Assembly - Complete

Finally, my aquaponics system is built and partially set up.

The frame is wood.  I decided this would not only be less expensive to construct (than to buy a metal shelving unit), but also easier to set up exactly how I wanted it.

There are 4 water chambers within the unit.  The top receives the water pumped from the fish tank, and the lower 3 units are gravity fed with drains and pipes. 

The bottom chamber drains back into the fish tank by gravity as well.

(the water is cloudy from the addition of the gravel media - it was cleared up by the filters in 12hrs)

 

There is currently nothing in the top chamber.  I may eventually hang lights from the ceiling to operate this chamber as a growing chamber, but right now I don't have enough fish to make this necessary.  At this point, I intend to add bio balls to the top chamber to utilize it soley as a biological filter.

The second chamber is a gravel media growing chamber.  It has been planted with two varieties of lettuce and various herbs.  These seeds were all sewn on 10/11/09.

Sewing seeds has definitely been a learning experience.  Because the water line must be very close to the top surface of the gravel, even very slight adjustments in water flow can cause the seed to be washed away.  It is likely the lettuce seed that was sewn closest to the in-flow side of the chamber has been spread throughout the gravel media.  I will definitely work on developing a better seed sewing procedure.

The third chamber will be set up to be a gravel media growing chamber.  Because the gravel was so dirty, even after cleaning, the third chamber currently serves as a filter.  I do intend to plant this chamber after I have partially grown out the second chamber to get an idea of new techniques to try (the filter floss on the left will likely eventually be replaced with gravel media).

Only the second and third chambers are currently supplied with grow lights.  The fourth chamber will also have lights before it is seeded.

The fourth chamber will likely be used for a raft growing system.  Currently I am searching for a sustainable alternative to rock wool to start the seed in.  I am also researching good materials for the actual construction of the raft.  (I am considering insulation board)  Until the raft is constructed, the fourth chamber will be utilized solely as a filter.