Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok so I wanted to get an idea on what to get myself, an I got a quote for "everything", as they put it at Aquaponics WA.



Aqua Corg Bed Stand Tank Kit
Aqua Corg Bed 150x90x25cm 270L
Aqua Corg Stand 150x90x25cm
Expand Clay Lg 8-16mm 50L
Pressure Filter PM PF4500
AirPump Pond Max Diaphragm Set
AirStone BLUE BALL 50mm
Tube Micro 4mm Lm
Micro Adaptor 4mm Thread
Bacteria Sachet 22.5g 8,000L
Freshwater 5 in 1 Test Kit API
Tube Flex 19mm Lm
Elbow 19mm E34
Tee 19mm T34
Pond Vacuum Pro + Al Pole

Aquaponic Gardening Idiot's Guide


EXTRA TRAY, STAND AND EXPANDED CLAY

http://www.hydroponicxpress.com.au/uplo ... 428169.jpg
what do people think ?

Can you think of anything els I need, or in place of what I am ordering from backyard?....Will I be able to grow reasonable levels of fish in such a system?

cheers guys.

[oops, stuffed that up - edited reply instead of new post, this was original text put back]

>> Will I be able to grow reasonable levels of fish in such a system?
The fish tank size and volume is not mentioned ?? That will be the limiting factor to your question I suspect if grow beds are only 270L.

25cm is a bit shallow IMO - but it will/can work. I would prefer 300mm (30cm).

Have a look at the BYAP systems (Cheidys Jandakot) and compare what you get from each before making final decision.

Also note that there was a second hand BYAP 2 bed system going a while ago - thread in the for sale section.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=26270
might be up for offers...

ok its 1100 lt's litre tank (1500x600mm)
2 x 1500x900x250mm Beds

$3487

I looked at that second hand setup for sale.

So that is 2 grow beds, 270L media, about 1.3m2 each, and a 1100L fish tank, right?

That sounds about the same size as a 2 IBC tote system: one 1000L FT, two 1.2m x 1m IBC halves.
There should be some good information about how many fish those with this common arrangement
can produce and how well a system that size works. There is a lot of information about IBC systems
at the IBCofAquaponics site: http://ibcofaquaponics.com/ and the nice book, The IBC of Aquaponics,
http://ibcofaquaponics.com/files/IBCofAquaponics.pdf .

The Fish Stocking advice found on page 12 of The IBC of Aquaponics book suggests 20-25 fish for
every 500L of growbed media (for growing up to 400-500g plate-sized fish) and they are talking
about a 1000L FT system that is very similar in size to the one you're talking about.

So then the question is, do you think 20-25 fish dinners every 7 or 8 months is reasonable?

25cm is a bit shallow IMO - but it will/can work. Personally I would prefer 300mm (30cm).
People with too shallow GB's usually have more issues (various threads on that one).
Also grow bed wet volume is more important than total volume and as you are in Perth you will have to keep water levels down at least 5cm to keep evaporation at a minimum and your usually wont get media to the very top. 300mm helps there.

$3487 for any packaged AP is a pretty high cost, so be a bit patient and do the homework.
Definitely visit Cheidys in Jandakot first.
So at least you have made an informed decision when/if you bite the bullet.

I would also be keeping one thought on how any expansion might work for your situation.
Your other threads suggest you have some aspirations that may require multiple FT's.

Not helpful I know, but IMO for that money I would be looking for a bigger circular FT and evaluate a few more grow bed options. You will get many more fish dinners that way.

[edit] 20-25 could be pushing it for a 1100L/540L system. Wet media volume will only be 400-450L.
Stocking rate would be a question I would ask if/when visiting BYAP/Cheidy's - they will give you an honest answer for each likely fish species.

What kind of fish do you want to stock?

I'll throw in my 2 cents for what it's worth...

We started our AP journey 12 months ago. I really knew very little past watching a few videos. I'd never kept any kind of fish, therefore while AP amazed me, I was worried how to set it up or perhaps more to the point, didn't want to take a risk with the fish by setting up something dodgy.

I'm also of the opinion if you're going to spend a reasonably large amount of cash on something that you don't skimp and you do it once and do it right.

So like you are thinking, we pulled the trigger on a kit. While certainly on the expensive side it DID take some of my inexperience out of the equation.

The kit was close to $3000, one 300L grow bed with media, one 1000L tank and it was all plug and play. Pumps, plumbing etc. (no extra Filtration)
Supplier recommended stocking density of 20 trout or 30 silvers. Based on wet media equation I found here I worked out only 12 trout tho... $3000 is alot for us to spend on 12 fish I thought.... (for a family of 7).

I was immediately 'hooked' and wanted to expand and that's where stuff fell apart. Said kit supplier could not supply any more grow beds (and the one we got wasn't great to begin with once I had lived with it for a while).in fact they actually discontinued the kit immediately after some of my complaints to them (coincidence?).

If you read my build thread you'll see we recently expanded by buying some 2nd hand gear. Here's the difference.....

Total cost - almost identical to the 'kit' we bought and that included a small amount to an experienced APer to help us set it all up.
2000l round tank - $535 Inc delivery
FOUR grow beds and plumbing (with media but that came from the person I purchased the grow beds from) .$1500

I'm gonna guess I have a little over 2000L media now. Inc some labour and some extra bits and bobs total cost was nigh identical to the kit. With the amount of media we now have plus adding some extra filtration I believe our stocking rate will be a little more impressive than 12 fish!

The kit route wasn't all bad, I certainly learnt alot. We ate fish and alot of veg so by that measure it was successful but I'm not one to do things by half. I'm also happy to now have 2 tanks and the ability to stock ALOT more fish (and produce a crap load more vegie) however we've now spent $6000 to get where we are.

If I had taken some time to learn more and just wait or find the components I could've saved alot but my Mrs didn't like the IBC 'look' so she pulled the trigger on the kit before I had got past my 1st video so I didn't get a choice there. I have to thank her though because without her I'd probably only just be starting to our build now lol that said I could've saved us $3000 too.... Which is alot in anyone's language.

So I would highly recommend looking at what type fish, how many you think you want to run and how much veg you want. If you've got the coin to spend on the kit perhaps just take a look at other options. The kit route will be easier initially but be sure you can expand it.

I'm not trying to do anyone out of any business here,the kits can be worth the $$ in taking the inexperience out of the equation but I was left disappointed from our kit supplier (no one from WA this was an East coast operation) and the kit itself.

With some help from an experienced Aquapon, we've now built a system that's WAAAAY better than the kit, stocks more fish and veg for the same cost as the kit....

Another way to do it might be to buy a small kit making sure you can expand when ready....

Anyways... Happy to answer any other questions you may have. Hope I haven't offended any of the company's that make these kits, they have to make some $$ too and I don't begrudge them of that. If my Mrs had given our requirements to said kit supplier (ie we want to feed 7 ppl as much as we can from it) then we would've been sold a bigger system over what we had which was only big enough to feed one person but then a kit like that would've cost us alot more... Probably more than what I've spent between the 2 system to date.

thank you guys for all the advice an help. It has really changed my mind 180. I'll go see chiedys on 6th when they open an see what happens. My main thing is I want it to be brought round an installed running. I dont have time or health these days to do much in way of bending etc (25 years at sea took its toll)....

I am starting to see the "you can grow 25 fish in this is a bit of a scam. ok so after showing missus all this info it seems she is not "against IBC" as such but I have a feeling if I dont make it look good I am gonna hear about it for a LOOOOOONG time lol.

It has helped massively all this in that I am now gonna take my time an do it right the first time.
As for fish, well I wanted to do Marron, but it seems thats not practical so....

Barra maybe...

Hehehe... Show this Missus IceMan's Father's IBC tote system and that should seal the deal...

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13291



Of course, that could be a path you really don't want to go down! The end result sure is pretty though.

wow mate that looks amazing I understand very little about IBC though. so no idea how to even go about them. I am not DIY in any way lol. SO I will have to ask the places if they make IBC systems or not.If you look in the pic you will see where I want to put the system so I am limited in size.

http://i64.tinypic.com/34o91f8.jpg

So left hand side would be the main tanks an growbeds., right hand side would be for an expansion oir be it a small one.

length of area is 5800 cm
Width at front is is 4800 cm

So I have room, but not for anything as grand as what you guys seem to have....Sadly I cant put it in main area thats under color-bond, but ya gotta make do with what ya got:).

Remember that you listed a pressure filter and I assume that would remove solids and thus allow greater fish stocking density..

I am experimenting with a system with. Over 100 fish in 2000L of water, and no (effective) grow beds, and so it IS possible to push the norms and recommended limits, if you are happy to work harder removing solids

And, a thought... go find Sydney Chick's thread..
She has progressed from knowing a limited amount about IBCs, through to building her system up.
Many "How Do I..." questions are asked and answered..

And do read the IBC of Aquaponics .... top right hand of screen..
.

thanks mate doing both now. cheers

+1 for second hand systems. Like viewtopic.php?f=10&t=26270
Setting up yourself is half the fun, except the digging hole bit oh and the washing gravel bit...
Plenty peeps around here on the forum happy to help an AP noob set up.

yer I looked at that, too big for the area I am using sadly ....Or els Id have bought it.
what I need at moment is to somehow work out what I can have in that area in pic, At moment I am a little disillusioned as nothing seems to fit there. Unless I just have 1 IBC which is pointless......

What I would like is to have 304 4 IBC,s linked with growbeds on top. But for life of me I dont see how to do such a thing in any way with the area I have.

I reckon it's very steep for what it is... Go to Cheidy's/BYAP, their 2 bed system is about the same price but the beds are WAY bigger like double the size, so you get WAY more expanded clay and hence can have more fish. You get proper hot galv dipped stands, real pvc pipework and fittings rather than cheap black trickle pipe and push on fittings. It's built down to a price, yet costs a lot, Cheidy's/BYAP system is built to the highest standards.. Far superior product...

They will happily install and their after sales service is exceptional. Buy from the people who have their own systems at home in their own backyards..

(and I'm allowed to talk it up since I no longer own the shop.. )

hehe yer my main reason I hesitate about them is the cost of installation. 7-800$ to install is alot when I am already paying $3.5k...But I have not ruled it out...That system I just looked at is 1000 ltr tank. Everyone said that wasn't worth it for price an I should be using 2-3k lt tanks.. So now I am confused as to what I should be using for cost...