Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Due to popular demand, or perhaps peer pressure, epending on your take on things, I am starting a thread dedicated to my system, such as it is atm.
So I'll start with some pics

Good start...A fence nearby is good to as it may give you the frame to start your growing...just add pipes and stuff

Hey KP, whack those leaves in the pond into ur compost heap. They will cause big fluctuations in ur pH, DO and CO2 levels. Goldies are hardy and would give u the nutes u need to grow some food.

Some sort of pond shading will reduce algae which will rob ur pond of DO. Otherwise u might need algae loving fish and higher than normal water flows to maintain adequate DO.

If u pump to a header tank with overflow to ur gbs, u will be able to maintain a constant water volume in ur inground pond. Say, use an ibc for this, another place to keep fish! Dunno what u have planned for plants but looks like fun. Keep us informed.

More Pics

Damn 3 pic limit

Growbed Pics

These growbeds can be purchased in aust, and delivered to an outlet pretty much anywhere (check catalogue) for only AUD$350

check out my post on Snag's new system

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 1&start=69

for more details.

There are no leaves there, the picture is lacking resolution, but what you see is a solid mat of duckweed, which has on top flowers dropped by the frangipanni tree or whatever it is, pretty tree with yellow flowers.
I understand the flowers will still be somewhat of an issue, and will need to screen the pond when the tree is in flower (3 months or so as I recall, we've only been in this house 1 year)

I'm planning on silver perch, maybe some redfin, tandanus etc, but silver perch to begin with. certainly not goldies, just carp they are, evil vermin (but they serve a purpose)


The tree shades quite nicely, the area doesn't get any sun until about 4 or 5, (when I took the photo so it'd look nicer) algae isn't a problem in the pond. (it is in the tanks, but I'm building a screen)


Check out the rest of the pics, should give you more of an idea. You managed to post in between my 3 pics max dilemma, and having to post 3 messages.

awesome...
yeh I mised the first 2 photos.
heaps of water... you will have fun!!

Jezz Kuda.... what you call a "start" is what some of us would call "my next system".....

Way to go mate, have the feeling you could end up with a very nice "not so" little system

I forgot to mention, I have 2x200L blue plastic drums as a header and a 600 L fish tank inside the house.

My total volume is 10kL or about 2400 Gallons or something

WTG KP!

Why do anything by halves?

even if i only ever stock 100g/100L, the volume will hold my water conditions nicely.

I've been keeping (hence the big tank) fish for over 10 years now, and had thought through filtering my fish tank water (which I hated cleaning) through a growbed type setup.

After mentioning this to a couple of ppl for ideas, and sitting on it for months out of business (lazyness) somebody told me 'it's already been done' I think it was my FIL Steve S http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/pro ... file&u=469

it only goes to show, 'No idea is unique' and you're unlikely to be the first.

Since learning of how big AP is, I developed the idea much further

KudaPucat
_________________________
The Pale Horse Rides Again

Good one KP. You get a deal on IBC's mate

Like your fish tank - is it one of the ones with the silgle piece of glass for front and sides (curved corners)?

Nah too expensive, and they don't make em big enough, and it really screws with your eyes when you move near the corner. nope, simple rectangular for me :-)


Re IBCs, from melbourne, contack from eBay, discounted me $60 for buying 6, $160 ea, gauranteed to have only free rinsing soap in em (second hand of course) I can pass on details to anybody interested. In Bayswater I think

KudaPucat
_________________________
The Pale Horse Rides Again

Hi guys,
I have a decision to make.
How do I arrange my grow beds.

The beds are 1mx2m (roughly) and my area is limited to 15mx2.7m

I have included some diagrams.

Th real question is how far can I reach to plant?
I am going to say now, that 1 line tight is silly, being that it only gives me one more than 2 lines.

But is reaching a metre ok, or is the 500mm reach of the one line design better? Is the lack of reach worth the 40% extra grobeds I can fit?

KudaPucat
_________________________
The Pale Horse Rides Again

15 beds at $350 each - $5250