Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello, I've been thinking about starting an aquaponics system for some time and when I saw a killer deal on a greenhouse and some IBCs I figure there is no time like the present. The green house is 80' x 30' and the plan is to do one side with wicking beds and the other with aquaponic media and, DWC beds with a few vertical towers here and there. Here is what I have so far, Four midea beds, six wicking beds and four 5' vertical towers with 88 strawberry plants. I don't have pics of the wicking beds or towers but here is the other stuff. Also I have a question for y'all I don't have fish in the tank yet but I poured a little fish emulsion ferterlizer in there to get the plants started they love it. Did I screw up? Will need to change the water before I get fish?

Welcome to the forum WILD MAN

Looks like you've been busy

As far as the fish emulsion is concerned, it should be ok unless you added way more than I think you did. Do you have a brand name that could be looked up?

https://apps4.cdfa.ca.gov/fertilizerproducts/

Looking good. I can't a small amount of fish emulsion would do much harm. I wouldn't worry. I your greenhouse a kit, or did bend the hoops yourself?

What's in those beds? Looks like Japanese plum trees.

The fertilizer I used was Alaska Fish Fertilizer 5-1-1. I couldn't find anything about it on the link thanks scotty435. The greenhouse is a used one I found on creigslist. I got the hoops, plastic and, ground cover a fraction of the cost of a new green house. I added the vertical posts so I would have roll-up sides for ventilation. I actually went up pretty easy. So anybody thinking about this kind of greenhouse don't be scared, they are alot easer than they look.

Just type alaska fish fertilizer in the blank for "product name" hit enter or the next button on screen and then it will come up. Looks fine though.

It should be fine. I would test pH, ammonia and such first before adding. If everything is fine, I'd add the fish. If you want to be double sure you could do a partial water change.

It's really up to you.

I have tomatoes eggplants peppers cabbage broccoli and collared greens

You don't go small!

How big are you planning?

Well you know what they say " Go big or go home " eventually I hope to fill the entire greenhouse

You might fine it'll end up cheaper building the beds you'd want for the length of the grow house. You can build wider and longer beds that'll be easier to manage than a hundred IBC's.

They are just a box that you can line with pond liner, can make them from wood, or whatever.

Unless he has a really good source for IBC's. Shop around for uniseals too. I used these guys, and they have good prices/seals. http://www.aussieglobe.com/

Yes that is the plan, I am going to build the DWC beds like that but the grow media is so expensive I'm using expanded clay that is proudced at a plant about an hour from me It is costing about $50 a bed witch is much cheeper than Hydraton but that's still alot of money. I can't afford to fill a large grow bed all at once.




Thanks for the link, I found these a little cheaper and I'm thinking about ordering my fish here too. I plan to get Blue Tilapia. Do you know a better place to get fish?

http://alliedaqua.com/uniseals-affordab ... MgodJCUAIQ

How many blues do you need? I sell reds whites and blues.... how patriotic?

Holy smoke that is huge!. I would love to be able to build something that size but my landlord is a bit of a tool.