Started building my system

[MRowsh]

I started building my system. First step is the fish tank. It will be about 1400 gallons. And in order to get a good head start, I have plans to fill it up with my pond's water.

I have read a lot about grew beds. The one I think I build is fill and drain, I do not know exactly what it is called, but I have plans to build the grew beds about 3 X 8 X 2 ft, and fill with river rocks for about 18 inches.
We do love all sorts of vegetables and greens, but I do like to know what grews best with fill and drain system.

Thanks for all the good comments.

[commander]

Man, that is an ambitious start. 1400 gallons. My start is only about a 30 gallon tank and two small grow beds.

[bsfman]

We do love all sorts of vegetables and greens, but I do like to know what grews best with fill and drain system.

You can pretty much grow anything in a flood and drain system.

[MRowsh]

Why start small, then break it apart and buuild a bigger one when we know it is going to work. According to what I have read so far, it is a sure shot. Some people seams to have problem to get the algae going in order to breakdown the ammonia. I got the head start because I am not using the city water.

[MRowsh]

That is good that everything can be grown in FD.
I do love greens, and all sorts of roots like, beets, turnips, carrots, radishes.
Also I like to grow eggplants , tomatos, and okras. Oh of course some cucs too.

[urbanfarmer]

Why start small, then break it apart and buuild a bigger one when we know it is going to work. According to what I have read so far, it is a sure shot. Some people seams to have problem to get the algae going in order to breakdown the ammonia. I got the head start because I am not using the city water.

I'm struggling with that exact line of thinking right now... turn my entire backyard into an aquaponic system or just a portion of it... the only problem so far with going big is I don't think I could afford the fish feed every month (about 4000 pounds of feed a month)!

[MRowsh]

Get some of that money you have hide under your mattress UF.

How many fish do you got in there?

[MRowsh]

What is the difference in the water pumps like

reeflo
dart
Barracuda
hammerhead

are these just labels, or has something to do with their design?

If there is a difference, which one is better for aquaponics usage?

[Oliver]

Why start small, then break it apart and buuild a bigger one when we know it is going to work. According to what I have read so far, it is a sure shot. Some people seams to have problem to get the algae going in order to breakdown the ammonia. I got the head start because I am not using the city water.

The main reason you start small as a beginning Aquaponics farmer is that you kill fewer fish by doing so.

As far as "we know it is going to work", I'm not so sure that you do. All I can say at this point is to invite you to read "Aquaponics 101" located here: viewforum.php?f=112

And then take a look at what you are proposing.

Oliver

[MRowsh]

Oliver,
Thanks for the input.
I have a friend who has been building pounds for side business and have helped him with his first one at his own house. You are correct, starting the system if one does not know about the bio filter, or the grew beds, one might kill a lot of fish. Just preparing the water can be a challange.

I have a pond at my place about 1/2 acre, and I have minnows in there for the last 14 years. To start the system by filling my fish tank with my pond's water. Then I will put some minnows in the fish tank and get the system going for a couple of weeks before I place my order for 300 Tilapias.
At least this is my plan.
So far, I have build the FT and placed a 20X20 EPDM in it. From this coming weekend , I have to work on my support platform for my grew beds.