Here is the completed, custom mini desktop aquaponic system (picture left). The building, trouble shooting and tweaking of the system admittedly took much, much longer than I was anticipating. You can see the original sketch of the system I made taped up to the blinds in the upper right corner of the picture. Looked on paper like this would go very easily, but it proved a bit more challenging. Not so much so that it scared me off of taking on another aquaponic project in the near future.
Before I start to share how I build this system, and the future results of the system, I thought I’d take some time to document the actual cost of the system now that it seems to be complete (I still want to add a few diffusing stones to the air pump output to help the dissolved oxygen content of the water). Yes, it was slightly more than I was expecting, but I did pick some of the items for convenience over cost because this was our very first system. In future builds, I may take additional cost saving measures.
That being said, here were the expenses …
| Desk Top Aquaponic System from scratch | TOTAL COST | $265.71 |
| Material | Source | Cost |
| 4″ DWV Snap-In drain (cover for grow bed drain) | Home Depot | $2.30 |
| GE Silicone clear 2.8 oz | Home Depot | $3.98 |
| 4″ PVC cap (bottom of media guard to keep media coming under) | Home Depot | $7.71 |
| Hydroton (50 liter bag x 2 … used perhaps 1.5 bags so cost is pro-rated) | Hydroponics & Garden Center | $53.99 |
| 15W powerPAR Blue LED Grow Light (50,000 hours 120/240v) | 1000Bulbs.com | $75.64 |
| 1-1/2″ slip cap + short 1-14″ PVC (for bell siphon) | Hardware | $2.63 |
| Stress Zyme (to help beneficial bacteria establishment in water) | Pet Supplies Plus | $5.98 |
| Master Test water testing kit (to measure pH, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates) | Pet Supplies Plus | $34.98 |
| 12 Jumbo Feeder Gold Fish | Pet Supplies Plus | $1.06 |
| 20′ of 1/2″ PVC | Home Depot | $3.14 |
| PVC “glue” 80 oz | Home Depot | $7.38 |
| Bulkhead Union 3/4 | Home Depot | $13.54 |
| 1/2″ PVC 90d elbow | Home Depot | $0.27 |
| 3/4″ x 1/2″ PVC male adaptor (x2) | Home Depot | $1.32 |
| Large Cement Mixing Tub (approx 22 gallons) | Home Depot | $12.98 |
| PVC ball valve x2 | Home Depot | $3.48 |
| 1/2″ PVC cap slip | Home Depot | $0.38 |
| 1/2″ PVC T-joints (pkg of 10) | Home Depot | $2.89 |
| 1/2″ PVC 90d elbow (pkg of 10) | Home Depot | $2.06 |
| 30 Gallon Fish Tank (was going to refurbish one, but this was on sale!!) | Pet Supplies Plus | $30.00 |
I was going to reseal an old 30 gallon fish tank I had for free, but the fish tank safe silicone was $15 and the tank was marked down to $30 from $50 on sale, so instead of fixing up the cheaper option I paid a bit more. Even in retrospect I like this decision. Perhaps in the future, if I reseal an old tank for a different project, I might change my mind. Regardless, this is a distinct possible cost-saving area.
There are leftover pieces I can use in future projects: perhaps as much as 5′ of left over 1/2″ PVC, the PVC cement, and a few elbows and T-joints. The Master Water Testing Kit obviously doesn’t need to be purchased for each aquaponic set-up, and if anyone is already into keeping fish, they might have this available to them for no additional cost. We did have half of the 50 liter bag of Hydroton left over, but in the cost table above that item was prorated to reflect this (came to $34.99 after tax for a single 50 liter bag from the local hydroponics and gardening center).
As the LED grow light (blue spectrum for vegetation growth) fit into a standard socket, I have just been using an extra floor lamp. If this was not available, it would have resulted in a higher cost.