Tropical Fish Forums

[toffee]

This is a tank that I am planning, it will have no mechanical filter media to change, produce food for fishes and use minimum of energy.It's based on time test aquaponic practice.

Fish waste and fish tank water flow into the media bed on the left where I shall plant some bigger house plants. This is basically a constant flow bed.

"filtered" water then flow back to the bank via a small pump. Raft with grow cups floats on top of the fish tank to grow more plants, a 'deep water culture' practice. I am thinking of mint, super fast growth and doesn't require high light. But may also plant some other herb, trailing ones around the corners.

a light tube is build into the raft, probably need a water proved.

Probably look for herbivorous fishes, so I can feed some of the plant growth. Thinking of blackwater loving fishes like tetra, angelfish, gouramis.

I am planning to place it close to a south facing window to take advantage of nature lighting. Back of the tank will be blocked so minimum sunlight hits the water. I live in SoCal desert so minimum use of heater also.

So a small underwater pump or power head, minimum lighting and no filter media to change. Aquaponic people normally prefer 1:1 fish tank volume vs growth bed volume. In this case, more like 1 : 0.3. But then again, they have extremely high fish density and feed them few times a day. I intend to have life fish stock and feed infrequently.

Thoughts?[/list]

[diademhill]

It won't work.

South facing window = cooked fish and overnight temperature drops even with a heater.

The fish you have selected are not herbivores and unless you allow mosquitos to hatch the tank would not feed them.


I am familiar with aquaponics - you work it for the plants or you work the water for the fish but not both.

[toffee]

[diademhill]

What is your aim?
You could keep a few guppies but livestock would compromise any plants.
Much easier to move away form the window and have a overhead trickle filter that you can grow houseplants in.

[toffee]

this is interesting:

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=11308

[diademhill]

[toffee]

Most people on the aquaponic site found it interesting, I do too. It was a neat little experiment.

[diademhill]

[kimura]

A lot of hating going on in this thread. I think it's a cool idea and
would love to hear how it turns out.

[ranlly]