Duckponics system with a grow bed aka Aquackulture

Finally got some free time to work on the duckie pool and bio-filter today!!

Filter installed in place and ready for filling:



Inside of filter showing Matala filter media, and hose from pump in duckie pool to inlet tube down the center of the media:




Rear of bio-filter tank showing drain valve, weed barrier and mounting on cinder blocks over compacted sand and soil:



Right side view of set-up:



Left side view:



Pool and bio-filter filled, pump up ad running and the Duckies enjoying some swim time!!!



Still need to add the water fall stone, finish the cosmetic stone work around everything, and add plants to the bio-filter. No leaks, all is working well!!!

Cheers'

Dan

Sorry - all posted photos have been removed at the request of my other half - online privacy concerns - seems BYC is fully seachable in Google, and she didn't like that.

Cheers'

Dan

A great source of info on the whole subject is backyardaquaponics.com its more about fish then ducks but I think the mechanics are the same,


Also a small word of warning, as far as I can remember you shouldn't use duckponics with edible plants as ducks are warm blooded their dirt can and mostly will have ecoli in it, the reason aquaponics is safe is that the fish are cold blooded and ecoli can't survive, (I'm open to be corrected on this but I think its right)

Hi Massey thanks for replying. My duckponics system has been producing veges for a month or more now. Mostly lettuce, beetroot and carrots but tomatoes soon. Turbocharged by the 5 new ducklings.

As far as e.coli go it is always a good idea to thoroughly wash eg. lettuce, tomatoes or cook veges before eating. E.coli has been found in wild freshwater fish populations in warm waters. I would think any home aquaponics fish systems would be classified as "warm" even if not at human body temperature. Eating non-factory farmed food (eg backyard eggs which aren't tested for salmonella) is always a risk but that is one of the ways Big Farm scares us into eating their products.

So I say don't be scared, just be careful!

James

Cheers James,

That is a very good point you make and as I said I was very open to been corrected as I know it was just something I read somewhere so couldn't really stand by it,

Hi, next month I want to do a major overhaul of my duck pond, it is a hand dug pond that has been expanded over the last 4 years and can hold about 4000 gallons. I have about 150 ducks and it gets fowled frequently. First what should I line it with? Second, and I need your feedback here. I plan on installing a 5 foot tall bucket on the edge of the berm of the pond, the bucket which is about 18" on diameter will have a screw on lid with a screened scupper type arrangement. there will be a 1 3/8" pipe from the pond center bottom to the barrel bottom where i will have a drain valve to reach into the barrel to turn. The bottom of the barrel will also have a screened exit pipe that will go to a companion barrel about 75 feet away downhill in the middle of the veg garden. The moms have hatched 50 babies and I want to get it up by Labor Day (US) but again, the first thing I need is the ground prep, lining and what ever goes on top of the lining first. I am excited, the duck egg operation will hit break even in about a week and after that the $225 a week in eggs that they lay will all go into my pocket. I am far eastern San Diego County and I have right now about 65 muscovy and 85 meter layer 300's in the same acre pen. They started laying on February 9 and have laid about 4000 eggs since then. It costs me an average of 28 cents to produce an egg and I average 80 in revenue for each egg. Feed costs this year look to be $3200.

That is one helluva duckponics system you are planning there! Way out of my league - I have a 100 gallon pond about the size of a bathtub and (currently) 2 ducks. I'd love to see some pics when you get it up and going. The only thing I'd point out is that even with the pump and filter a lot of duck mess and soil they bring to the pond in their beaks settles on the bottom. Every six months I get down and dirty and scoop it all out with a large aquarium fish net but I somehow don't think that will be sufficient for you needs. I've been told you have to clean it out regularly or anaerobic bacteria will reproduce in the slurry and eventually get into the rest of your system which is a huge no no.

As soon as you mentioned the size I thought of an automatic pool cleaner but guessing they wouldn't be able to handle the dirt. Maybe build the pond so there is a deepest point with a drain connected to the pump as well. Let me know how it all goes. Glad to see someone making a living from their ducks in a free range environment as well. Good luck!

I am new here, well I have been reading a lot but not posting. I really like your set up with the ducks nice. I am running a small test aquaponics system . Once I move to the mountains I plan on setting up a larger system. I want to run a system with Tilapia in the duck pond. Do you think that their would be any problems with the fish (to eat ) and the ducks in the same pond?