New to aquaponics, have some questions!

[scottmock1]

Hi,
I'm new to aquaponics. I have been researching the subject for about a month. I purchased the earth solutions garden in a box little tokyo. Here's the url:
http://www.earthsolutions.com/Farm-in-a-Box-Little-Tokyo-_p_608.html

It's only 10 gallons, but it will be a great way for me to learn the ropes before I do something bigger. I intend to set it up with about 10 small goldfish to start out. The gentleman at the fish store said I can stock it with more goldfish if I provide enough filtration. With that being said I have a few questions:

Can I over filter the water? I want the bacteria to convert nitrites and ammonia to nitrates, so should I purchase a separate filter? I'm considering a cheap under gravel filter combined with a bio wheel. I've been told both of these provide a home for beneficial bacteria. My growing medium is expanded clay. Would this provide all of the filtration that I need? Can I have too much beneficial bacteria? I also want to put in bubble stones for aeration. Can I have too much aeration?

Should I buy bacteria or will peeing in the tank provide all I need? I intend to grow plants in the grow bed, float some on the aquarium's surface, and plant some in the aquarium. For this I was told I need a substrate. Is that necessary? If it is, should I mix some in with the expanded clay in the growbed?

And if anyone can recommend a good balanced goldfish based ecosystem, I would appreciate it. I would like to have a somewhat diverse aquarium.

Thanks
Scott

[GaryD]

Hi Scott,

Welcome to APHQ.



I'm new to aquaponics. I have been researching the subject for about a month. I purchased the earth solutions garden in a box little tokyo. Here's the url:
http://www.earthsolutions.com/Farm-i...yo-_p_608.html (http://www.earthsolutions.com/Farm-in-a-Box-Little-Tokyo-_p_608.html)

It's only 10 gallons, but it will be a great way for me to learn the ropes before I do something bigger. I intend to set it up with about 10 small goldfish to start out.

This unit looks as though it would be a useful (if somewhat expensive) approach to doing a little 'proof of concept' system.


Can I over filter the water?
Not as far as the fish are concerned.



I want the bacteria to convert nitrites and ammonia to nitrates, so should I purchase a separate filter? I'm considering a cheap under gravel filter combined with a bio wheel. I've been told both of these provide a home for beneficial bacteria.

I wouldn't bother with either - save your money.


My growing medium is expanded clay. Would this provide all of the filtration that I need?
Your expanded clay will provide all of the nitrification that you need.....but a small solids removal system would be useful to keep your expanded clay bed in good condition......particularly given the small overall size of the unit.



Can I have too much beneficial bacteria?

No.


I also want to put in bubble stones for aeration. Can I have too much aeration?
Keep the surface of the fish tank moving. Oxygenation is the consequence of exposing the water surface to the air. By moving the surface, you increase the amount of air going into the system. Water will only take up a certain amount of air so you cannot over-aerate.


Should I buy bacteria or will peeing in the tank provide all I need? I intend to grow plants in the grow bed, float some on the aquarium's surface, and plant some in the aquarium.
Peeing in the tank will get things going but how are you and your family going to go knowing that they are eating vegetables from a tank that you've been peeing in. An much better way to cycle your system would be to fill it with water from an existing system.

Any plants that you float on the tank surface will be eaten over time by the fish.


GaryD

[scottmock1]

Awesome, thanks for the info. I don't know if I have access to an established system to get water from. Can you recommend an alternative? You said no filters, so what can I use to remove small solids?

[GaryD]

Hi Scott,

What I suggested was to skip the undergravel filter and the bio-wheel. The grow bed will provide adequate nitrification for a few goldfish.

If you can provide some photos of how the water accesses the grow bed and where it returns to the fish tank, I may be able to suggest more cost effective ways of trapping the solids.

Gary