Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello,

I am in my second year in learning and enjoying aquaponics,
having some potassium problems (i think) but otherwise having a good year.

The system is in Stevenage,any other system near here?

Cheers.

Hi BGA,

Welcome to BYAP!


Congratulations on surviving year 1!

Upload some pics of your system and in particular, detailed pics of the Potassium problem. This forum is full of experts on Potassium problems who can help confirm the diagnosis and suggest remedies.

--
Sam

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Jardín Acuaponía #1

This thread seems a bit old but thought I would ty and see if any movement

I've just build my system which is an IBc chop and flip currently battling with leaks and home made bell siphon at the minute but wonder How the people in the UK are getting on I'm based in the Midlands Birmingham and Bidford On Avon

Happy Aquaculturing!

Hi,
it's great to see so many Uk Aquaponeers.
I started 2 years ago. Never had fish or grown anything before so it was all new. I'm now on my second batch of trout (x30, now 29 i think). I have a 1000l Fish tank, with 3 chopped grow beds and one of those dog bath tubs also.

I really enjoy it, and wish I could spend more time on it but still grateful for the time and space i have.

Very interested to see people doing it commercially here also...living the dream!

here's a link to my photo album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/P6Szk0kOHnLZd5do2

Hi moiz, your setup looks great, I’m looking into starting my own project but was wary on trout , did you have any problems keeping them cool enough over summer? Also where can you get fingerlings from? I looked but it’s mainly bulk orders.

Thanks

Hi Moiz

Looked at your Photos and really impressed, Im still cylcling with a few plants and adding chicken manure to the water tank and have just done some readings and still think the levels are too high

GH-180,
KH-40,
PH-6
NO2-5
NO3-160

What do you think Ive bought a reverse osmosis water sytem so my have to start again with that?

Kind Regards

Sean Holmes

Hi All,

Ive got plans for a big fish tank in the future - but not got anywhere permanent for grow beds as yet. As such, im looking to start a small scale system - using a wheelie bin as the tank, and use some plastic tubs for grow beds for a year or two.

Main concern is weather and fish - I don't eat fish, and don't know anyone who does and are willing to kill/prep their fish, so I'm thinking of sticking to fish i can keep all year round- maybe 3/4 goldfish?

I'm based in London, but have a lot of open space around me - so it gets cold in the winter. My plan is to insulate, or double insulate the bin, (maybe first layer of expanding foam, leave an air gap then solid insulation boards (celotex type that i have available). same would go for the grow beds.

The bin would be above ground.

Would this setup be ok for fish to survive over the winter? or am i looking for trouble and would need to empty the fish out over winter?

Grow beds will only be say 60cmx40cm x 40cm (60 long, 40 wide and high) and only two of them to start with. Hopefully once established, im looking to add a wicking bed over the summer.


The whole lot will then be clad around the sides with some form of panelling to make it look tidy and attractive. The panneling will include pump and any other bits so hopefully all enclosed within the unit.


Any issues anyone can foresee that i can look to resolve at design stage?

Also plant wise, any ideas on growing through the winter? (if i can get sufficient plants and keep temp up, i'd like to cover the setup in a glass box over winter to try and keep frost off!

Hi Unclebob,

Wheelie-bin is a cool idea, I've wondered about them before, might need some reinforcement, perhaps just tying a few ropes tightly round it would help. The insulation is definitely a good idea.

Goldfish will survive the winter no problem.

Growing through the winter is not feasible in the UK without additional heating and lighting. A greenhouse will help extend the growing season a bit, but really its light that's the issue; there just isn't enough for anything to actually grow throughout the darkest months of the year. Light is the limiting factor when extending the growing season into the autumn whereas low temps is the limiting factor in bringing forward the growing season on the spring. So if you have a greenhouse and manage to raise your water temps early in spring then you could perhaps plant a month or so earlier.

There are veggies that can survive the winter temps, such as leeks, brussel sprouts, cabbages etc, these can be harvested in the middle of winter, but *growth* is basically not happening at this time of year.

perhaps post a schematic drawing of your system plan, detailing the components and flow of water, then people can offer you advice or ideas.