Aquaponic System Ratios Are Hard to Get Right
Several posts discuss challenges in designing and optimizing aquaponic systems, including barrel sizing, flood/drain ratios, water ratios, and filtration. Users seek advice on improving system efficiency and addressing issues like nutrient deficiencies and water clarity.
SOURCES (40)
“I’ve got 24 fish tanks totaling about 215 gallons and always wanted a hydroponic system that’ll use the waste water when I clean the aquariums, so finally set this up! I’m able to pump the dirty tank water thru the window into the rain barrel…”
“Im thinking of making a stand alone unit out of a 55gal barrels for 1 blackberry bush or raspberry plant whichever one that would likely grow better. submitted by /u/Shifter1589 [link] [comments]”
“Hello, i'm about to buy a house with a pond (10m², 50cm deep) and i'd like to put aquaponic towers inside to filter water and growing crops. But as much as i can i would like to avoid plastic. Do you know if some alternative materials exist ? submitted by /u/Meph56 [link] [comments]”
“I live on a small homestead with no well and no connection to grid power. I am entirely reliant on rainwater collection for my water and solar panels for my power. Thus I am thinking that aquaponics could be a good way to grow crops while making better use of my limited water supply. I am planning to dig a ~3000 gallon pond, which I'm hoping can do triple duty as water storage, wildlife habitat, and the sump tank for an aquaponics system where I can grow peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, and”
“Hello fish loving gardeners of reddit. I had a set up question. I was originally making a aquaponics system but I am not quiet sure if I need to do something different. I was originally making it hyrdoponics but, i realized I could just connect it to his little man made pond instead. Do I just need to have a filter for the solid waste or do I need more? submitted by /u/DiceTamer [link] [comments]”
“I'm fairly new to aquaponics, and I'm still learning. My plants did very well when I first set up the system, but now they are really struggling. The only plant that's survived is this nasturium, which did well at first but is not shriveling up. I have about 15 bluegills in a 150 gallon stock tank that feeds the plants. The substrate is clay beads, and it circulates every 24 mins. Any advice would be very welcomed! submitted by /u/crazy_trashpanda [link] [comments]”
“Drop your set ups in the comments!!! Just showing off my nitrate extraction factory, So far I use…. - Pothos - syngoniums - philodendron - Alocasia - monstera - spider plant - peace lily submitted by /u/Impossible_Oil4890 [link] [comments]”
“I want to grow a few vegetables eg cherry tomato, bok choy, snow peas and maybe strawberries. I only need enough for one person. I am thinking of setting up an aquaponics system and have just started researching the subject. On the property I bought there are two round plastic tubs (1100mm x 400mm - 380 litres). One is used as a pond with water lilies and small fish, while the other is empty. I am thinking of building a two tier system with the fish pond at the top of”
“Grandpa passed and I’m looking to finish his aquaponics project. Any advice/tips/recommendations are greatly appreciated! I also need help on getting a filter for the pond. He was using a water pump into the bin with mesh, but the pump broke so I’m looking to see if there are any better ones or just a filter in general that can cover a 550 gallon pond. submitted by /u/Helltrim [link] [comments]”
“Coming from running planted tanks and axolotls i am probably just over analyzing haha. The liner is in and filling, was working on that as I was posting earlier. I want to run a decent filter so I have the option to do NFT, also full sun and australian summer will make algae go wild haha”
“Not sure why the filter would need that. You just need a place for the solids to collect. A trashcan with bird netting stuffed in it was my first filter. You don't even need a filter honestly. Red worms will do most of the work in the bed and you can clean the media as needed every year or so. I recommend a filter of some kind to reduce your work but it's optional. I'm not an expert of pond filters. I just use an over the back style with my tropical tank. There'”
“A swirl filter or radial settler are the usual options for primary solids filtration, and since you’re not using a sump I’d suggest going with a swirl filter. (Radial settlers need a much calmer water flow than you’re going to get if you’re pumping directly from the pond into your filter.) You’ll need to raise it up so that the outlet is higher than your growbed, which will have the nice side effect of making it easier to work on LOL. You shouldn’t need a second”
“That does make sense. I suppose as long as the filter is pressurized the pump shouldn't have an issue pushing up from it”
“There should never be a reason to use 2 pumps. Redesign or place something higher. Most pumps have a decent head so you can always build up. A 2 pump system is a failure waiting to happen.”
“Flood and drain is probably what I will go with, I just noticed some of the prebuilt systems are continuous flow so figured it might be okay. Putting the pump at the other end of the pond and then running a line back to the other end should be fine. I might just need a 2nd pump to pull out of the filter up to the bed, at some point we do want to experiment with NFT, so i will need to pump pretty high out of the filter”
“This will definitely be a ornamental pond as I dont eat fish, the plan was probably to stock it with some big goldfish as koi are illegal in my part of Australia. System is just a tank and growbed and at some point my Dad wants to experiment with adding NFT that drains into the growbed then back into the water. I haven't made a decision on a filter, thats part of what I was looking to find out here, I see people making home made filters my concer”
“Usually people don’t have gravel or other substrates in aquaponics fish tanks. In a system set up specifically for aquaponics the stocking rate is higher than you’d usually expect in an ornamental pond, the water flow rate is much higher, and substrate would just trap solid waste or get pulled into your filter setup. It’s much more usual to have a bare bottom pond/tank, in which case water movement and the fish disturbing any settled solids is generally enough t”
“I do flood and drain. Better oxygenation which is critical to success. Have a pump at one end and have the bed drain at the opposite side. A bell siphon will get a strong flow. On the pvc drain line, I add a "t" connector near the top of the pond water line and then a pipe that goes deep underwater to add agitation and oxygen. For help with solids, add a swirl filter between the pond and grow beds. A 13g Rubbermaid trashcan works great and will last for many yea”
“Hi all, new to aquaponics, but not to Ponds and fish keeping. Pond is 3000mm x 1000m x 600mm, I have a section behind the pond ready for the actual filter to sit, picture 3. My question is, would an under gravel filter be a good way to make sure I get suction all over the pond. Otherwise I might have to run a pump at each end to make sure it pulls everything in. Also is continuous flow through the grow bed as bad as everyone says submitted by /u/Jaisuz [link] [comments]”
“i'd aim for at least three 55-gallon barrels just to keep up with the biofilter demand, that's a lot of fish!”
“So the hoop house we acquired for right now is 16x20. (Building a larger more permanent structure next year or following.) This means if I put 3 grow beds and a sump on either length with the fish tank center in the back and swirls beside it on either side, I can put a 6 ft walk in the middle, with a 1ft access on the edges of grow beds. ( I can roll up sides to work on it) I thought about 2 pumps, one in each sump instead of plumbing them together, so the whole”
“tbh i did a ebb and flow with 100g fish tank and the barrel sizing was a nightmare at first but got it dialed in after a few tweaks”
“Yep, that would work, and no need to remove the small debris filter. It’s better to leave it in. Clean water is just as important in aquaponics as it is in aquariums and ponds.”
“I’m starting a small aquaponics system in my back sun room. I have a 100 gallon stock tank that I was going to add a few small fish to once I get everything up and running. I’ve been looking at filters, and I was wondering if this might work? I may be able to remove the small debris filter pads and keep only the large debris filter components. I’m new to building my own system. Thank you for your comments! submitted by /u/atomsofatticus [link] [comments]”
“Hello, New to Reddit. I recently finished a duck pond build with an old 50+ gallon bathtub. The mechanical filter is sort of a radial flow/swirl filter mashup and the bog filter is layered with large stone for void space at the bottom, lava rock and pea stone and planted out with Creeping Jenny, Water Hyacinth, Canna Lilly and Sweet Flag. I'm cycling it on a pump thats way too powerful for this setup (2500 gallons) in a mesh filter bag. I've adjusted the flow down quite a bit with a ball”
“That's a solid setup, I'd double-check the flood/drain ratios on the barrels, though. With 500 gallons of tilapia, you might want to size your media beds for at least 1:1 ratio to avoid nitrate spikes during peak feeding.”
“Sounds like the current plants are using everything up. How many fish/gallon? To give perspective, 1 4-6 inch goldfish will support 1 lettuce plant at best. If you are trying to grow plants "plural", you are going to need a big tank with lots of fish. You can add a bit of bloodmeal but that's a short term fix.”
“You can have clearer water with aquaponics. Small filters are easy to diy. The plants will be fine and you can see your fish too. But more filtration is what you are looking for. You could also have a small grow bed with lava rock or clay pellets as these capture sediment and solids as well.”
“Hey r/aquaponics , Me and my boyfriend are building out a gravity-fed ebb and flow aquaponics system and looking for feedback from anyone with experience at this scale before I finalize the design. Location: southwest Virginia Fish: Tilapia (yes applying for permits) Will have large covered hoop house greenhouse over entire system with extra room for seedlings for the farm and some potted plants. Sys”
“I have been trying to grow seedlings in my system and they never get to the vegetation sta”
“Here is my bog that is attached to my Koi pond and acts as part of the water filtration for the pond. I am planning to put a couple of aquaponics trays with edible plants in the bog this time. It was just full of Texas Native plants but I am thinnning these down and will just have some around the periphery. Trying to figure out the best way to build or buy floating planting trays. submitted by /u/BeneficialGene7211 [link] [comments]”
“Hi! I have a 400 liter aquarium with fancy goldfish and i absolutely love plants and growing fruit and veggies in my garden. I was wondering if there are people who have an indoor aquaponics setup and if possible to keep it without having water dripping everywhere. For my aquariums i have one of those extern filters. Im thinking about growing lettuce and stuff like that in it. I would love to learn more! submitted by”
“Hi! I just got started a few weeks ago with goldfish in a half barrel liner and a variety of herbs/vege”
“I have been trying to use Gemini, but it has a mind of its own! 🤣 And that plumbing is just crazy 🤣 Is there anything more modular where I can drag components around? TIA Smpr submitted by /u/smprfidels [link] [comments]”
“(The drawing is out of date from before I decided to cut the second IBC tote into extra grow beds. B”