Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good day everyone,

My wife and I have tossed around the idea of trying out aquaponics for quite sometime now and we finally have taken the leap . Being complete newbies to this we are learning as we go , this forum has been my obsession as my wife tells me for the last week or so .

Shayne

[quote="Swalker"]Good day everyone,

My wife and I have tossed around the idea of trying out aquaponics for quite sometime now and we finally have taken the leap . Being complete newbies to this we are learning as we go , this forum has been my obsession as my wife tells me for the last week or so .

This is what we are starting with , it’s just a continuous flood with the PVC filled halfway circulating back to the tote we presently have 29 small goldfish in the tote





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Hi from Moose Jaw, SK. When using a NFT system you need to provide some sort of filtration in order for the BB to grow in. I can not fully see what you have in the tote but i think that i only see a pump. Also when if you just pump the water with no filter it will pick up any solids you have in your system and pump them into your roots and the solids build up on your roots help smother them. I have a NFT as a part of mine and i have found that you will need a T-8 hanging about 3 or so inches above your plant on each tube. Also heads up tomato will plug your tube system with roots pretty quick once it starts growing.

St.catharines Ontario here. Have to say I knew you were Canadian by the mastercraft bench in the picture. I agree that the nights should be closer and more direct for the plants. And about filtration. It’s also a bit hard to tell but I couldn’t see if your return just goes into the fish tank or not. If you either add an air stone or make more of a dramatic water return into the tank that will help with aeration as well.

Now this is experimental here (lol) but I have seen mumblings about putting some filter media in the bottom of the NFT tubes. Just a little bit and it will act as a constant flow filter and add surface area for bacteria and such. I haven’t gotten around to trying it. I’m expanding my system soon bit it’s just flood and drain. But the logic is sound to me. Just if you want to experiment is all.


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But your system does look really nice. Getting started is the hardest step. Took me well over a year to actually biting the bullet and starting.


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Nice to see a fellow Albertan on here!

Thank you for commenting since I posted this I have taken your advice and installed a bucket bio filter into the system and circulating the FT water .

We will be adding supplemental lighting soon .



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Thanks


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Hey guys, I'm new to aquaponics
But I've got a decent grasp of the nitrogen cycle, and understand the importance of balancing the right amount of fish (producing ammonia) and the right amount of plants (consuming nitrates)

My question is: is there a way to calculate the fish to plant ratio before even purchasing anything? Or is it more a kind of tweak as you go? (e.g. if the plant looks weak, it probably needs more nitrates, so feed the fish more often so that more ammonia is produced)

I just want to make sure everything is okay before I get it going and have a fish die from something, because I don't have the correct fish/plant balance. I understand that's probably inevitable getting started, but I'd still like to take all precautions