First aquaponic system, my own design the good and the bad.

[lostraindrop]

[attachment=4:2cz0a2uc]4.jpg[/attachment:2cz0a2uc]
[attachment=3:2cz0a2uc]1.jpg[/attachment:2cz0a2uc]

EQUIPMENT:
bell siphon
water pump
in-line UV light (keeps water crystal clear and fish healthy)
under counter LED light strips (for the plants underneath plus it looks pretty at night)
airpump
heater (for colder months)

LIVE THINGS:
ivy plants (no vegetables for now since the system does not get direct sun)
goldfish
nerite snails (for the algae)

I started an aquaponic system earlier this spring, designed and built by me. The idea is to create a visually pleasing aquaponic system in a small apartment balcony.
There a lot of things that worked, and there are a few things that kind of failed.

1st - the bell siphon was pretty hard to calibrate at times. Need to keep the pump clean to keep the siphon working.
2nd - the growing bed has a pretty major leaked so I had to empty the plants and gravel and patch up the leak then re-plant
3rd - under LED light near the drain got busted from the water splash. some are still working.
4th - still trying to find ideal plants for the aquarium.

[attachment=2:2cz0a2uc]20130831_134252.jpg[/attachment:2cz0a2uc]
[attachment=1:2cz0a2uc]3.jpg[/attachment:2cz0a2uc]
[attachment=0:2cz0a2uc]20130831_134501.jpg[/attachment:2cz0a2uc]

[Aloha Don]

Welcome Lostraindrop.
Nice looking system.
Thanks for sharing and giving details.
Do you have plans to start veggies or growing your system?

[lostraindrop]

Welcome Lostraindrop.
Nice looking system.
Thanks for sharing and giving details.
Do you have plans to start veggies or growing your system?

Thanks!
Yes, I want to grow veggies eventually. Still not sure what to grow, since the system is in full shade, unfortunately not even morning or afternoon sun because of my apartments location. And I would love to have a bigger system, but that will probably be later down the road when I have my own place.

[eddiemigue]

Welcome lost. Ditto on Don's post - really appreciate the details.

[Roger L.]

Welcome Lostraindrop. Very nice looking small setup. A good grow light could help with the lack of sun. My system is in my basement so all of my light is artificial.

[JCO]

So did you buy the plans or draw them your self?

[lostraindrop]

...A good grow light could help with the lack of sun. My system is in my basement so all of my light is artificial.

Yea, that's true, I guess I could always go artificial.

So did you buy the plans or draw them your self?

I drew it myself ...cant help it, since I work in an architecture firm. lol