A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Small System Client Build

This is a system that we (Atria Aqua Gardens) recently built for a client in California.

The system consists of 4- 50 gallon media beds and 3- 16' DWC troughs. A 275 gallon sump (recently expanded to 550 gallons), a 300 gallon fish tank, and a 4' by 8' seedling table.

The media beds are "standard issue", but we designed and build the grow bed stands ourselves here in Salina, Kansas.

Some trenching and plumbing. I placed packaging tape and buckets over the DWC fittings to keep sand and dirt off of them...

Geotextile down...and stringing out the the troughs outer dimensions...and (above) me probably over explaining something simple :)

My trusty partner in this endeavor Jeff!

DWC troughs staked out...

and framed...

Fine leveling the troughs with sand...

Lining with Duraskrim...

Fish tank and plumbing in place...

Sump tank getting there...

Out from the fish tank and into the grow beds...

Via a four way indexing valve...

Filling the DWC troughs...

Pictured below is what the system looked like 7.5 weeks from planting of seeds...

A bit later (at about 11 weeks) came the AP heirloom tomatoes (grown in a dual root zone set up)...

It was a fun little build in a pretty cool part of the world (Nappa county, wine making country)...for a wonderful client.

3 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jeff S on December 25, 2014 at 7:59pm

Awesome job. And I though my system was a lot of work

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vlad Jovanovic on December 27, 2014 at 8:48am

Thanks for the encouragement Jeff.

It took (us two people) about 3-1/2 days for the actual build, and then a 1/2 day fill the system with water and start it cycling...but there was certainly time spent on designing, planning, and logistics that went into it too. That way, we had everything we needed to complete this project in a timely manner right there on-site (instead of having to run around buying/finding things). Having a solid plan and a good material list, helps things immensely.

I guess the 'worst' part about it was pounding the stakes for the DWC troughs. The ground was pretty darn hard, and it was unseasonably hot that day (around 100f)...but other than that, it was pretty fun to put together.

Thanks again...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jack Dunbar on December 28, 2014 at 5:26pm

That's a nice looking system. Can you give us an idea of cost overall? Do you build systems in New England? At 100 deg. I would have died. I don't do well in hot weather. I hope you guys took the time after a hot day to enjoy some ice cold refreshments LoL...