Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So this is my first shot at aquaponics. I have been lurking long enough and decided to dive in. The picture here is where I currently stand. Between my job, life, work, toddler, etc... I am slowly piecing it together.

So here is my plan... The wood tank to the right will eventually get a liner and be for my raft and the top of the ibc to the left will be my ebb and flow media bed once I build a stand for it. You might be able to see my 50 gallon sump below the ibc which will house the pump that will feed the fish tank. The FT will overflow to a filtration system (yet to be decided) and that will split with one going to the dwc and one to the media bed. Then those will return to the sump.

Before I start plumbing and things become a bit more permanent, I was hoping for some input. Perhaps a warning on the giant mistake I am about to make, things I am overlooking, ect... I figure with the amount of knowledge on these forums you guys might be able to offer some advice on how to save a headache for me in the future. Thanks in advance!!

Looks like a solid plan to me, no mistakes looming....

Welcome to the family,just keep the pics coming....

Looks good.

Only thing I'd change, is to take the water through the media bed, and drain it into the DWC, that'll do the filtering for you.

Looking good so far, nice work on the timber box, it's going to look great all set up!

Thanks Colum! The only concern I have giong that route was that I thought the DWC had to have a constant flow and I was giong to do an ebb and flow in the media bed. I could be wrong though.



Thanks Azira!


Will do




Good to hear!

Got a little further today with building the media bed stand and a stand for the filters. Here is my to do list as it stands...




Line the DWC tank - I had a type of visqueen but after pulling it out I don't think it would last that long so I still need to source a liner.

Media - I haven't looked too hard for this yet. I know hydtroton will be too $$$ so i am trying to come up with something else.

Plumb the system - I was thinking 2 inch pipe from the fish tank, 2 inch for the filters, and when I split it off for the 2 grow beds my plan was to use 1.5 inch.

Filters - The first will be to settle the solids using a baffle and the second I have some ideas but am open to suggestions.


So thats where I am currently at

now that is a good looking backyard setup

Thanks!

Have you got lids or something to cover the filters? Best to keep the covered and keep the light out if possible..

I do

I have some pics of the plumbing and bell siphon that I will up load soon, but I have a quick question. I am trying to size out a pump. I am going to have roughly 28 square feet of DWC and about 16 square feet of an ebb and flow media bed. What size pump do you guys think I should get? Or better yet, what kind of flow do I need for each and I can work it backwards from there. Thanks in advance!!! you guys have been great so far!

Your using a syphon so your pump is going to be running constantly,so size the pump to turn over the fish tank once per hour,then your feed out split between the media bed and your DWC,both will act as bio filtration,the DWC more so with air added,ideally the dwc should be turned over once per hour to once every four hours.When you size the pump go on the generous side so as to have a little spare as it won’t matter if you turn the fish tank over up to twice per hour.
Personally i would go with colums suggestion of feeding the media first then drain into the DWC,the air in the dwc will replace what has been used by the media bed,this also has the benefit of adding oxygenated water back into the sump and then back to the fish tank.