Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So it's been about a year since I have really been on here and I finally got around to constructing my system within the last couple of weeks. So far it seems to be progressing as I expected. The pH in the system is currently fairly high (9.0+) but the ten comet goldfish i put in to help cycle the system seem to have no worries so far. Phosphates are still low (-.25 ppm) and nitrites are still pretty much zero.

As I understand it, it seems that the plants will rely more on the nitrites/nitrates and phosphates for their growth so I may have been a bit premature to add two small grape tomato plants to the system. They cost me $4 so i figured, "what the hell!?". Ill include some pictures of what I got so far.

The system uses a 100 gallon fish tank and a 50 gallon grow bed using largely lava rock as media as well as large aquarium gravel in the planters. I plan on filling the two vertical columns seen in the picture with some ceramic media purchased from the fish store (used in canister filters) to minimize the obstruction of the water flow and still give the strawberry plants I plan to plant in the side of the tubes something to hold on to.

The pump I am using is a submersible fountain pump that pumps 1250 gpm which seems to be maybe just a tad on the strong side for the system but appears to be working out.

I plan on replacing the goldfish with Mozambique Tilapia once the system seems to be fully cycled and will add a tank heater with a thermostat to keep the water warm during the winter. Will probably add a green house on top of it as well to extend the growing season.

You should probably drop your water level a bit in the GB. Why are you planting in the separate pots and not right in your lava rock? That pump is on the large side. I think its a 1250 gallon per hour and no minute. It's still pumping way more then you need, but you can always expand! Stick in some greens while your cycling and you'll get good results. Add some Rootmagic or maxicrop also. Good luck!

Unfortunately the pump is not variable flow to reduce the water level. I'm using the pots with the gravel sure to concerns that the sharp lava rock could damage delicate roots plus the gravel made for easy planting. The plants have already visibly grown in the three days they have been in the system. Very exciting! Expansion is certainly a possibility in the future. This is all trial and error so I may have made a few mistakes so far but really I am overall quite satisfied so far!

So an update. I ended up reducing the pump quite a bit down to a 540 gph submersible pump after trying a 1200 before that. The water level in the growbed is now before the lava rock which I am considering a good thing because the doing leaves and future fruit well not be sitting in the water. I'm also hoping this reduces evaporation as I am already experiencing it and it is not even summer temperatures yet!
I placed some funneling Mozambique tilapia in the system two days ago, doing fine so far with no casualties other then some plecos I placed in there for algae control.
Sone if the plants were beginning to yellow and a quick Google search digested the pH was to high (9.0) so I added a tablespoon of vinegar to the system and managed to drop it around .5 over night.
I also ended up removing the vertical grow tubes as they were supporting water out of the system even with the smaller pump. They were also kind of an eye sore on my patio. The strawberries are just growing in pots like the rest of them now. Other then the yellowing the plants have had pretty good growth up till now!

looks great. Where did you find the black plastic tubs?

Rubbermaid agricultural troughs. Got them at tractor supply.

The planters are just cheap plastic one's fringe Lowe's

Hello all,
I don't know if any of you are interested in meeting a AP person from Australia or not but I will be arriving in Fort Worth on 21st of May and would be interested in meeting a few American counter parts while there.

awesome thanks for that info on TSC and Rubbermaid

If you still wanted to grow strawberries I would place them in a NFT. Basically use a 3" pvc pipe with 2" holes cut in it Use 2" net pots to house your strawberry plants and enjoy. These could be attached to the back side of your stand to keep it aesthetically pleasing. It would however require a little more filtration so that the solids did not build up on the plant roots. But depending on how many fish you are stocking you may want to look at that anyway.

Hi,

I notice your system is outside, how are you dealing with the heat and cold?

Thanks,

JD

I'm using a 300 watt aquarium heater

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My system is a bit experimental, should I have issues keeping the system warm I will insert some insulative panels into the system