Many people want their aquaponic system these days, and it is no wonder. Imagine being able to grow both plants and fish in a clean, closed system with very little work.
Add the enjoyment and fun of raising fish and your favourite hydroponic plants by utilizing a natural cycle, and the popularity of home-scale aquaponics becomes clear.
However, pre-made, professional aquaponic systems can be really expensive. That is why many enthusiasts have resorted to creating their own aquaponic setup. The results are really diverse and creative.
Let’s explore some of the most interesting aquaponic projects on the web. We will start off with some simple ones, moving on to advanced, and end with a hi-tech Internet of Things powered aquaponic projects.
1. The Easiest DIY Indoor Aquaponic System by Philly Aquaponics
Not all aquaponic setups are made completely from scratch. Many people already have a fish tank, and are looking for a way to upgrade it to an aquaponic system.
The aquaculture component is an aquarium featuring four goldfish. The corner pump brings the water upward to the plant bed – a common window still elongated pot containing the hydroton medium.
The interesting twist is that the grow bed input pipe is completely snuggled into a standard aquarium filter floss, which acts as a filter (the author also states that there are wiggler worms living inside it, though they are not shown), plus ensures gentle flow of the grow bed.
The system is equipped with a timer that enables the water to flood the grow bed every 15 minutes. The water is drained back into the fish tank.
The system uses additional lightning for both tank and the plant bed, and an improvised aluminum foil light box for increased plant growth. Therefore, it is designed and ideal for places with low or no natural light, i.e. your garage.
