Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So I finally is starting to get into first gear with my system. In about a week or 2 I am buying my fish tank. I am looking at a 550 gallon, white tank or a 305 gallon black tank, both are the same price. the White tank is a liquid storage tank, the black tank is "safe or drinking water storage tank" I like the idea of the 550g tank due to the size and since its safe for liquids pretty sure it will suit for a fish tank. However it being white like the IBC tanks, I was thinking of painting it black to help prevent algae grow. The FT will be under a lean too type structure to help keep the sun off it since I am in south texas and well its HOT, so I plan to shade a bunch with permanent structure. So ideas should I use the 550g or the 305g both are on Tractor supply website if you want to look at them. Also I plan to plumb in this way. fish tank to swirl filter, swirl filter to radial flow filter, radial flow filter to sump, sump to grow beds. So do yall think the two filters for solids is too much? This is my plans so far more to come when I start to build. With pics as well. ENJOY the DREAM is finally starting to come to light.

So quick up date....The white 550g tank is safe for drinking water, the black tank is for "water only" and the white tank can be used for drinking water or other "chemicals". Anyhow so I am thinking about getting the 550g white tank and paint it black to prevent algae growth. Would yall agree with this or just use a type of "wrap" to wrap the tank vs painting the outside black.

Hiya ballardjr, from what I've read black thank, although are generally uv stabilised unlike white plastic, are not ideal as seeing the fish is difficult. Personally I'd wrap the tank to add insulation to maintain water temps. Are they round tanks?
Personally I'd go from sump to ft to gbs. As for filters, it's your call but remember filters mean more maintenance. Add a filter by all means but if you can plumb it so you can bypass it if required. I've plumbed my filter out and love the fact that all I need to do now is harvest, feed and occasionally top up.

yes both tanks are round thanks for the advice as I am in the planning and purchasing phase of everything and getting excited about starting to build soon, especially since I FINALLY got the green light from wifey. And I am liking the idea of the white tank and wrapping it to block sun and insulate it.

I spray painted white 55gal drums with black matte and the algae cleared right up. I will say that it works well. I am, however, a novice. Wrapping might be just as good or better, depending on what you plan for the water to accomplish.

so quick question probably long answer, but I am looking to run some dutch buckets for dwarf fruit trees, the question I have is does the water just flow through and drain out the media or is it a drip setup drain out, or flood drain setup?

I would do some research into what type of watering the trees prefer. I've never grown using dutch buckets before, but I've seen setups with tomatoes and peppers and they used flood and drain. It might not matter though.

Thanks nils I plan on seeing how much water the trees like and go from there I am in the planning and purchasing phase right now, my first purschase is the FT which is 550g round tank. Which I am either going to paint black on the side or wrap to help the alage growth.

So while planning I am looking to do a SLO or solid lift overflow, would it be best to use a standard straight line and the bottom of the tank, or a T in the tank or even X it in the bottom. I am worried that if I do a T or X in the bottom that I won't have much suction to pull up the solids but just doing a straight across I have dead zones of no suction

Picked up the fish tank yesterday and got 2 55gallon blue barrels for my filter setup I'll post pics later when I actually start the build I went with the 550g white tank and going to wrap it. My dream is finally starting off

I prefer to have a SLO with a single point pickup at the bottom of the tank and located in the center if the tank is round so that it helps maintain the flow pattern. I used to have a pipe across the bottom but found that the fish would hide under the pipe making it difficult to see what was going on. I also have a single point SLO pickup in an IBC setup but this is located in the corner of the tank and seems to work OK.

Thanks scotty that's what I am probally going to do just keep it simple and see how it goes. I should have plenty of flow in the tank to move the debrie to get picked up. I am starting to get real excited since I got some components to start the build soon. Little by little but trying not to break the bank also so momma don't get mad.

Might want to check out Tori's system - first photo on page 3 shows a large round tank with a SLO going out and down in the middle. You can find my description on how I set up a screen on mine (page4 of her thread) and Tori's interpretation on page 5 - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=21202&hilit=SLO+net&start=60

Thanks scotty I REALLY LIKE that design and setup its very clean for SLO. Cant wait to get to building here soon I hope and I will post pics once I get started.

Also I plan to plumb in this way. fish tank to swirl filter, swirl filter to radial flow filter, radial flow filter to sump, sump to grow beds. So do yall think the two filters for solids is too much? This is my plans so far more to come when I start to build. With pics as well. ENJOY the DREAM is finally starting to come to light.

You won't need the swirl filter, so Fish Tank>Radial Flow Settler>Static Upflow>Growbeds>Sump. You need to add a MT tank to remineralise the solids collected from the filters.