponics system has an ~310 gallon fish tank with ~16 square feet of grow beds filed with 143 gallons of clay pebbles. I recently ordered 30 channel catfish in the 4”-6" size to be shipped live around 5/13/13.

Was thinking of adding 25 Blue Tilapia of 1"-2" but not sure if they will survive with the catfish and whether the grow beds can adequately filter the water.

The system incorporates 6 geyser pumps each running from an 18W air pump (EcoPlus Commercial Air 18 Watts Single Outlet 10 gallons/minute) for a total of 60 gallons of air pumped per minute. With 20 goldfish and 20 minnows in the tank the DO is between 12-15 mg/l at 62-78 degrees F.

Your advice is much appreciated!

Pictures and videos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151530908131832.1073741825.698581831&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=vb.698581831&type=2

Cheers!

Jackal

I couldn't access the BSFL composter pics Jackal. What are you looking for advice on?

The aquaponics system has an ~310 gallon fish tank with ~16 square feet of grow beds filed with 143 gallons of clay pebbles.

I recently ordered 30 channel catfish in the 4”-6" size to be shipped live around 5/13/13.

Was thinking of adding 25 Blue Tilapia of 1"-2". Will they will survive with the catfish?

Can the grow beds adequately filter the water in above set up?

Thanks in advance!

Jackal

The system is running fine! Added a hard canister filter to keep water clean. The plants are doing great along with the 15 goldfish, 15 minnows, 22 catfish and 20 tilapia!

Cheers!

Jackal


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Hi Jackal,

Sorry I missed the prior post regarding stocking Jackal. Here's a thread with some of the basics - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6646

Most of the time we recommend stocking based on the growout size of the fish. As your fish grow out you'll be overstocked but you're ok for the time being since the fish are small. Your growbeds can handle a maximum of 28.6 lbs of fish based on the thread mentioned. I can't say how much capacity the extra filtration is going to add.

The fish won't all grow at the same rate so you should be able to eat some as they get bigger, some will die and others will be eaten (the minnows). If your planning on growing out the catfish to two pounds each, I predict you'll have problems, better get a backup plan before you need it. Pulling off solids, making more growbeds, or having a second system for fish to be moved into are good options.

Thanks for the information! Added the hard filter and all the fish and plants seem very happy :-) Stocked with 10 now large 6" goldfish, one surviving minnow, 15 catfish and 15 tilapia. We have to clean the hard filter about once a week.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk 4

Long time no updates.

System is now inside a Chinese solar greenhouse, has a BSF composter, and has worked out great over the years!

Pics and videos below (sorry FB only):

https://www.facebook.com/IAMJackal/media_set?set=a.10151910874281832.698581831&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/IAMJackal/media_set?set=vb.698581831&type=2


Cheers!

Jackal

Where did you get the green house, or was it purpose built? system looks fantastic

Thanks! The Chinese solar greenhouse was diy custom built from a 20x10 car port and R23, 2" Thermashield panels, and triple pane polycarbonate glazing.

You can see the build process in the photo album.

Created a YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcXGm ... pp=desktop

Checked out a couple of your YouTube videos. Way to go . I like the new greenhouse and it's good to see this system's still cranking away - fish look happy.

Cheers

Thanks, never would have known this is such a great hobby!

I have to say, great looking system!! My question is how did you come up with the idea for those siphons? I've never seen that style before. I've seen a T siphon, standard bell in GB with and w/o media guard, and I've seen U siphons. But yours is alien to me. Would you be willing to share how you made them?