Indoor 120 Gallon Aquarium system

[James]

my current system consists of
3 gold fish
one 2ft by1.5 ft grow bed
a 90watt UFO LED light 60 watt blue spec compact fluorescent and a 600 watt digital ballast pushing 400 watts of Metal halide(this is off for the next days because I had to return it) My light cycle is either 24 hours or 18 hours.
A large fan set on low(18 hours)
one pump with two outlets.
outlet 1 has a 4 inch air stone
outlet 2 has a small filter I purchased to clear out debris(its designed for a 5 gallon tank :))
300 watt heater set at 70 degrees F (about 21 C) it was too cold without a heater

Sorry about the large pics, next time I will resize them.
http://indooraquaponicsgarden.com/images/stories/setup1/vsig_thumbs/small_DSC05133_120_80_80.jpg
http://indooraquaponicsgarden.com/images/stories/setup1/small_DSC05142.JPG
http://indooraquaponicsgarden.com/images/stories/setup1/small_DSC05145.JPG
http://indooraquaponicsgarden.com/images/stories/setup1/small_DSC05188.JPG
Mint

More pics here http://indooraquaponicsgarden.com/index.php/indoor-aquaponics

My goal for my system. Vertical growing towers that rotate(I think I may use wind power from the fan). one additional 2 foot by 1.5 foot grow bed. Possibly another depending on advice from others.

I have a couple questions. Do you think my tank is ready for fish? How many can I expect to raise safely?

I would like to grow as many tilapia in the tank as I can without going too too crazy.

thanks for all the help

[natethegreek]

great set up. I don't have any answers to your questions just wanted to give you kudos.

[Ravnis]

Nice start. My experience is that the amount of growbeds and thus filtration are more critical as to how densly packed a system is. I have 40 1/2 pound tilapia with 3 growbeds of 27 gallons each in a 75 gallon tank. At this density, I have to remove solids and do 20% water changes weekly. So 40 can be grown in your setup, but it will be a lot of work. 10-20 could be grown and water changes would be required monthly if at all. Would depend on the water clarity and nitrate buildup and how much nitrates your plants absorbed. Lettuce does not absorb a lot. Tomates do, but get rather large plants in an ap system and may not be suitable for your situation.

It's been about 3 weeks since your last post. Check your water and if ammonia and nitrites have dropped to zero to .25 ppm then your ready to slowly add fish.

[James]

Thanks Nate and Ravnis

I think my pH is effecting nutrient absorption for my basil plants. I have to take readings today and see where I am...Last I checked( and didn't record) everything was about the same. I have been using a couple buckets filled with media and air-stones for a few fruit bushes I bought. This is a temporary solution until I set up the grow bed downstairs.n


In other news:
I have decided to switch to the basement after much internal debate. So I will be building a a grow bed 5 ft W X 8 ft L X 12 Inch H.

I have a large tank for the fish all ready to go (600 gallon pool) I am going to use a motorized light rail so that the light moves back and forth to cover all my plants.
I figure two things will improve by doing this.
1. I can stock much more fish
2. I can grow many more plants.

The pool has holes already built in with a filter a plumbing. I will use the available areas for setting everything up.

My upstairs tank will still be an aquaponics set up. But I will use my LED light only(maybe a CF also). I'll see how it does. I will stock it mostly with herbs and lettuce, along with my goldfish(which I am now officially attached too) and any fry I may end up with.

Are there pumps that can pump both ways? I am not sure I can get my grow bed high enough to allow gravity to do the job and I hate to have to try to time two pumps together. This will be a flood and drain system.