Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been approached by someone who has a large ornamental fish pond and that would like to use the principles of aquaponics and add a few grow beds to help filter the water and grow some vegetables. But, the pond is very large, and there is not enough funds to get the right amount of growbeds. So I'm concerned that there won't be enough nitrates in the water.

Can you compensate for the lack of nitrate in the water by making water run faster through the system?
Has anyone tried this?

I've got a large amount of fish tank in comparison to grow bed space, plants still grow very happily. I still don't have nitrate readings in my system. The plants just use them up before there is enought to show up on a test.

Running the water faster won't do that much of a difference.

Just make sure the fish stocking rate matches what filtration there is available.

Bacteria will be in the water and on all the surfaces already.
If the pond is already up and running, you can only help the filtration by adding growbeds. Having too few isn't an issue when there are currently none. (assuming you're not adding more fish/ food)

I agree with Stonewall on this one. Since this is not a ground up build. As long as the pond owner is not already running into filtration issues. Like Colum said make sure there is enough filtration before the GBs so they don't clog. Especially if the owner is thinking of running DWCs. With that being said. There is a lot to be desired with the info we have been given up to this point. What are you considering a "large" pond? What type of fish? And how many? Feeding rate, along with what he is currently using as a filtration system. The answers to these questions could help us give advise that could save the owner money now or disappointment later. For instance Koi guys more often than not run really good filtration systems. That could be tapped into for aquaponic needs. Saving money by not building more filtration.