I have an 8' by 16' area where I am planning to start an aquaponics area in Oklahoma. Full sun most of the day, against a fence on the west side of the yard. House is far enough south it is not a significant factor in solar exposure.
I will start with a 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank for the fish tank. I'm not crazy about eating fish, not to mention intimidated by the thought of cleaning and cooking one, so I'll be using goldfish. A two foot deep tank should be deep enough to not worry about freezing to the bottom of the tank, so the fish should be all right through the winter. I want to start with as much information as possible.
I want to grow most to all of the year. Should I plan a pvc greenhouse? Would extend the growing season, but would add cost.
I will be doing this on a limited budget. Ideas for inexpensive grow beds that will stand up to the weight of the growing medium? I am thinking of 15, 50 or 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tanks (fairly expensive but will look good), rubbermaid storage bins (cheap on clearence, look good, but worried they will deform and crack from the weight of medium and water), 5 gallon buckets (cheap but possibly ugly), and flowing through pvc pipe with drilled holes for plants (fairly cheep, but would necessitate constant flow when I am leaning toward ebb and flow).
Ideas on how to hook up multiple grow beds so each gets a fair share of water from the fish tank?
Ideas on how to hook up an extra grow bed as my fish grow? I am thinking take out a bit of "used" grow bed medium from existing beds and adding that to the new bed, then topping new and doner beds with new medium.
Can potatoes be grown in gravel medium? Will there be problems with the tubers?
Goldfish are omnivores. Soldier fly larvae look like they would be easy to grow. Do they need water? Could I use water from the aquaponics system? I am thinking have the outlet at about a half inch to inch, sand or gravel to level of outlet and vegetation above that. Could I breed soldier flies? Would it be better to buy a pound of minnows from a local fish source? Or pay for goldfish flakes?