Lil Tote system

[Mikey]

Hi all,

Please give me feedback on my first design attempt gleaned from this site's members. I have no experience with aquariums and minor success with gardening. My area has summer highs of about 35°C and winter lows about 10°C, with strong sun and seasonal heavy rains.

There are 2 possible south facing yard locations: one with soft sandy soil, and another with a concrete slab base partially shaded by an overhead deck and nearby palms.

My goal is for about 50 tilapia, and vegetables for the table. I can get used food barrels and IBC totes so I am planning on about 900L for the fish tank, and 1m² 200L growbeds. The first growbed is gravity-fed, continuous flow, and future ones pressure-fed. The swirl filter is a 220L barrel with a 50L barrel of K1.

Does this look like a functional system design? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

Lil Tote schematic.jpg

[Pseudoreality]

It looks functional. One thing I'm starting to think about on aquaponics design in general is the need, or lack there of, for media beds. If you have proper filtration (solids and bio), they really aren't needed. Therefore I would look at feeding everything post filtration and looking at raft or NFT or DWC growing areas. Media (especially expanded clay) is very expensive.

[Mikey]

Thanks Pseudoreality. Which of raft, NFT or DWC techniques do you think is most suited for a frugal neophyte to start off with? How do you size the grow area?

K1 is expensive too. I saw hydroton for $20/50 L at http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/itemdesc.asp?ic=GMROCK50

[keith_r]

$20 for 50l is a good deal.. thats the cheapest i found it as well..they get you on shipping but i found a place with a deal close by and picked it up..
i used half gravel (sold as river rock) and half hydroton to keep costs down.. all gravel would be cheaper still.. avoid limestone gravel

[Pseudoreality]

It depends on the materials you use to construct and I haven't crunched any numbers myself, but I think the general consensus is raft is the cheapest. I lift NFT for the portability. Some plants, like tomatoes, may do better in media beds. Having a combination to start might help you figure out what you like best too.