Hi everyone, i have being dreaming for a long time about establish a aquaponics farm and it`s beginning to get realized, my system right now is in beginning state, greenhouse of 20' x 22' will be build as soon as the plastic film and the fittings show up, (next wednesday if i must believe Fedex) right now 4/19 they are in their way to me, 10 days ago planted around 300 seeds (a little bit of everything, mostly lettuce), got already 6 IBC tanks cut with 170 gallons reserve for fish in each of them, and the top of the tanks + another 2 tops (total 8) ready to be fill with media (can i use 1/2" black lava rocks or will be better 1" river rocks?) and plants, also 20 10' x 4" pvc pipes with 2" holes every 8" ready for a NFT system, still do not have the fish and most probably will have to begin recirculating water with nutrients for a while until the fishes are grown and giving out enough fertilizer :) for the plants to eat. Like every one begining can use lots of advies and still have many questions but i hope to get ahead with some help and common sense.

i will like to begin with hybrid red niloticus tilapia, i will appreciate anyone giving me info about where to find them and advies about growing them up.

Also advies about hydroponics plant feed is needed, and for later of course fish feed, one of my worries is having at the Greenhouse place only 5 hours of direct sunlight, could this be a problem?, what about complementing with not so expensive lights? One more question, what it`s the importance of a sump tank? what should i do, pluging in the 6 tanks together to make just one big system or running them apart? thanks for your help.