Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This has been a long time coming. A lot of research and a lot of designs on paper. I will be posting updates on progress and any design changes and considering posting all my notes and designs for the project.


Project Orbis 3.0
Live Tank - 200 gallons
Grow Bed - 50 gallons
Sump Tank - 50 gallons
Solids Filter - 5 gallons
Bio Filter - 5 gallons

Plant and Animal life include:
Blue Gill Perch
Vegetables (Peppers and Cucumbers)
Ghost Shrimp (to be fish food)
Java Moss (used for fish habitat and water filtration)

Water is pumped from the Sump Tank to the Live Tank then passes through a Solids Filter and Bio Filter, exits to the Grow Bed, and is siphoned back to the Sump Tank.

This system is built upon (1) IBC tote 275 gal and (1) plastic drum 55 gal. The IBC tote was chopped and flipped leaving a 200 gallon Live Tank and roughly a 65 gallon Grow Bed. The plastic drum was cut in half lengthwise and piped together making an open flat 50 gallon Sump Tank. The Grow Bed was positioned on top of the Sump Tank and uses a flood and drain setup with an external auto syphon. (2) 5 gallon buckets were used to make a Solids Filter and a Bio Filter.

Welcome to the board!

Welcome mate. Looking forward to seeing the transformation


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Initial design and mock up, before cutting the IBC. I’m using 2 plastic pallets (courtesy of USPS, shhhhh...) as the base of the setup. I constricted the entire setup’s design size to fit within the dimensions of 2 standard pallets side by side. This causes the overall design to use the space efficiently and purposefully.

Welcome, I really like the concept of keeping it in a compact foot print. With water tight lids you could fork lift and move the system.

Barrel supports for Sump Tanks and stand for Grow Bed.
One design is using 2 inch PVC pipe and fittings, the other is using 2x4’s.
I’m partial to the PVC because it won’t corrode.

I’ve made a design change at this point. I decided to use an external auto syphon rather than a bell syphon. This change is already mentioned in my notes. One thing I did do differently is using a screw top fitting on the auto syphon, this makes the internals accessible for cleaning or adjustments, and also can be used as a syphon stop if needed.
Also some different designs for a new solids filter.

All the notes and pictures I’m posting are during the design and mock up phase of my setup build. Once I get my posts caught up with where my build is currently everything will be more concise.

Feel free to ask me any questions about my setup design, and also to give any personal feedback or advise. This is my first medium sized system and I’m using it as a learning experience.

I decided to use the screw cap that comes on the IBC tote as my drain outlet. I’ve noticed a lot of people are against that idea but I think it’s put together better this way and causes the lowest water level remaining after the Grow Bed is completely drained. I used some different pipe fittings, modifying some, to plumb from the drain to the auto syphon and from there flow directly into the Sump Tank. A bell syphon could easily be done using the same plumbing. I extended 1 inch PVC up through the top of the cap fittings and drilled holes along it. This will ensure good water flow when covered by the Grow Bed media.

Design Change:
The Solids Filter will now be between the Live Tank and the Grow Bed.
The water inlet for the Solids Filter will come up directly through the bottom of the filter.

Testing the new system setup.
Picked up some Texas Pride buckets at Lowe’s, really brings the whole thing together.

Grow Bed drain outlet.

A Bio Filter was added to the system to ensure all Nitrites and Nitrates are at acceptable levels.
I also designed a simple way to attach the buckets (Solids Filter and Bio Filter) to the Live Tank.

Full system mock up.

Finally showing where the setup is currently. I’ll be posting pictures giving a full tour of the system.

Some things to point out:
I’ve painted the Live Tank blue on top to limit sunlight and black on the bottom to give the fish different environments.
I’ve also painted the Grow Bed to keep sunlight away from the roots of the plants.
I decided to support the Grow Bed by placing buckets underneath and securing it to the Live Tank using zip ties. This was an easier and more cost effective solution.
The connecting pipe fittings to the valve of the IBC tote include a 1 inch pipe that passes through the valve and into the Live Tank. This allows a pipe to be connected in the Live Tank that controls the minimum water level.

From the Live Tank water flows into the Solids Filter.