Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone, I am Andrew. I am a Mechanical Engineer and gardening is my favorite form of exercise. At this point in time I am still in the research and planning stage for my first system.

Thanks in advance for the IBCofAquaponics. Having that guide to flip through when I was first considering if this was something I wanted to do, made it easy to get a broad overview of the ins and outs and that it was something I would be able to take on. It looks like it is going to get me most of the way to where I need to be before I start sacrificing goldfish to the system. It also looks like there is a pretty active community, I hope that someday I can contribute something other than questions.

I have a couple quick questions

1) Can anyone recommend any good podcasts or YouTube feeds on Aquaponics?
2) Is anyone using PLCs in their system?
3) Is there anyone in Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto/Fresno parts of California? I am interested in what type of fish you are using.


Thanks in advance and see you online.

Welcome to the forum Andrew!

I'm not sure about the first two questions (what's a plc anyway?) but, I'm in the central valley and have grown bluegill, catfish and a certain cichlid that will remain unnamed. Catfish would be my suggestion, koi if you are just wanting to harvest the veggies. You could check out the freshwater fish company at freshwaterfishco.com they're in elk grove.

Welcome to the forum!

On the YouTube side of things, Bigelow Brook Farm is a good example of a large planned and purpose-built system including geodesic dome greenhouse: https://www.youtube.com/user/web4deb/videos

and Bits Out The Back is smaller, with more of a 'use what you can get' feel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bnbob01/videos

Both give you a really good look at the mechanics of the whole thing and have some excellent how-to videos.

Thank you - do you keep the fish through the winter? What steps do you have to take to keep the water from getting too cold if you do?

A PLC is a Programmable Logic Controller. - http://www.automationdirect.com/clickplcs/index


Mel - thank you for the YouTube suggestions.

Yes, I keep fish year round. The hardy species like catfish don't have too much trouble with the cold as long as the tank doesn't freeze. The tropicals that aren't harvested have to go into an indoor ras.

For the plc... Look at chumanfu's Arduino thread it covers pretty much all the bases including the some code if i remember correctly

Andrew, Welcome to the club!

'nother Sacramento gardener here, playing with a single IBC system in midtown.
It's been 2 winters so far with Bluegill and Channel Cats (from Freshwater Fish), no problems with the temps getting too low. The only thing I've done to modify water temperature is change the timing of circulating water through the growbed and towers. In winter I pump all day, and only one or two 15 minute periods overnight. The fish just slow down while it's cold is all.

My only control is a basic electrical timer that lives in a weatherproof irrigation box on the side of the IBC.

When the time comes, and if Midtown is convenient I can offer you some innoculated media/shadecloth/system water to jump start cycling if you like.

Cheers!

various bits on this forum, couple threads that focus on arduino and few that look at other stuff.
Just need to browse around - that is easier to say than do.
electronics and electrical is place to start viewforum.php?f=50
but AP does ot have to be that complex unless you want to make it so.

another reference after the ABCof aquaponics is the FAO Small System AP.
It covers next step IBC systems and things like DWC's fairly well.
get PDF or web based here > http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4021e/index.html

but when starting out you might find for first year at least KISS is best.

I am curious!!!

don't name it, but got any hints???

a species that YOU can grow and eat legally and I can raise in an aquarium/hobby system, but is illegal for me to raise if i plan to eat them.

Perfect. Exactly the info I needed.

Thanks for the offer Nate. I'm hopefully moving out to Orangevale to a place with a half acre... mid town is still close enough that it might work out. I'll be in touch after I move.

I have nothing on the plc thing, but i am in davis with goldfish in an ibc. Unfortunately, my goldfish aren't doing very well at the moment as most of them have died. I am uncertain if it is disease or temperature/ph combo. Mostly feeder comets so who knows. I have them in there with some mosquitofish which are doing quite well. I did get the mosquitofish for free from the vector control people (they even deliver if you claim to have still water on the property) so if youre looking for some low rent ammonia thats an option.