My Backyard Aquaponics Adventure: The Good, the Bad, and the Really, Really Stinky
Sipping my morning coffee on the back porch, I can’t help but chuckle at the backyard adventure I embarked on a couple of years ago. It all started as a bright idea — one of those moments where the clouds shift just enough for the sun to poke through and illuminate possibilities. You know the type; it was early spring, and the plants in my garden were just waking up from their winter slumber.
I decided I would become an aquaponics whiz. The concept spoke to me: grow fish and plants together in harmony. I envisioned lush greens thriving alongside lively fish, and I was ready to create my very own ecological symphony.
The Begin of My Design
Armed with a cup of ambition (and one cup too many of coffee), I scoured my garage for supplies. It turns out that I had a treasure trove of items just sitting there, collecting dust — an old plastic storage bin, some PVC pipes, and even an old aquarium that had seen better days. I could practically hear it whispering, “Take me; we have work to do!”
I was no Master Builder, but I figured I could manage. I grabbed my trusty drill and set to work, piecing together a sort of Frankenstein’s monster of a system. With the bin as my fish tank and the aquarium as my plant bed, I felt like a mad scientist. Sure, I had read a few articles online (maybe a bit too many videos than I should have, if I’m honest), but this was real life, people — I was ready for action!
The first challenge came in the form of the water. That first evening I added water, anxious and excited to see this masterpiece come together. I couldn’t help but lean in to sniff it, wondering if maybe it would smell like a fresh spring creek. Spoiler alert: it did not. The smell was muddy, a little stagnant, and not the way I envisioned it at all.
The Fish Dilemma
Next up was the fish; I needed something to kick off this aquatic revolution. I had my eyes set on goldfish because they‘re cheap and fairly hardy. I marched down to the local pet store, proudly declared my intent to start an aquaponics system, and walked out with three small, bright orange fish. Like little jewels swimming in my plastic bin, they were going to transform my backyard.
With the pump humming along (or so I thought), I figured I was golden. But about a week in, I was staring into the bin and noticed something odd. The water started turning an alarming shade of green. Algae — I barely remembered that pesky term from my readings. My excitement quickly fizzled into frustration as I fumbled through my collection of subpar knowledge.
Mishaps Along the Way
If algae was the first curveball, the second was the time I accidentally spilled fish food into the bin while trying to get the lid on. Let’s just say, I don’t need to explain how that one turned out: a cloudy mess that looked like the swamp from a B-movie. The fish darted around like they were attending a wild after-party, and me? I was right there watching, trying (and failing) to maintain some semblance of order.
Worried that I was losing them, I dove deep into remedies I could find. I read about beneficial bacteria, organic options — you name it. While scouring the shed for anything I could repurpose, I came across an old aquarium filter I had long forgotten. It was meant for an entirely different setup, but I thought, "What the heck? Let’s give it a whirl!" I rigged it up with duct tape (because honestly, what doesn’t duct tape fix?) and hoped for the best.
The Resolution
After all the ups and downs, the plants began to sprout. My first seedlings were kale and basil, which somehow flourished even amidst the mess. Yet, the fish? Somewhere along the way, I skimmed a bit too high on my “research” and neglected their well-being. A couple of them unfortunately didn’t make it to my first harvest, and while I was bummed, I figured it was all part of the process.
Amid the chaos, I discovered something unexpected. There’s a strange sort of fulfillment in attempting something beyond your capabilities. I remember sitting on my porch one evening, gazing at the little surviving fish, vibrant plants swaying in the wind, and smiling at the beautifully toxic swamp I had managed to create.
A Warm Takeaway
So, if you’re feeling inspired to give aquaponics a shot — or if you’re thinking about building something in your backyard that most would shy away from — go for it. Don’t stress about perfection, get your hands dirty, and enjoy the journey of creating a tiny ecosystem, no matter how chaotic.
You’ll make mistakes, you might even end up with some stinky water, but in the end, you’ll learn. After all, every adventure starts somewhere, and the best stories tend to come from the ones that didn’t go strictly to plan.
If you want to dive deeper into this journey, join the next session and start building your own backyard adventure! Reserve your seat here!
Leave a Reply