Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

This is my first post! Yay!

Anyway, today I started my little totally recycled system. Let me know what you think, critiques welcome.

The plan is that it'll be a continual flow, draining through overflow standpipes.

I got some plastic drums (Um...25l I think) and cut them in half with the angle grinder. I've attached some garden hose (I accidently chopped it with a lawnmower) through a drilled hole for standpipes and sealed it with sillicone which is leftover from the bathroom reno. The top level has 5 drums for plants.

The stand is made from old pallet wood. It has a wire pot plant stand under it for the next lower level (its all going to be gravity drained) I have two 25l drums on that second level with just their tops cut off, I'm hoping to put 2 pairs of yabbies in there, one pair in each drum.

Below that is a 120l drum with just a hole cut into one side (its laying down) I'm hoping to put some fish in there.

The pump is a recycled job from our marine fish tank. Its a pretty big tank and the pump is about 5000l/h one. It was too noisy for inside the house so it has been replaced and will go outside into the aquaponics setup.

Its all been made from recycled stuff and its actually been pretty quick. Its not running yet as I only started today and I'm waiting for the silicone to dry. It was also all FREE! Gotta love that

So... what do you think?

BTW I found this forum AFTER I started so I'm building it pretty much from what I remember (and have imagined) from a segment on gardening Australia a few months back!

Now for the questions!...Nah, I'll hit you with them after I've done some more reading of the forums

I'll get photos when and IF it runs LOL

Imogen XOX

Welcome imy

I like it already!

Careful with the silicon you use as many have a fungicide in them that may harm your fish

That is the best stuff!

Any chance for pics?

LOL... sheesh... cracking the whip already! No pics until the silicone is set and its all up on its stand. I don't have any gravel yet so I might back my little hatch back up to the garden centre tomorrow (with tarp) and say 'fill 'er up!' It shouldn't take too much.

Just checked the silicone, its the cheap stuff... no fungicide LOL

I'll hit you with some questions :p
How many fish/what kind for that size drum? (120l)

Will my yabby pairs mate in a 25l drum or will they just eat each other?

Imogen XOX

bostik make roof and gutter sealant that is water potable to AS:4020 tradelink has it on the shelf.

i've had yabbies mate in a 2ft aquarium

WOW! Sweet... bring on the sexy yabbies! Assuming they mate... will they eat their young? I'm just wondering if I should be thinking about an isolation tank for hungry parents.

So any guesses about what might be appropriate fish for this little setup?

Imogen XOX

Hi Imy, good to see you made it onto the group. You might want to start with something simple like goldfish or mollies. And make sure when you get your yabbies that you sex them.. I'd hate to see you sitting waiting for them to breed without the right sexes in the tank, not that I have a problem with same sex couples, but you might be waiting a while for babies...

And yes, once the female is berried (with eggs under her tail) take out the male, then when her eggs have hatched and you have young ones, take the mother out..

Hi Imogen,

Welcome!

The yabbies should be happy but I would give them places to hide or they might eat each other when they moult. As for the babies, yep, they'll eat 'em! There is a thread about breeding yabbies / marron on the forum.

Can't help with the fish, I only have goldfish at the moment but the others will give you some ideas.

Thanks!
Hmm... perhaps I should start with ONE pair then I have a spare tank to chuck the adults in when they have done their thing.
I have a friend who catches yabbies and she's all up with their sexes and how to tell one from the other.

I guess I'll start with goldfish. We have a couple of decorative ponds out front so they will have a home if I ever decide to go with a different kind of fish later on. They are packed with duckweed from the native birds so I was stoked to read that the fish will get into that. Will I have to suppliment it with anything? Like fish flakes or anything?

I'm loving looking at all of your setups... mine is the true definition of dodgy and I've been contemplating if my hoses will be able to cope with the amount of flow from the pump... I hope so, time will tell.

So, is anyone growing tomatoes out of season? I'd love to have a crack at that!

Imogen XOX

Tommies will definately grow more out of season in an AP system than in the ground, but they still don't set fruit really well when it's cold, unless you have a greenhouse..

AHA! I see.

I have a few plants at the corner of the house where I chucked a squishy tomato about 5 years ago so maybe this year is just mild enough to do it?

SO what does everyone have the most success with? Keeping in mind that it'll be a flooded system (no root plants I guess?)

Does anyone else have a system like mine I wonder? I have browsed some of the members systems but haven't really seen one like mine.

Imogen XOX

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... php?t=1380

hi and welcome. Check ou the link to the thread above for plants that people are having success with

Thanks so much!

Oh geez, I've read so much I think my brain will explode. Onto the next thread! If you hear a pop....


Imogen XOX

yes and then try to start seperating ,the baby yabbies because they like all animals, survival of the fittest.....
yabbies are cannabalistic and the larger yabbies will dominat....

We really need to see a picture of your system before knowing who's system it is similar too... There are a number of members with small systems made from recycled bits...

Cuticon was making a small system..
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... c&start=30

Sheesh. Nasty little suckers aren't they?
I have some coral rubble from the fish tank. I'll wash it off and use that for hidey holes.

LOL... the thing isn't even running yet and I'm making big-time plans for the future.

I've been looking at the successful veggies thread and I'm guessing that 'fruiting' veg are most successful by the looks of it. With the exception of the dreaded cucumbers! LOL

How long after putting fish in can I plant out? Do you need to cycle it first? Thats what we do with marine tanks, just chuck in a dead prawn to get all the bacteria going.

Imogen XOX