Aquaponics For Beginners

Charles unless you have a long time history with raising fish and farming in general you are really asking for trouble starting AP at such a grand scale. It takes about a year for experienced folks to get their system stabilized and running smoothly. Parts of that year are simply getting all the chemistry stable regardless of experience. Not to be a Debby Downer here but commercial AP systems go broke all the time and many of those folks are experienced. If you are asking these questions on this page you are way in over your head. Please join a commercial forum thread and learn, learn, learn. We don't need any more commercial failures as it casts a pawl on AP in general. It is always easy to throw $ at a new venture. Money is no way a formula for success. We see it all the time. Keep your powder dry until you are way past these basic questions before you take your shot. All the best and have a Happy New Year.

Charles, I've been doing aquaponics for about 4 years. I have 500, 100, and 50 gallon systems. Not a day goes by that I don't think about what I would do differently if I did it again. I'm a believer in go big or go home but Jim is giving you good advise. I will add to that if you are planning on selling fish and veggies you need to find/create a market for what you grow before you get big. As easy as aquaponics sounds it's far from it, at least until you understand everything you're getting in to. 

Charles-

  My advice is NOT to start big.  Being on this forum tells me that you are just beginning your AP adventure.  I'm not saying don't do it, I'm saying that you may need to get a bit of experience under your belt before jumping in so deep. 

  If you just want to raise fish, join a fish husbandry forum, they will advise you on the nuances of raising just fish and its downfalls.

  If you want to get an understanding of AP then my advise would be to start with a dual IBC system.  Here you are looking at approx a dual 250 gallon fish tanks with grow beds stationed above them.  Start out with a media based system as the grow beds act as a filtration system by trapping the organic matter within the media where the worms can break it down to help in feeding your plants.  You don't need to grow veggies in these systems, you can grow ornimentals, fruit bushes, cut flowers ect.

  First, learn the basics, the quarks of start up and how long this system takes to establish the two main bacteria that will break down the ammonia and nitrites into nitrates that your plants will feed on.

  Most of all, research, research and more research.  You will be much happier and comfortable with your system and THEN you can expand.