Backyard DWC system 3000Lt

GeorgeKara

Hi to all aquaponics fans!
During the period waiting for the weather to be suitable for finishing our big system (viewtopic.php?t=9657) we made a backyard system next to our home.

It is a Deep Water Culture system
Fish Tank:3.000 liters(750gallon)
Filter :375 liters (100gallon) 3x 125lt blue drum
Rafters: Two wooden rafters made of pallets sized: 3,6m x0,6m x 0,4m
Two iron rafters 3m x0,5m x 0,4m
Growbeds:1 homemade wooden growbed 480lt from pallets sized : 1,2m x1m x0,4m
*some more plastic drums will be used as growbeds in the near future
Sump: 1 burried IBC

Water pump : Bermuda 8000 pump operating at 2,5m height 3000lt/hr 80watt
Air pumps : 3 air-compressors 55 lt/min 18watt with 4 outlets each one
1 air compressor for the 4 rafters
1 air compressor for the fish tank
1 air compressor for the filters

Site information:
We used an old house next to our home where we intsalled the fish tank and the filters and contsructed a greenhouse at the south wall for the rafters and the sump

The concept of the project was to use as many recycled materials(used pallets and lumber,old iron structures , etc....) as possible.All the system's parts(GH,Tanks..)where made by our small team aparted by the three of us..

Any comments,critics and questions are welcome

GeorgeKara

Fish Tank had to be constructed inside the old building because of the small openings around the house,so it was made from 30 meters wire round to give the shape for the liner.it is 2m diameter and 1 meter height filled with 3000lt water.It has an overflow drainage, which drains from the bottom centre.

GeorgeKara

Inside the greenhouse are the rafters,the growbed and the sump(IBC)

GeorgeKara

sump tank is a burried ibc

GeorgeKara

Until the end of the week we are going to put in the system the fish.these will br 200 trout fingerlings 5cm each

Charlie

Hows the trout going Goerge?

Cirano

Hello, I saw your system is very interesting. I'm glad that acquaponica spreading in the Mediterranean area. This is my system in northern Italy: http://iononperdonoetocco.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/aqualung-a-due-mesi-dai-primi-trapianti/
For the aquaponic post search with the term "aqualung"
:-)
Cirano

Charlie

Do you know what an aqualung is in Oz?

GeorgeKara

@Charlie
Hi Charlie ,the temperature for the last 2 weeks is between 19-22 C but the trouts are doing very well.We had put 350 trout fingerlings(3-4cm) 2 months ago .We lost around 60-70 fingerlings due to transport stress and fish tank outlet malfunction,but since then all are going well.Trouts are eating like crazy despite the temperature!We have added some extra aeration to the fish tank ,that was supposed to be in the filters.
@cirano
Hi Cirano,i also took a look in your system link and is very interesting too.I had some problems with the language but photos are very explaining.I am also glad to see aquaponic system in mediteranean.There are some more systems (big enough) here in greece but are not uploaded at this forum.I discovered them lately and are very interesting,someof them are running for 2 years..
As soon as i get the new photos(they are on an friends camera) i will upload them.They are more colorfull and you can realize the progress of both fish and plants

Thank you for the interest.Any comments thoughts etc are welcome!

GeorgeKara

Hi to all!!
Here are some recent photos from the greenhouse and the plants!!

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Beans,tomatos,cucumber,letuce,Strawberry,and more...
All plants are grown by seeds and are all local varieties,not Hybrids..

GeorgeKara

And here are some photos of the Fish!trout are going well despite the high temperatures

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There are around 250 trouts getting bigger and bigger!We put them from fingerlings 2,5 months ago!

faye

Those fish look very happy and healthy George.

ccBear

Great to see keep spreading the word.

GeorgeKara

@Faye Do they?It is our first experience with fish and we are not keen enough with fish.They look good but we are worried about the temperature!It rises up to 23 C .Moreover It is not the hotter part of the summer yet.
@ccBear We do our best.Aquaponics is alreaady spread in Greece.A commercial unit is being finished by a guy!

Charlie

I gotta ask... Ive looked over and over again but I cant understand how the drum filters work.

Are the pipes going in the top go down to the bottom of the drums? ... and then the water flows up through the filters and drain out at the pipes that go through the sides?

Im confused..

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