Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, I'm brand new to aquaponics with lots of experience as a gardener and aquarist. Combining the two interests seems perfect.

I currently have 55 tilapia growing out in a a backyard pond with lots of plants in the pond, including harvested mint, dock and cress. I use pond water to augment garden watering, especially when cleaning up the pond bottom or filters. My fish also eat some of my cress and dock, they don't seem interested in mint.

This year I decided to stock my pond with tilapia instead of goldfish and planned to bring them into our basement for the winter. I'm most concerned about increased humidity in the space (though I can vent using our wine cellar climate control equipment). And, of course there is the threat of a cosmic pond failure which would unleash 700 gallons of water into my heretofore dry basement.

On the other hand, I'm looking forward to having more than a few fresh herbs to tend during the winter months and plan a big fish fry to celebrate my January birthday with home raised tilapia.

My initial ~50 lbs of fish will have a pretty high price tag, but at least Since I know what the fish ate, I will know what I'm eating.

I will post my system plan soon, so watch for it and don't hesitate to offer constructive changes.

Thanks, Pat

Welcome to the forum! Looking forward to seeing your plan. I suppose you will be using growlights?

Yes, I will be using grow lights. I had been looking at using LEDs, but hadn't made a final choice yet. Reading posts on this site, I'm reconsidering fluorescents as an less cost entry point.

Hi. I'm new here too. Have you considered a 1 or 2 IBC tanks of the inside and move just the fish, filters and pump? Unlikely to leak in the basement.

I actually purchased the tilapia with the idea of setting up a winter garden. I usually take in fragile plants and my most often used herbs, but really miss getting food from the garden when I cook. I'm actually a transplanted Californian, where I had ponds, a garden and fruit ripening year round. Aquaponics can let me do that in the winter here if I'm successful in my set up.

To get a jump start, I will be transferring plants, fish, and their water from the outside system to shorten the cycling time. I will be adding worms and like the suggestion of using seaweed tonic to boost the process.

I considered using the IBCs, but here's where my girlie part comes out... I also like to decorate and our basement is set up with a wine themed lounge outside my husbands wine cellar, so I want the aquaponics to "blend in". Also, just in case I decide this is all too much work and not enough fun, I want most of my materials to be reuse able in our outdoor landscape. Given I live in a two family condo with very minimal outdoor space, there is no way I'd be allowed to place an IBC outside.

My husband says I never do things the easy way!

I would use one of those plastic/fiberglass pond setups to make it match into your decor. Sounds like quite a fun challenge! Regardless of grow lights you pick, make sure you can easily raise and lower since both fluorescent and led need to be pretty close to your growing plants. I would choose ahead of time which crops you want to grow since that dictates a lot of the requirements...

Eddie,

Thanks for your info and phone consult. I'm almost done with the system build and will try to post a pic at end of day tomorrow. Your info was really useful.

I'm very excited about "gardening" in my basement all winter. As a former San Diegan, winters in New England are difficult. Aquaponics may be my solution.

Pat

Good luck and please share with us what you end up using. As always we are here to help support you...

And thanks for the great conversation - always fun to learn what other folks are up to with aquaponics!

Welcome. I like this, "cosmic pond failure" a lot.

I would make sure you have a dehumidifier handy. Don't be lulled into thinking it won't be a problem because "winter air is dry air". After running a small AP system (< 30 gallons) for about a month I definitely could smell mold in the basement and had to shut her down.

Same with ours in the Winter as it is attached to our house with French Doors which we left open all Winter. Mold showed up on the other side of the house which it never has before. We thought, no, New Mexico is dry, and adding a little moisture to the air will be a good thing. We've changed the way our house is ventilated (somewhat drastically) and we're hoping for a mold free Winter here.

Thanks for the mold cautions. It is my main concern as I believe I've covered the other risks sufficiently. I'm employing an alarm/monitor for leaks, power outage, and humidity level. We are prepared to alter the air flow quickly if humidity does become a problem by venting through the adjacent wine cellar to the outdoors.

Thanks!

Thanks for the mold cautions. It is my main concern as I believe I've covered the other risks sufficiently. I'm employing an alarm/monitor for leaks, power outage, and humidity level. We are prepared to alter the air flow quickly if humidity does become a problem by venting through the adjacent wine cellar to the outdoors.

Thanks!

Here's the work in progress!

Nice layout. What's happening in the front of the beds?

Not sure if you mean in front of the racks of grow beds... That is the fish tank area. It is approximately 3' wide by 12' long and 3' deep. The racks stand within the space, wearing PVC galoshes.

The front of the fish tank is a block wall with rebar and wiring for stability. The oval sections in front were necessary design features to ensure the water pressure was supported across the 12' width. The larger one on the left of the pic, will hold the barrel of ready replacement water (some water prep is required during a Massachusetts winter) in a 55 gal barrel. It also holds all the excess power cables and alarm system.

The oval at the center prevents the whole kitten caboodle from falling forward. In addition, there will be a seat here to enjoy fish watching. And since the cavity I'd a cool, dry space, I will store the fish food here.

The face of the rock wall will have succulents planted on it watered (and fed) by using pond water to mist the wall during regular tank maintenance.

I added water today, 1/3 propagated pond water and 2/3 conditioned tap water, to the fish tank only. It will take me another week to work out the kinks in my grow bed outflows. So I will be starting by using an auxiliary pump to circulate water and provide filtration. ( The same one currently supporting the fish in the outside pond.)

I need to bring the fish in as nights here are already quite cold.