Trial system in San Diego

[Jubilee Persky]

    Hey everyone finally getting around to sharing my first system. It's a "CHOP" system using an IBC fishtank ,150 gallon sump and right now I have two 50 gallon rubbermaid growbeds going, and two more built and ready to hook up. I have had a hydroponic garden going for the last 4 years, found out about aquaponics about two years ago and it seemed like a perfect fit, I've always kept aquariums since I was a little kid.
    I did a ton of reading online, probably read most of backyardaquaponics forums, finally started building last winter. Did the fishless cycling and added fish in April. It's pretty lightly stocked, three Koi and a clean up crew of plecos, but the growth has been amazing. Also I have been been using Maxicrop with iron and have worms in the beds that are thriving. In the works is a much bigger system, probably a hybrid gravel bed with rafts or NFT and a greenhouse.  This IS addictive , isn't it?

[Jubilee Persky]

[Jubilee Persky]

Sorry, took a min. to figure out how to make pics show without a click. Gotta love that swiss chard, huh? :)

[Harold Sukhbir]

Welcome.Think I'm getting jealous...Great work!

Jubilee Persky said:

Sorry, took a min. to figure out how to make pics show without a click. Gotta love that swiss chard, huh?

[Jubilee Persky]

Ok heres the pics

[Russell Young]

Can you give me more details on how you set up the standpipe and drain from the side of the Rubbermaid 50 gallon stock tank?  I am going to use the same stock tanks for my grow beds and I want to use the blind plug on the side where a drain plug should be just like yours.  Thanks for any help.  Russell

[RupertofOZ]

Your "Chop" system is probably a bit small to add raft, or NFT to it.... keep it as a seperate system... and build a "bigger one"...

You'd probably need a full IBC as a fish tank....minimum,,, a couple of media beds... and a sump.... to have a hybrid system.. raft or NFT...

But it's certainly possible... here's mine in the backyard...