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Small recycling systems
That could be built most anywhereThese small systems could be built either indoors or out. Catfish, carp, and tilapia system are better indoors. A garage or small greenhouse would be good. And would also provide a good site for mounting solar panels if needed.
The systems we will describe require a floor space of 75 to 168sq. Ft. And operates with a continuous pumping at a rate of 18.5 gal/minute (or about 1110 gal./hr ) The filter is of the submerged gravel type. The sedimentation basin is suitable for keeping all species, and we will describe how to adapt it to the needs of each later.
The fish tank
The fish tank for this system can be almost any container or containers that has a total volume of about 695. US gal.
The fish tank can be sealed with six coats of two part epoxy swimming pool paint , fiber glass , nontoxic roof coating or lined with a pond liner.
The filter tank
The filter tank should about 6.5 feet long 3.24 feet long 1.8 feet deep or about 38 cubic feet The gravel should between 4 and 15 mm in diameter Crush oyster shells should be incorporated with the gavel on a 1:5 basis ( i.e. 1 part shells to 5 parts of gravel) to provide buffering.
The gravel should rest on a perforated plate which is supported about 6" above the bottom The plate should be drilled full of holes small enough to retain the gravel. The plate can be made from corrugated or plain plastic sheet about 0.2 inch thick. The plate should have a hole through which a submersible pump installed. There should be a piece of pipe around the pump to keep gravel out of it.
The Heater Tank
An ordinary domestic hot water heater tank would be suitable. It
would need to be fitted with three connections.
1. an overflow
2. Returning water to the filter
3. An inlet from the pump.
All connections should be made with 1" pipe.
The Sedimentation
The Sedimentation tank should be the same size as the filter tank
About 6.5 feet long 3.24 feet long 1.8 feet deep or about 38
cubic feet.
Water Inflow
The usual make-up water recommended for a recycling system is
about 1 -2% of the system per day. An inflow of fresh water is
necessary to make up for loss from evaporation and seepage and to
keep the recycled water in good condition. It flushes out toxic
products like nitrite, Which need only accumulate at very low
levels to have an effect on the fish.
The system should be capable of running for 2 - 3 weeks without
any water make-up at all.
In the next system we will change from an Aquaculture system to an Aquaponics system.