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BuildinganAquaponicsSystem
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Buildinganaquaponicssystemisveryeasyonceyouhaveasounddesign.Grow bed 4’ x 20’
Sump 1
Bio Filter
Fish tanks (100 gal ea)
Sump 2 Radial Filter
Key: valve
Water pump
Air pump
2” pvc
1 ½” pvc
Air line
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SystemOverview
• Thisisadualloopsystemwith:– 2100‐gallonfishtanks–
aradialfilter– abiofilter– twosumptanks– 2waterpumps–
2airpumpswith8airstones– 4ft x20ft growbed.
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SystemOverview
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Thecompletematerialslist,includingsupplierandcost,isfoundinahandout.
• Theentiresystemwillcostabout$2,000andisveryeasytodo.
• We built it in 4‐5 hours
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DualLoopSystem
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Oneoftheprimarybenefitsofadualloopsystemisthatitenablesyoutoseparate,ifneedbe,thehydroponicsfromtheaquaculturesystems.Thisisimportantforthefollowingreasons:1.
Ifyouneedtosprayorotherwisetreatthe
plantsyoucandosowithoutkillingthefish.2.
Ifyouneedtotreatthefishorthefishdie,
thenyoucansupplementthenutrientneedsoftheplantswhileyouarebringingthefishbackonline.
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Hydroponics Aquaculture
Grow bed 4’ x 20’
Sump 1
Bio Filter Fish tanks (100 gal ea)
Sump 2 Radial Filter
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DualLoopSystem
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Theaquacultureloopiscomprisedofthetwofishtanks,theradialfilter,thebiofilterandSump1.
• ThehydroponicssystemisSump2andthegrowbed.
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Thedualloopsystemrequirestheadditionofasecondwaterpumpaswellasvariousvalvestocontrolthedirectionofthewaterflow.
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Dual Loop
Aquaculture• 2 fish tank• Radial filter•
Biofilter• Sump tank 1
Hydroponics• Sump tank 2• Grow Bed
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DescriptionofComponents,OrderofConstructionand
SystemFlow
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FishTanks•
Twofood‐grade100‐gallonRubbermaidstockwatertanksweresetuponcinderblockstobeatthehighestpointoftheentiresystem.
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Tankswerelaidoutandareaforthegrowbedsmeasuredtomakesureeverythingisspacedproperlyandwouldfit.
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Close up3 layers high : tank 1
2 layers high: tank 2
1 layer: sump tanks
Cascading effect
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FishTanks•
Oneitemnotincludedinthissystem,butisnecessary,isthecoverforthefishtanks.
• Coversareimportantforatleasttworeasons:–
First,youdonotwantyourwaterexposedtothesunbecauseitwillproducealgae.
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Second,youdonotwantfishjumpingfromonetanktoanothernordoyouwantthemgettingintoyourraftsystemwheretheywilleattheplantroots.
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GrowBedorTroughConstruction•
Theinsidedimensionsofthegrowbedsare49.25incheswidebyalittleover20ft
long.– Thefloatingboardsare4ft wide.–
Theextra1.25“widthallowsforsomemovementoftheboards.Totalwidth(outside
tooutside)is52.25”.
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Thissingletroughwasconstructedusing2x12pressuretreatedlumber.
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Treatedlumberisokaytousebecausethefoodgradelinerusedinthetroughprotectstheplantsfromanychemicalleachingfromthetreatedlumber.
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The2x12sectionswerejoinedtogetherontheinteriorcornersusinggalvanizedbracketsandontheexteriorbysplicingwith1x4treatedwood.
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Thecornerswerereinforcedusinggalvanizedcornerpiecesand11/4"deckscrews.
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Hole for return water pipe
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1x4 wood splice bracket
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GrowBedorTroughConstruction•
Oncethelumberisassembled,laydownthelinerandcutittolength.
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GrowBedorTroughConstruction•
TheUltraScrimR20WWlinercomesasarollof6.167ft x100ft
andisFDAapprovedasfoodsafe.
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Pondlinerworksjustaswellandischeaper,butisnotcertifiedasfoodgradesoitcannotbeusedifyouaresellingyourproduct.–
TheUltraScrimonlycomesintwowidths,6.167ftand12ft
sothattendstodeterminethewidthofthegrowbeds.
– The6.167ft widthisperfectfor4ft
widebedswithsidesthatareunderafoothighwith2x12woodboards.
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GrowBedorTroughConstruction•
Oncelaidoutandcuttolength,thelinerwasstapledtothetopofthe2x12frame.
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GrowBedorTroughConstruction•
Afterthelinerisinstalled,1x2treatedlumberwasnailedontoptofurthersecurethelinerandfinishthetroughs.
• Predrilltheholessothatthestripsdon’tsplit.
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Tipsonfoldingtheliner•
Thecornerswerefoldedoveroneanother(thinkhospitalbed)insidethetankandthenthecornerlipswerecutalonga45degreediagonaltofacilitatestaplingtothetopoftheframe.
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BulkHeadFitting
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ThebulkheadfittingisinstalledthroughthelinerbycuttinganXinthelinerandfittingitthroughthelinerandthetroughwall.
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BulkHeadFitting•
TightendownasmuchaspossibletoavoidleaksandfitthePVCpipeintoitusingahammerandscrewdrivertotighten.
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WaterReturnPipe• Thepipeisconstructedoftwo10ft
long,2inchSchedule40PVCpipe,cuttosizeusingasawzall
bladeandjoinedtogetherwitha2inchslipcoupling.
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WaterReturnPipe•
Theintakeisattheendofthegrowingbedandhasafiltertokeepsolidsfromrecirculating.
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Thefilterisconstructedofhardwarenetandblackpetscreen,2”PVCendcap,and2clamps.
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WaterReturnPipe•
ThecompletedreturnpipeisleveledusingacoupleofscrappiecesofPVCpipe.
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Note:plumbingfixturesinthewaterneednotbegluedtogetherbecauseleakingisnotaconcern.
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GrowBedorTroughConstruction•
Thefinalstepistodrivesixteen3/4“x36"roundsteelstakesinwithasledgehammerandsecuredtotheoutsideallofthegrowbedbyscrewstokeepthewallsofthegrowbedfrombulgingwhenfilledwithwater.
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EndFilter• Allfiltersareconstructedinthesamefashion.
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LaydownaPVCpipeandanendcap,spacedabout6"apart,androllthehardwarenettogettheappropriatesizeandcutit.
• Dothesamewiththeblackpetscreen•
Jointhepiecestogetherwithclamps.• Trimexcessnetfromend.
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PlumbingofFishTanks
• Thetwofishtanksareplumbedtocreateacascadingwaterflow.
• Holeswerecutthroughthesidesusingaholesaw.
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RadialFilter•
Aholethatisthesamesizeasthepail(excludingthelip)isthencutinthetopofthe30galloncontainerusingajigsaw.
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Thepailisthenfittedintothehole,thelipoftheedgecatchingonthecoverofthe30galloncontainer.
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RadialFilter• Usingaholesaw,
twoholesarecutinthebarrelmakingcertaintoavoidseams.
• InstallanelbowandapieceofPVCtotheinletpipeatthebottom.
Theholeatthebottomistheinletwherethewaterentersfromthefishtank.
Theholeclosertothetopistheoutletleadingtothebiofilter.
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RadialFilter•
ThetopofthePVCpipeshouldbeatalevellittlebelowtheoutletline.
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RadialFilter•
ThePVCpipefromtheinletpipeshouldalsocomeupinthemiddleofthepail.
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Theoutletpipeisoutsideofthepailsothatsolidsareforceddownbygravity.
Inlet Pipe
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RadialFilter•
Thisshouldpreventmostsolidsfromexitingtheradialfilterintothebiofilter.
Overviewofplumbingfromtheoutside.
In from the fish tank
Out to bio‐filter
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RadialFilter•
Athirdholeiscutinthebottomofthetanktodrainoutaccumulatedfishwastesolids.
• Solids
canbeputintowormbinsforcompostingorwickingbedsorinthevegetablegarden.
Parts consist of:¾” Bulkhead fitting¾” ball valve
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Bio-filter• Next,waterflowstothebio‐filter.•
Itissimplya30galloncontainerwithalidthatcontainstwotothreepackagesofbirdnettingscrunchedupintothecontainer.
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Bio‐filter•
Thepurposeofthenettingistoprovidealargesurfaceareaforthebacteriatocolonizeandtransformammonia(toxictofish)intonitritethennitratewhichisnutritioustoplants.
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Youdon’tneedtodoanythingtoaddthebacteriaastheyareallaroundus.
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Ifyouwanttospeeduptheprocess,youcanspikeyourbio‐filterwithstore‐boughtbacteria.
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Bio‐filter•
The30galloncontainerisplumbedwithtwo2"holes,sawedwithaholesaw.
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Theinletbringswaterfromtheradialfilterandtheoutletistosump#1.
IN from Radial Filter
OUT to Sump #1
Bio‐filter
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Bio‐filter•
TheoutletisatalevelthatisessentiallylevelwiththetopofSump#1.
• Thispreventsbackflowfromthesumpintotheradialfilter.
Sump #1
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Bio‐filter•
Similarly,topreventbackflowfromthebiofiltertotheradialfilter,theintakefromtheradialfilterneedstobealittlehigherthantheoutlettothesump.
Inside View Outside View
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Bio‐filter•
Theintaketotheradialfilterhasanelbowdownsothatthewaterisforcedtopercolatethroughthebirdnetting.
Elbow
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SumpTanks• Twosumpsareonlynecessaryifyouuseadualloopsystem.
• Otherwiseyoucanrundirectlyfromthebiofilterintothegrowbeds.
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Itisrecommendedyouhave1sumptankafterthebiofilterwhichservesadualpurpose:anadditionalsettlingtankandadegassingtank.
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SumpTanks•
Innormaloperation,thevalveleadingtosump#2andthepumpthatfeedsitareclosedandthevalvethatleadsbacktothepumpthatre‐circulatesthewatertothefirstfishtankisopen
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FloatingRafts
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Thefinalstageofconstructionistheconstructionofthefloatingrafts.
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FloatingRafts• Atemplateforholespacingforthefloatingraftsisa2ft
x4ft with21/8"holesinitonapatternwithholes4"apart.
• Thisdesigngives122holeswiththe2ft x4ft template.
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FloatingRafts•
ItisrecommendedtocuttheStyrofoamboardinhalftomake2ft x2ft
piecestomakeiteasiertoworkwith.
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FloatingRafts• Anothertemplate(2.5ft
x4ft)hasholesofsimilardiameter(21/8”)butarespaced8"apartandthereforeresultin24holes.
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FloatingRafts•
Holesspaced8"apartareperfectformaturegreens(lettuce).
• Theholesspaced4"apartareperfectforseedlings.
• Boththe2ft x4ft withholesspaced4"apartandthe2.5ft x4ft
raftwithholesspaced8"apartweighabout30lb
whenfull,whichisworkableformostpeople.
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FloatingRafts•
Somepeoplecreateanintermediatespacing(6"apart)forplantsthatarebetweenseedlingandfullmaturity.
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Alternatively,youcanusethesame4"spacing,butnotfillupalloftheholes.
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Ifyouchoosethislattercourseyoudowantsomeplugtoputintheemptyholesasanyexposureofthewatertolightwillproducealgae,whichyouwanttoavoid.
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Alsonotethatwhilethetemplatehasholesthatare21/8"indiameter,usea2"holesawbladetocuttherafts.
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Theextra1/8"inthetemplateistomakeitsothatthe2"sawbladewillfitinsidethetemplatewalls,makingitmucheasiertoworkwith.
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Conclusion•
Fromacommercialstandpoint,aquaponicsworksifyoucansellthefishtocoveryourcostsandyoucanminimizeyoursupplementalinputsandmaximizeyourincomebygrowinggreens(lettuces,microgreens,kale,etc.)andselltorestaurantsandfarmersmarkets.
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Plantsharvestedarestillalivesinceyouharvestthemrootsandallsotheirshelf‐lifeismuchlonger.
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Forexample,youcanharvestlettuce,keepingtherootballinabag,andreplantitaweeklateranditwillcontinuetogrow.
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Conclusion•
Generallyspeaking,youwillnotfinditprofitabletoproducetomatoesandotherfruitingplantsinafloating
raftbed
becausetheytakeuptoomuchspaceinyoursystem(e.g.onetomatoplanttakesup2sq.ft.vs.2lettucesin1sq.ft.)relativetotheirpriceandyoucannotsupplytheadditionalnutrients(potassiumandphosphorous)efficientlyincomparisontoothermethods.
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Conclusion•
Separatetheaquaculturesystemfromthegreenhousehydroponicssystemsothatyoudon’tusevaluablegreenhousespacetoraisefishthatpreferadarkenvironment.
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Thebiggestcosttothesystemwillbethegreenhouseandtheheating/coolingthereof.
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Conclusion•
Youneedtodecide,upfront,whetheryouneedcertificationofoursystemforthesaleoffishand/orvegetablesandbuildaccordinglyasitwillnotbeprofitabletotakethesystemapartandoutfititwithfoodsafematerialslater.
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Thefishsideoftheaquaponicssystemisnotveryprofitablesoyouneedtodeterminewhetherthecostofthefishharvestedforpersonaluseisatasatisfactorycost.
