I really like this guys system.

https://youtu.be/b_VROMhAoSs

I'd like to see different systems made stateside.

Oh, Rob's great. Very down to earth, great guy to talk to if you're thinking of doing aquaponics. Australia was home to a lot of the successful, early internet aquaponic groups, and it still shows in searches and forum listings. I don't think Rob himself has been doing this any longer than I have, but he's in a year-round growing environment and has certainly put more money into than I have (he's also a lot more personable and charismatic!). I always enjoy discussing aquaponics and permaculture with him.

There's a lot going on these days stateside, with strong communities in Colorado, Hawaii, and elsewhere, and a number of semi-professional groups that you can join. This guy (also named Rob) has done some good stuff on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channe...

Here on garden.org we've had a few threads on the subject:

The thread "Aquaponics...Anyone tried it?" in Texas Gardening forum
The thread "Aquaponics" in Permaculture forum

And Dave did a podcast:
https://garden.org/ideas/view/...

I could point you at other resources if those don't have what you're looking for. This is the second thread on the subject I've seen here in the Ponds and Water Gardening forum, though we didn't get very far in the last one. With aquaponics' overlap with pisciculture and water management, I think discussion here is as good a place as any.


Here's a chop and flip we did for the local Makerspace last year. Not sure why I never took any picture once everything was planted and filled in. They added a top off tank, monitoring sensors, an autofeeder, and a suncover. We'll probably set it up again when the weather warms. If anyone's interested, I can post about my own systems as I rebuild them this year.

My plan is to put 2 chop and flip and a 4' by 12' grow bed system in a greenhouse. The greenhouse will get a barrel stove. I'm planning to wrap the barrel stove with copper tube run a continuous loop (garden hose 12v pump) into a black painted IBC tote. Heat the tote full of water and it should help provide heat and humidity to the greenhouse in winter. Also I can submerge a copper coil tube in the black IBC and pipe it anywhere in need warm water. Definitely putting a coil of heated water around my fish tanks. I'm not trying to keep a poly tunnel at 80°f. Just trying to keep it above plant killing temps.

I'm still in the drawing stages. Given my history as a carpenter and blacksmith, and low voltage tech I'm confident with God's help I can make it work.

Also it may cost me $600.00 in copper tube alone. So baby steps!

I've done similar things for hydronic heating in my greenhouses, and I've been amazed at how much heating the water will heat the greenhouse itself. I'm sure you know already, but make sure that none of the fish water comes in contact with any of that copper tubing. Copper is very expensive; I've used pex and even polyethylene where the temperature wasn't going to be too high. Dropping a coil of poly tubing into the water itself provides quite a bit of heat exchange, though, obviously, it would require some testing.

homeshow said:My plan is to put 2 chop and flip and a 4' by 12' grow bed system in a greenhouse. The greenhouse will get a barrel stove. I'm planning to wrap the barrel stove with copper tube run a continuous loop (garden hose 12v pump) into a black painted IBC tote. Heat the tote full of water and it should help provide heat and humidity to the greenhouse in winter. Also I can submerge a copper coil tube in the black IBC and pipe it anywhere in need warm water. Definitely putting a coil of heated water around my fish tanks. I'm not trying to keep a poly tunnel at 80°f. Just trying to keep it above plant killing temps.

I'm still in the drawing stages. Given my history as a carpenter and blacksmith, and low voltage tech I'm confident with God's help I can make it work.

Also it may cost me $600.00 in copper tube alone. So baby steps!

Hi Homeshow, have you finished your system yet? I would love to see the result . If not there is some great information on ornamental aquaponics / how to make a plastic item look more "natural" on the website "Aquaponics Revolution"
It's cool to have an aquaponics system, even better when it looks great :)
I started with plastic too but I now work with lined wood. I prefer it.
Cheers