5 Quick and Easy DIY Aquaponic Systems
The popularity of aquaponics farming and gardening is rising steadily, and now, even farmers with a small amount of space are utilizing what they have to build their own DIY aquaponics systems.
Although this may sound very complicated, it is actually quite easy to put together on your own.
Here are five different styles of DIY aquaponics systems that might work for you.
1. The PVC Aquaponics System
This is a very sophisticated DIY system that is very popular with at-home aquaponics farmers. It works well for a variety of plants and fish both.
Quick Facts:
- Approximate Costs: Roughly $250-300.
- Approximate Building Time: 4 to 8 hours
- Best Suited For: anyone with a large shed or backyard space that can be devoted to aquaponics gardening. Requires space to work with power tools.
Materials Required
- 20 feet of 4” PVC piping
- 4” diameter elbow piece
- 4” diameter cap piece
- 20 feet of aquarium tubing
- 2 aquarium water pumps
- Scrap wood
- 2 40-gallon drums
- 28 red plastic cups
- Clay pebbles
How To Do It
- Drill large holes at 7” apart from each other in the PVC piping. You should have 28 total holes for planting in the PVC piping.
- Assemble pipes so that one is raised above the other, and they are attached to each other with an elbow piece. You can use scrap wood to raise one end of your pipes.
- Cap off the higher end of the pipes and drill a hole through the cap.
- Lay rocks on the bottom of the 40-gallon drums. This will be where your fish live.
- Drill holes into the bottom of your plastic cups for draining, then place plants into clay pebbles in each cup.
- Put each cup into a hole in the PVC piping.
- Assemble water pump so that it moves water from the 40-gallon drums to the PVC piping, through the hole in the cap.
- Fill drums and add fish.
2. Bucket Aquaponics System
You might prefer to try this very simple 5-gallon bucket variation of aquaponics gardening. It does not produce edible fish, but it will produce delicious plants.
Materials Required
- 5-gallon bucket
- Plastic basket
- Aquarium tubing
- Self-enclosed aquarium pump
- Gravel
- Plants and fish
Costs And Installation
- Approximate Costs: $25 to $50, depending on size and power of aquarium pump.
- Approximate Building Time: 1-2 hours
- Best Suited For: Works great for people who are new to aquaponics and want a small system to practice on. Also excellent for anyone in a very small space, such as an apartment.
How To Do It
- Drill a small hole into the bottom of the bucket for the pump’s power cord to pass through.
- Drill another hole in the lid of the bucket for the aquarium tubing to pass through.
- Attach the self-enclosed underwater aquarium pump to the bottom of the bucket.
- Attach the tubing so that it comes from the pump and up through the hole in the lid to spray water onto the gravel.
- Attach the plastic basket to the lid of the bucket so that it hangs down into the bucket.
- Fill the basket with gravel and place the plant into the gravel to grow.
- Fill bucket with water and fish.
3. Indoor Aqualibrium Growing System
You may need something even smaller for your at-home aquaponics system. The Aqualibrium system is a great choice if you’re looking for something very small.
Materials Required
- 2 Clear plastic 3 or 5 gallon aquariums
- Electrical tape
- Small aquarium pump
- Aquarium tubing
- Clay pebbles
Costs And Installation
- Approximate Costs: $15-25, depending on size of aquariums.
- Approximate Building Time: 4 to 8 hours
- Best Suited For: Ideal for anyone looking to grow smaller plants like herbs and raise small fish rather than edibles. Works great indoors for those who have no outdoor space.
How To Do It
- Stack two clear plastic aquariums together; attach with electrical tape.
- Install aquarium pump into the bottom plastic aquarium.
- Attach tubing to pump and run it to the top plastic aquarium.
- Fill the top with clay pebbles and herbs; fill the bottom with water and fish.
4. Vertical Shelfponics Growing System
This is a simple but very efficient system that will allow you to grow plenty of plants and potentially raise larger fish, too.
Materials Required
- 4-shelf plastic bookshelf
- Aquarium tubing
- 3 t-shaped connectors for tubing
- Aquarium filter
- Aquarium pump
- 10-gallon fish tank
- Fish tank gravel
- Clay pebbles
Costs And Installation
- Approximate Costs: $80-100 depending on cost of shelving unit.
- Approximate Building Time: 3 to 4 hours.
- Best Suited For: Works well for anyone with enough room for a small shelving unit. Great for those who garden in a shed or greenhouse.
How To Do It
- Drill a small hole into the bottom of the bucket for the pump’s power cord to pass through.
- Drill another hole in the lid of the bucket for the aquarium tubing to pass through.
- Attach the self-enclosed underwater aquarium pump to the bottom of the bucket.
- Attach the tubing so that it comes from the pump and up through the hole in the lid to spray water onto the gravel.
- Attach the plastic basket to the lid of the bucket so that it hangs down into the bucket.
- Fill basket with gravel and place plant into the gravel to grow.
- Fill bucket with water and fish.
5. The Traditional Backyard Aquaponics System
If you want a full-size aquaponics system in your backyard, and you plan to raise edible fish, this is the best option for you.
Materials Required
- 400-gallon water pump
- ¾” tubing
- ¾” PVC piping
- ¾” t-connector for PVC piping
- 2 flow-adjusting valves
- 2 (2-inch diameter) pieces of piping for siph
- 100-gallon plastic bin
- 2 (20-gallon) plastic tubs
Costs And Installation
- Approximate Costs: $150 to $200.
- Approximate Building Time: 1 to 2 days.
- Best Suited For: Ideal for a backyard farmer looking for the full aquaponics experience. Requires plenty of room, such as a large backyard.
How To Do It
- Place pump into bin and attach tubing.
- Run tubing to PVC piping.
- Split piping with T-connector and attach 2 more pieces of piping; attach valves to these two pieces.
- Drill holes into each of the pans and run piping up into the pans so that it drains into the bin below.
- Cover with 2-inch diameter piping to create siphon.
- Plant pans with plants of your choice, and fill bin with water and fish.
Final Thoughts
No matter what you’re looking for in an aquaponics system, there is sure to be an option that is right for you.
All you have to do is take a look at the amount of space you have and the budget you want to stay within, then gather your supplies and get started on your fun and useful DIY project!
If you’re interested in aquaponics, you may also be interested in hydroponics! But which one is better? Find out the difference, right here!
Alex lives in the sustainability capital of Australia (Byron Bay) where the local community thrives and strongly supports self-sufficient living and green tech entrepreneurship. He began Eco Peanut in 2014 with the mission to spread bite sized sustainability advice to the masses.
My fiancé told me about Aquaponics several years back. We both were very interested but still haven’t done it. You just reignited that excitement & interest….and it seems pretty simple. I will be showing this to him….this is the year!!!
Add a photo of each type of hydroponic system you talk about so I or anyone can visualize what you are talking about.