Aquaponics - Design & Build

After reading the free UN aquaponics manual (document provided in links) I decided that a flood drain system was what I could achieve the most easily and cost effectively. Personal preference.

I had a bit of flat space near the bees, so I bought some timber and started building a frame. I started in early 2019 and progress was slow. The clay soil gets muddy and hard to work in when it gets wet! Working full time also doesn't help with this sort of project.

Lockdown provided mixed blessings, but furlough in early 2020 allowed for speedier progress. I managed to complete the frame, cut IBC's and start plumbing. If you have free time you could put a system together on your own in 2 weeks.

Finally getting the poly tunnel cover on over the system made it a much easier environment to work in and getting the finishing touches to the system completed.

Thanks to my Dad for helping me get the frame up and my lad and his better half for helping me get the cover on!

Once the construction stage is complete you have to get water flowing around the system at the correct rate. Nutrient rich water from the fish tank drains into the media beds, nutrients feed the plants. Filtered clean water is extracted from the media beds by bell siphons. The extracted water drains into a sump and gets pumped back to the fish tank.

October 2020 the system build was finally completed. Water is flowing around and draining from the media beds at the correct rates.

Now the construction is complete, getting the eco system balanced is the next stage. The rainwater collected in the system has been running around to filter out large organic particles. The water is clear, but the bacteriological and chemical balance also has to be right.

For an aquaponic system to work, the fish need clean oxygenated water. Fish waste and waste fish food create chemicals and nutrients in the water. A microbial and bacterial balance is required to ensure the water is the correct ph for chemical make up for plants to extract the nutrients. Feeding and allowing the plants to grow and clean the water. Which is returned fresh to the fish. 

Before putting the fish in the system , the water at the very least needs to be the right temperature and PH.

I had initially wanted to do this as simply as possible, just to prove it could be done simply and without technology. Then I gave in and bought a tech system. I work full time and time is limited. I don't believe it detracts from proving the system can work cheaply. It's just at this point I don't have the time to do that. The Apex system gives me online temperature and PH readings. 

Fish are a crucial part of the eco system and any fish can be chosen. Our plan is to be self sufficient so I've chosen fish we can ultimately eat. Trout. 

Trout are good to eat, hardy and work well in aquaponics systems.

At this point, the water in the system I've built has been cleaned through the media beds, I've planted seeds and the PH is levelling out to about 7.5. The plants are sprouting and the fish were recently introduced. 32 rainbow trout fingerlings!