Yah. Do it. It's NOT difficult.

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I wonder if you could do a gravity fed system going from the barrel into the grow bed then back into the barrel without a pump just gravity.

I wonder if you could do a gravity fed system going from the barrel into the grow bed then back into the barrel without a pump just gravity.

In that case you just do a "float" system where you float the plants onto the fish tank. No need for pump at all.

But it would need to be a bit larger, and the water surface area needs to be sufficiently large so that the fish do not suffocate.

All you really need is to get the fish water to the plants, and back to the fish. That is the basic mechanism. But you need the right bacteria in the system to help with the ecosystem. This is why it would take a few weeks for you to harbor the right kinds of bacteria. It is not just a DIY system that you can set up in 1 day even if you work at it all day. The bacteria need time to culture.

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There are two things we are talking about generally.

One is using aquaponics as a farming method for commercial systems.

The other is to grow some herbs and vegetables at home, and (this is the key thing) have the system in place so that IN THE EVENT IT IS NECESSARY you can EXPAND IT IMMEDIATELY.

The reason is because you need to have the bacteria, etc. all growing already and the system functioning. THEN you can expand by adding more containers and pipes and more water, etc. But before that, you just keep a nice small sized system to grow peppers or whatever.

Fish food, you can give the fish anything that looks decent. You can even give them fruits and meats, etc. that you left over from cooking (just not with sauces, etc.). You can feed rice, etc.

I have goldfish. I don't intend to eat the fish. I just wanted to grow some parsley, chili, beans, etc.

I feed them this thing called KATEE'S KOI which is what they feed to prized Koi fish. Cheap.

You can even give them dog food if you have dogs. Just the same dry dog food.

I don't feed my dogs or my fish anything that I cannot eat. (Generally speaking; there are some human foods poisonous to dogs of course).

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actually 55 gallons is not that large

probably you can put a 50 to 70 gallon fish tank on your lanai (that is what I have) and then the 30 gallon grow beds (which are the mixing trays from Home Depot)

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here's mine. 2 years old. pretty much anything i throw in grows. all i do is feed the now! LOL!

awesome!
are those shrimp or crayfish?

here's mine. 2 years old. pretty much anything i throw in grows. all i do is feed the now! LOL!

awesome!
are those shrimp or crayfish?

crayfish. might try prawns if i get ambitious.

awesome

those GB look familiar

LOL

where would you get prawns?

nice crawdads, they look huge
are they meaty?

crayfish. might try prawns if i get ambitious.

here's mine. 2 years old. pretty much anything i throw in grows. all i do is feed the now! LOL!

that is smooth!!!