A Backyard Aquaponic Pond System

A few years ago I started thinking it was time to get rid of my swimming pool. Carefully looking into my options and finances, I searched for ideas on how it could be done. Whatever I did, it had to be environmentally friendly, low cost, and provide some useable benefit. I spent weeks searching and coming up with ideas. Then I came across aquaponics, and I knew my search was over.

In case you don't know, aquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponics into a single system. Each system providing some of the needs of the other and eliminating major problems that occur to each system individually. Basically, and with much oversimplification, it works by having the fish feed the plants and the plants filter the water for the fish. This graphic shows a very basic aquaponic system.

So I decided to turn my pool into an aquaponic system. It fit all the requirements I had previously set. It was great for the environment, it would be low cost if I did the work myself, and it would provide me with organic food. It was perfect. There was one problem however. It had never been done before. I searched and searched, but the closest thing I could find was a natural filter that used water plants to partially filter a pond. This system would be one of a kind. And with that, I had to do it.

Without going into any details, I did it. I now have a unique aquaponic system that is functional. In one my next posts I plan on going in to detail on how it functions and show the results. For now, here is a simple diagram of the waterflow and system components.

Here are some photos of the area.

 

My goal here is to provide a cost effective alternative to an unwanted swimming pool by converting it into an earth friendly, aquaponic system that may possibly pay for itself in the long run. It hasn't quite worked out exactly as I had hoped, but overall I am very pleased at my choice to do this. The problems I have can and will be overcome. In future posts I plan to discuss them in hopes that someone out there can help me.

I Eat Dog Poo Every Day, And So Should You...

It's the "recycle" of life and it's nothing new. This simple process goes something like this...

Animals crap.

Microbes, worms, and insects break it down.

The left over nutrients are absorbed into the soil.

Plants use the nutrients.

We eat the plants.

Even though this basic process works, if you want to eat the nutrients from your dogs feces, you will most likely want to distance the turd from the roots of a plant you are about to eat. Just a few more steps and the stink bomb is a distant memory.

Just in case you think I am full of crap, the photos will show that you are correct. We are what we eat...

Dogs pinch many loaves.

Microbes and insects break them down.

 Material is absorbed into the soil.

Wild plants(weeds) thrive on the nutrients.
This photo is only a few weeks after I cleared the area of all plants.

Pull the plants and throw them into the backyard compost bin.

Microbes work their magic.

Finished compost is used as a soil additive in the garden.

Tomatoes, potatoes, melons, etc... absorb the nutrients.

Eat the fruit born of last seasons dog dookie.

From poo to the best tasting cantaloupe you can find. Nature at it's best.