It's possible to make an indoor Aquaponics system.
Aquaponics is a method by which you grow plants and nurture aquatic animals together in a system that recirculates the nutrients produced to the benefit of both Plants and Animals.If you're interested in trying out the aquaponics approach for yourself, there are some great hacks for building your own system.A few extras from your local hardware store are included in this article, which uses components from Ikea.The system looks good enough to keep in your living room or bedroom.
Step 1: You can purchase the frame at Ikea.
You'll need the main frame from IKEA.Two of the plastic containers will be combined with one or two wire baskets.The 50 liter container is used for the fish tank at the bottom, and the 25 liter containers are used to grow the plants.The packaging instructions should be followed to assemble all the parts.If you can't find the frame at IKEA, ask around to see if friends have a spare one, or make a request on a site like Freecycle.
Step 2: The wire basket should be used to support the plastic container that will hold the growbed.
If you put the container on the floor, you don't need a fish tank at the bottom.You may want to trim the plastic lip on the top container to ensure a better fit; in this example, the handles have been cut off the ends of the container as well.This is not required.The plastic can be cut with a small saw or wire pliers.
Step 3: If you want to personalize the system to fit in with your décor, now is a good time to do it.
An example of a fish tank that has been decorated with a strip of plastic sheet is shown in the photo.
Step 4: Use a small 600 lph electric pump in the corner of the fish tank to take the water up to the growbed.
The water exits from the growbed in the opposite corner.When the water returns to the fish tank, it pushes any solid waste towards the pump, which will pull it up into the growbed.A ball-valve can be used on this system.The water is diverted from the pump to the fish tank.This allows you to control the amount of water going into the growbed, and the diverted water also creates some water movement in the fish tank, as well as providing additional aeration.13mm pipes were used.It's recommended that you start with the growbed.
Step 5: The male and female threaded adapters is required.
You need to drill a hole in the growbed that will fit between the wire mesh squares.The hole should be about 6 or 7 centimeters from the edge of the container in each direction.
Step 6: Attach the male to the growbed.
Put a rubber O-ring on the threads.Once you have a nice snug fit, screw the female and male together.If you want to, you can add some Silicon to the bottom.It's time to use a reducer on the male.The reducer shown here is 25mm to 13mm.The standpipe is where the water will exit the growbed.You will need to cut the pipe down so that you have the right height for your growbed media.If you have used it, let it dry.
Step 7: The 25mm-13mm reducer is on the far left of the photo.
The water will leave the growbed here.
Step 8: The bell should be in the middle.
The piece of pipe has a cap on top.You want the holes in the side to be no bigger than 2.5 cm from the bottom of the pipe.The water will stop at this level.
Step 9: The 100mm media guard is used to keep growbed media out of the bell snatch.
This has holes drilled into it to allow water to come in and to keep the roots and media out.The cap helps keep things out of the bell siphon.
Step 10: It can be difficult to get a bell siphon working.
If you want to quickly empty a growbed into a fish tank using a simple mechanical method with no moving or electrical parts, you need to use a siphon.
Step 11: Add the by-pass.
It's an important addition that this setup allows you to control how much water flows into the growbed.Additional aeration and water movement can be provided by the ball-valve bypass, which allows you to divert some water back to the fish tank.The fish's health is improved by this.There is a small piece of 13mm pipe coming from the small 600 lph pump in the picture below.The T-Bar is attached and the 13mm pipe goes up to the 90-degree elbow, which empties the water into the growbed.The ball-valve that controls the flow of water comes off the second part of the T-Bar.
Step 12: Once you have everything set up, add water to the fish tank and start the pump.
To see if everything works correctly and if the system is strong.
Step 13: The container should be filled with some sort of growing media.
This could be hydroton, lava rock, perlite, river stones or something similar.It's a good idea to use something that allows the water to flow through the growbed.
Step 14: You will be ready to put plants in your system once this is done.
To start producing ammonia, add a couple of small fish.
Step 15: For more information, read up on the topic.
Setting up your system is just the beginning, you will need to learn more about the system's use and benefits to make the most of it.It's recommended that you check out additional information on how to actually run your system and to learn more about how aquaponics works.You can request further information from your local library, purchase books about aquaponics, or look for more resources online.