Finally started putting together my aquaponics setup, and I’m stoked about it! This system will just have the one grow bed for now. I already have more totes…
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25 Responses to My homemade IBC tote aquaponics system – First look
I don’ know enough yet to recommend a certain fish, but I know others use perch, trout, catfish. Smaller setups can even use goldfish. You can use any fish that can survive in your climate. I recommend using one that you can also eat though.
I would love to do something like that. I will have to use a fish other than tilapia though because It is illegal to have tilapia in Louisiana without getting a special license and that is a nightmare. What other fish would you recommend trying in it.
Beneficial bacteria grows in the gravel that converts the fish waste into nutrients for the plants. The water is filtered that way so it is clean for the fish, and it feeds the plants at the same time.
Fish can only eat the larvae in the tank. Even if no mosquitos are bred in the tank, mosquitos will still exist in the environment (especially in the South). Bats are great – no need to fear them ^vv^
Florida has 13 species of bats. If you have water and food in the area, they will hopefully just find you. If you build a house that is appropriate for bats, they will set up shop and give you pest control and guano which you may or may not want.
it’s a submersible pond pump. It’s 110v AC. It may be hard to find a proper pump in 12v, so if you want to run off of solar you will probably need to run an inverter.
Nice vid mate, I was making my set up today,
ALEXCOASTER
June 9, 2013 at 9:38 am
I don’ know enough yet to recommend a certain fish, but I know others use perch, trout, catfish. Smaller setups can even use goldfish. You can use any fish that can survive in your climate. I recommend using one that you can also eat though.
TheLordHumungus
June 9, 2013 at 10:13 am
I would love to do something like that. I will have to use a fish other than tilapia though because It is illegal to have tilapia in Louisiana without getting a special license and that is a nightmare. What other fish would you recommend trying in it.
phelps4824
June 9, 2013 at 10:19 am
Craigslist.
TheLordHumungus
June 9, 2013 at 11:07 am
…so you’re telling me that guy that sold me birds was ripping me off?
TheLordHumungus
June 9, 2013 at 11:45 am
where did you get the tanks from ?
melliston1
June 9, 2013 at 12:03 pm
you don’t need to go buy bats …. if you build a birdhouse … do you buy the birds?? … if you build it they will come
melliston1
June 9, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Beneficial bacteria grows in the gravel that converts the fish waste into nutrients for the plants. The water is filtered that way so it is clean for the fish, and it feeds the plants at the same time.
TheLordHumungus
June 9, 2013 at 1:21 pm
hwo does the amonia get filtered out so it dont kill the plants??
William meizingier
June 9, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Washington D.C.
Congress is full of them.
fangofbaelin
June 9, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Fish can only eat the larvae in the tank. Even if no mosquitos are bred in the tank, mosquitos will still exist in the environment (especially in the South). Bats are great – no need to fear them ^vv^
cataubawoman
June 9, 2013 at 2:47 pm
Cool then we can have mascara too :0) j/k
PlanoPrincess
June 9, 2013 at 3:46 pm
I’d rather the fish eat them than the bats…
Gyva02
June 9, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Florida has 13 species of bats. If you have water and food in the area, they will hopefully just find you. If you build a house that is appropriate for bats, they will set up shop and give you pest control and guano which you may or may not want.
cataubawoman
June 9, 2013 at 5:35 pm
where the hell do you get bats?
TheLordHumungus
June 9, 2013 at 6:14 pm
Put up some bat-houses. One brown bat can eat 600 mosquitoes per hour ^vv^
cataubawoman
June 9, 2013 at 6:27 pm
some advice, cover the fish tank or else it’ll fill with algae. also, add some hiding spots for the fish, like pieces of pipe.
flamedrag18
June 9, 2013 at 6:43 pm
u got me on that one..keep up the good work
fj32chris
June 9, 2013 at 7:02 pm
the fish eat any mosquito larva
TheLordHumungus
June 9, 2013 at 7:19 pm
only thing bad about this is///////////////its a breeding ground for buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz moqueetos!!
fj32chris
June 9, 2013 at 7:51 pm
it’s a submersible pond pump. It’s 110v AC. It may be hard to find a proper pump in 12v, so if you want to run off of solar you will probably need to run an inverter.
TheLordHumungus
June 9, 2013 at 8:10 pm
What pump are you using? Is it a fish tank pump? I wanted a 12v pump running from a solar panel but can’t find one rated for continuous duty.
breezebro
June 9, 2013 at 8:56 pm
yup
TheLordHumungus
June 9, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Use 3/4 inch gravel
43Saturne
June 9, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Very nice! I haven’t done this yet, but plan on it in the near future.
OTGNewbie
June 9, 2013 at 9:54 pm