Backyard Aquaponics
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Hi I currently have a drain pipe Hydroponic system, I also have a mature open ornamental pond (consist any PH of around 6.5). I was thinking about adapting the pond to create a Aquaponic system. My first thought was to fill the entire pipe with good surface area media and add red worms to that instead of Net pots that I’m currently using. Really want to get what you guys think of this and if you have any tips and ideas to help me change over.

Many thanks in advance guys.

You wouldn't need to fill the pipes with anything. You can continue to use net pots and plugs. If you do not want to use those anymore, I have seen some cool things by making foam disk that support the plants inside a two inch hole.

You would just use the fish water instead of your Hydroponic solution. I would recommend a filter to keep solids out of the pipes. Those aren't good for the roots. The design and layout of your pond would make a difference on you could go about this. Is it a farm type pond, above ground, inground? Does it all ready have a filtering system and power head?

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Thank you for the reply, I’ve attached a picture of the pond, been going for around 15years, never ever lost a fish so I’m guessing the environment is pretty healthy. It does have a filter system already.
My idea for filling the tubes with media was so I could add worms but I’m guessing with the filter system that might not be needed?



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Worms help with unlocking nutrients from solids inside large media beds and prevent solid waste from clogging the media which would make anaerobic zones. In that essence, the media bed is the solids filter. Like my 3ftx5ft hydroton bed. My worms magically appear. For any type of DWC or its derivatives or wicking type systems you don't want any solids entering the growing system. So no need for worms. Solids will gunk up the roots and cause problems with nutrient uptake and disease.

With a system that mature I bet there are a lot of nutrients in that pond. It's a pretty pond. Looks like it has a water fall. Wonder if you could tap into that water line or just use the pump from the hydroponic unit.

Some ponds have a filter box with the pump inside the filter box. You could tap into the existing water supply or add the pump from hydroponic system into the filter box. Or make a little filter box out of a small shoe box sized plastic container. Guess it would depend on the filter works.

No matter where your imagination takes you. Just keep solid matter out of the growing system.

Owe my if I had pond like that. How deep is and how many gallons?

Keep it small and simple to see how it works and how you like it. If you love it, you could turn that into a nicely sized and productive system. I also thin it will work really well. Your pond is now your nutrient reservoir.

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Ye


Yes it’s a lovely pond on indeed, I have thought about running a line from the pump reservoir, just the wrong side of the pond. Solids are a concern which is why I initially thought about filling the whole pipe, I can’t ensure that there won’t be any solids. I was thinking about using the zipgrow matrix foam media.

Thank you for your feedback, you’ve been most helpful.


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Zipgrow stuff is expensive. Use pond filter or the blue trim to fit air filter.

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Have you measured the nutrient content?.
How many fish have you got & what's the Nitrate reading?

Just ordered nitrate and ammonia test kits, all I know is the PH which is around 6.4 to 6.8. About 3 huge koi’s, and about 15 smaller.


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