Aquaponics System Design Selecting Grow Beds

Before I setup my aquaponics system one of the very first questions that I asked was, "what kind of containers can I find that are safe and inexpensive?" There are so many options out there to use for building your very own aquaponics system and I wanted to give my opinion on a few of them.

Most of us have seen the IBC tote systems and 55 gallon drum systems, but there are other options as well and all have their advantages and disadvantages. I originally was looking for IBC totes for my system.  But during my research, I saw a couple of videos and articles online of others using 55 gallon drums. I had seen these online for sale before when I was looking into building a rain collection system. Once I starting looking into the barrels further, I knew this was going to work for me. I paid just $10 per barrel and split them in half to make two equal grow beds. They were easy to clean and capable of holding the heavy weight of gravel. The other advantage I have found is that the built in bung connection takes either a 3/4" male threaded adapter or a 2" male threaded adapter making some of the plumbing a bit easier.

Over the past nine months, I have been very happy with my choice of the 55 gallon drums for my aquaponics system and grow beds. Next year, I plan to make an outdoor system that uses pond liner and I may also use some IBC totes in a greenhouse down the road. For my indoor system, however, I would highly recommend using the barrels as they are one of the best solutions available.

What ideas do you have? Leave a comment below if you use something different, Id like to hear about it.

Food grade plastics according to the FDA are -
PET (PETE)
HDPE
Vinyl (PVC)
LDPE
PP
PS
http://www.ehow.com/way_5819448_do-tell-food-grade-plastic_.html

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Aquaponics System Design Selecting and Adding Fish

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Check out this video to learn more about selecting, shipping, and adding new fish to your aquaponics system.  I have had my system running for about a year now with my feeder gold fish and it is finally time to get some real fish started! The only way an aquaponics system is sustainable is if you are using edible fish that can help to supplement the costs of running your system and that day is finally here for us.

 

 

 

I have done quite a bit of research and pondering on the question of which fish to get for our system here in the basement. After careful consideration I chose to go with breed of Tilapia called Blue Tilapia. There are quite a few different options in the Tilapia line but the Blue breed is and good all around choice for us. They survive in colder temps, breed less often, but grow quickly to a weigh of about 6-8 pounds. I had considered perch as well but in the end the benefits of the Tilapia breeds outweighed the options I had for perch.

 

There are other options out there as well and I would recommend doing some research to determine what will work best in your own system. What are your water temps? Do you heat the tanks year round? how much room do you have for breeding? These are many of the questions you need to be asking when looking for your ultimate aquaponics fish choice.

 

Finding a reliable supplier is key and one of the hardest things to do when you first get started. I was originally trying to find something local, a fishery or sporting goods store. There are some options but nothing for the fall or winter months when I wanted to get mine started. I finally found an excellent website called fishkis.com with the best prices I was able to find anywhere. I immediately placed my order in the dead of winter (below 0). My first order arrived all dead:( However, unlike many companies today the folks at fishkis worked with me right away for a reshipment when weather was a bit warmer and a few weeks later I received my full order plus 15 free fish! All were alive, healthy, and happy little Tilapia swimming  around in their shipping bad.

 

 

I am excited to get these fish growing and put into the system to start feeding my plants and getting ready to provide my family with many future meals. I will be slowly getting rid of the goldfish this summer and finding them suitable homes. Check back for the progress (and likely mistakes) along the process of growing out these fish!

For the best prices and quality on Tilapia check out this site - http://fishkis.com/

 

 

 

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Aquaponics Walkthrough Episode 10 Selecting Grow Media

I may have found the perfect grow media for our aquaponics grow beds.   The grow media in an aquaponics system is important to hold plants in place, provide surface area for the nitrifying bacteria, and ultimately filter the water for the fish.


When I started my system, I found some inexpensive river rock at Home Depot that I thought was pH neutral.  I began cleaning the rock and adding it to the system in the middle of winter (which I do not recommend, by the way) and later found that I could not get my pH below 8.2. This is due to the river rock containing some limestone and buffering the pH back up to 8.2, no matter how much I tried to lower it.


I have been able to have some pretty impressive growth still with certain plants but most things are not growing like they should. The best case scenario for pH in an aquaponics system is closer to 6.5 - 7. This will allow for the optimum plant growth and environment for the fish.


























I will be slowly changing out the grow media with my new selection after I conduct a few more tests to be sure it is going to work. The media that I have select is called beechwood pebbles. This is a lightweight stone that seems to be pH neutral so far with my vinegar testing. I located it at a local landscape supply and it was selling for $90 per yard.

Watch this indoor aquaponics video to learn more.  I will document the progress of switching the grow media and will also be planting some new plants in anticipation of the lower pH down the road.


Todd






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