Compact System Design

[B. Pearcy]

I have been researching aquaponics off and on for 3 years. I don't really know much about plumbing, which is one reason I haven't built a system on my own, but another reason is that I live in a subdivision with an HOA and need a compact design that is inconspicuous. 

If I build one my intention will be to supplement my above ground vegetable gardening beds.

I've been looking at pictures and videos on this site trying to find something with the beds above the fish tank.  The smaller commercial versions with small fish tanks won't really provide the quantity of fish that we'd like. There's a nice commercial version for $1995 -$ 2995 which looks good, but I can't help but think that I can build one for less. 

I like the one on the 3x5 Aquaponics blog, but I'm wanting to see some other options and ideas too.

I think a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank might work well for catfish, but I need to come up with some creative ways to stack the grow beds.  I'm wondering if there are other alternatives for grow beds besides using smaller Rubbermaids tanks.

Wood isn't really an option due to termites, so I'd like to use some type of readily available shelving or possibly the folding saw horses I've seen at Home Depot.

I like the basic idea of this commercial version, but something more vertical would be preferable.  I like the Aquabundance system, but I think I might really need something bigger to grow more fish.

[TCLynx]

Yea, it costs a lot to get custom plastic molding done.

[Michael]

Check out otterponics he has a stacked goat feeder for grow beds  http://otterponics.net/index.html

 

 

also check out his face book page