Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi

My daughter and I recently started with aquaponics - our first system was a barrel - 1/4 GB and 3/4 FT - in 2014. We tried a few different plants and also managed to kill 6 of the 10 tilapia's while out of town and the pump failed.

We then migrated in 2015 to a 1000Lt IBC FT, with 3x GB (cut from damaged IBC), hybrid radial/swirl filter (repurposed barrel FT) and 2x 500lt sump. It is stocked with 22 tilapia in FT and 4 gold fish (mosquito deterrent in sump) - as our water table is very high the sumps are above ground - with GB and FT supported on blocks.

It's a modified CHOP system with pumps in sumps, SLO in FT with parallel gravity feed to GB and filter. An air pump add oxygen to the FT.

We're quite happy with the produce of beans, lettuce, spring onions, basil to name a few. Still experimenting with types. - trying beetroot in the GB now.

Some pests (landmeterruspe) seems to enjoy the greens as well - but kept in check by mechanical picking and feeding to fish - a win-win situation.

Future plans include a wind cover/green house over FT & GB, and expansion with vertical towers - and some rudimentary logging of key parameters for science. Also need to start own seedlings as this is currently highest visible cost. Also looking at fly larwe as supplementary food source for fish.

Getting momentum to set up pilot plant at school for STEM education.

At the moment most of the produce is consumed by family and friends.

(needs to resize pictures - will post more later)

Geniet!

Pieter

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Hi to you both..
Looking forward to some photos,.


WELCOME to BYAP..
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Hi Pieter - what is that grow medium? Almost looks like Gravel / sand. I am in Hout Bay - Also trying to educate on the advantages of AP.
Cheers
Will

Hi Will - good to now. Yes - the pilot plant needed ~ 20mm of gravel - I scooped it from my wife's zen garden and probably did not washed it.

Some added photo's

some more pics-

a few more

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Did I see a galvanized pipe, in the photo about blockages and worms..
Just be aware that ZINC may be an issue for some fish..
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Hi - no - it's only a zoomed in image of normal thin wall 16mm Dia. black plastic irrigation pipe connected to right angle fitting. The fitting was fastened to a pipe just below the gravel surface to minimize algae growth. The right angle and intermittent flow (timer control) allowed fis gwack to presipitate and the earth worms went for it.

In the IBC system the pipe is replaced with 40mmDia pvc pipe, with ~ 20-100mm gap between outlet and GB - to minimize splash (wind) and evaporation a loose 40mm funnel pipe guide the water to the GB - this is easily removed to check flow and keep splash to minimum.


Regards,