All parts from hardware store, small aquaponics system

[Johnny]

Hey i've recently setup an aquaponics system, I saw the prices of so called kits and said to myself they've got to be dreaming.

i've built a system which is producing very tasty lettuce and even better spinich, and it's already overtaken my soil garden which has the same plants in it but had a head start over the aquaponics system.

Theres also lots of bees and wasps hanging around for a drink, so hopefully when things start to flower they do their work

http://i47.tinypic.com/1499w91.jpg
Corn, silverbeet and eggplant. Recently planted about a week or so ago as small seedlings.

http://i45.tinypic.com/2je4s52.jpg
Both growbeds side by side, hose on the very right is coming from the submersible pump (550litre per hour and inside a biofilter). the growbed at the left was full and thus why water is coming out of it, a simple ciphon does the trick, did it with a hose.

http://i50.tinypic.com/2how6zm.jpg
Both growbeds side by side at a better angle so you can see whats growing.

I'll get a few more pictures later.

Anybody interested or wants to know the other things i've done well just go ahead and ask.

Also can you please be nice by only posting a constuctive comment on any errors I may have made. Other than that it saves heaps of water and produces really well.

I've got one question though, by picking two (really cheap) CLEAR plastic growbeds will this affect plant growth? they're about 300mm deep which i've read is optimal for an aquaponics system but the fact they are see through will that have any effect or detriment on plant growth? It doesnt seem to be a problem at the moment with everything going nuts in the system with regards to plant growth.

erm before you ask what fish are in there, i completely forget, i asked the fish shop for some hardy fish which can withstand a temperature variation and would survive in a 160litre tank. Theres also a few yabbies (which are a type of marron) in there. And there is also a pump and two airstones for oxygenation.

in future I plan to use a fibreglass fish tank and growbeds. The future being sometime next year when i'm cashed up

[wa shane]

Yeah Johnny with clear plastic, when the sunlight hit's it,it will turn green with algae.Just wrap some shade cloth around it,then it should be fine.If not sure just have a look at my set up,good luck.

[Johnny]

Yeah Johnny with clear plastic, when the sunlight hit's it,it will turn green with algae.Just wrap some shade cloth around it,then it should be fine.If not sure just have a look at my set up,good luck.

Well one of them has already done that.

Would wrapping it in masking tape work?

i've got a reasonable amount lying around spare so i might as well


cheers mate.

[GaryD]

Hi Johnny,

Most of us used whatever we could lay our hands on when we started out in AP......so your set up is fine.

As Shane pointed out, those clear tubs will allow algae to grow around the system and (and without covering them up a bit) they might light prune the roots on your plants as they emerge.

Given that you're only using a very small fish tank at this stage, just use whatever goldfish are cheapest. They tend to be pretty tolerant of indifferent water conditions and they will produce copious amounts of ammonia.

They'll help you to get a sense of what happens in a small system like yours - and, if you make a mistake (and we all have), they are easily replaced.

Good luck with it and continue to ask questions as the need arises.

Gary

[LFCummins]

Very nice start.

You will see the advantages of this type of farming over other methods. (already - with the fast growth). It's real rewarding.
Enjoy and good luck. Don't eat too much !

[Johnny]

Very nice start.

You will see the advantages of this type of farming over other methods. (already - with the fast growth). It's real rewarding.
Enjoy and good luck. Don't eat too much !

Hahahha well since i'm not on the best income at the moment a system like this will pay for itself when I just about no longer need to buy veggies.

I plan a new setup about this time next year, with a greenhouse and 1000 litre tank and a few growbeds.

Would a chilli plant grow well in an aquaponics system?
In terms of potency of the chilli i mean.

[LFCummins]

Yes, very well in fact.

I'm told they are great but I don't (can't ) eat chili peppers or jalapenas and such.

[robinmill]

hi johhny

looks great , pretty exciting hey?

in regards to using cheap and second hands materials have a look at my system
it's pretty rough to look at but it is currently working and as cost me very little ,
about $100 now i think plus fish and seedlings , which some of came out of my vege garden

enjoy
robin

[Johnny]

hi johhny

looks great , pretty exciting hey?

in regards to using cheap and second hands materials have a look at my system
it's pretty rough to look at but it is currently working and as cost me very little ,
about $100 now i think plus fish and seedlings , which some of came out of my vege garden

enjoy
robin

Yeah I forgot to mention i had problems with the ammonia and nitrate levels but they're fixed now and nothings died in some weeks

Can't wait for my next setup, i'll have marron which last time i bought cost me $60/kg. Currently i have some yabbies in there but they dont grow as big, still taste nice though.

[Johnny]

Hit a little problem, the corn i've planted the roots of it have grown into the ciphon hose and managed to completely block it, causing the grow bed to flood.

Luckily I was there and am now figuring out how to stop roots from growing into the hosepipe.