Home Made and Home Grown

story and photos courtesy of

Ken Pilarczyk of the Barrelponics Group

I have been reading on aquaponics since the '70's. I knew I wanted to try it and I knew I wanted to build a greenhouse, so I started looking on Google. I found a guy http://stores.ebay.com/lcgs-greenhouse-systems-supply that was selling a bending tool to bend 1 3/8" top rail tubing (top rail can be bought at Lowe's). It comes 10'6" long. (3) sections will form an arch. The arch is 20' wide and 10' high. There is plenty of flex in the ends in case of any goofs. Laying the arch flat, self taping screws were used to hold all the arches together.

I laid out an area 20'x42'. I cut 32" lengths of top rail, then flattened one end to make stakes. Squaring the area up, I started at the highest corner. I drove the stake down leaving about 4" exposed. Spacing 36" on center and leveling off the first stake, I set the rest of the stakes. Screwing and leveling 2"x4"'s around the out side, was the next step. I laid down plastic for weeds, then put down gravel to level the area out.

The arches were then set on or into the stakes. The top rails will slide into each other. When I would have two female end, I would cut a 6" piece of 1"EMT electrical conduit. I would slide it in place and drill and screw it. The conduit was a little heavy for the self taping screws I was using.
The wooden ends were then assembled and mounted to the end arches. Starting at one end, I plumbed the end and started mounting the perlins (1" EMT). Keeping the pipe 4' off the ground and fastening them to the arches with hose clamps. All the clamps were covered with duct tape so they would not rub the cover.

Close up of how ribs were fitted at base of wall

Southside of Greenhouse
note: "I was laid up with an injured leg, so my buddies Pete and David, my brothers (Ben, Randy, Tim) and my son Jay all busted butt and got it up in two days!"

Northside of Greenhouse

The plastic is 6 mil 4 year greenhouse film purchased from www.growerssolution.com . Both companies were good to work with and quick to respond.

When I started this project, I chose To raise the fish first, and get good at it, before I tackled the plant side of the setup. There are as many different ways of doing things as there are people. This is one of them. I'm sure there are easier too. This is a learning experience.
 

Not enough room already! Foreground, blue filter barrel for goldfish tank.
Trying to get things under cover before it snows.

One of the (3) 1200gal. fiberglass tanks, that need rubber liners.
 

Tanks -

The (3) large tanks in the pictures are 1200 gal. fiberglass tanks (free) from a metal plating. Even though the were pressure washed, I will be lining them with EPDM pond liner.

The (3) square tanks are 300 gal. poly totes used in all kinds of industry. Prices used very from free to $150. These (3) tanks are holding about 400 yellow perch.
The gold fish are in a100 gal. round barrel.
 

Filtration -

The filters are made out of 55 gal. barrels filled with pea gravel. The water is pumped up into a riser pipe in the barrel using 500 gph pond pumps (Lowe's). The water is forced from the bottom of pipe up thru the gravel and out the over flow into the next barrel,doing the same and out splashing into the fish tank.

Area for washing filters.

Aeration -

The water splashing into the water aerates it. The air blower, in the picture, is a regenerative blower. This type is an industry standard used when higher fish densities are involved. I have (2) 2" air stones in each tank. With the splash and the air stones the DO levels are holding fine.
 

Barrels to be cut length wise for the planting beds. Will be filled with pea gravel.
 

Plant beds -

The line of blue barrels will be cut lengthwise to form the plant beds filled with pea gravel.
As I continue with this project more pictures will be added.
I'll be glad to answer question about the project.

And let's don't forget the fish:-

3 yellow perch 8"+ ready for harvest.

100 gal. barrel holding gold fish.

KenP