This Instructables will show you how to build a small aquaponics system mainly using fish tank supplies. An aquaponics system will allow you to grow plants without using dirt and you can reuse water with this system. Furthermore, you can house fish in the tank portion of the system as long as the air in it is sufficient.

Step 1: Step 1: Collect Materials

Step 1. Buy Materials

List of Materials

5 gallon Tank
1 pound tank rocks/gravel
Top Fin Multi-stage Filter (20 Gallons)
Will need a computer to use Inventor Program
Gorilla Glue (waterproof kind)
approximately 40-50 inches of wood (should have a width of 1 inch)

Step 2: Step 2: Construct Trough and Basin

Step 2. Build Trough and Basin

Using the Inventor Program, Build a trough and basin.

First, the trough. It should measure about 5 inches long and about 1.25 inches wide. It should also measure about .75 inches tall. The hollowed out section should have a depth of .65 inches.

Now, the basin. The basin should measure 4.5 inches x 5 inches x 2 inches. It has a depth of about 1.9 inches. The holes in the basin should be slightly smaller than the general size of the gravel or rocks you use. There will be an opening in the basin on one of the sides that will be approximately the same width as the trough so that water can flow through it.

When both have been made on the Inventor program, transfer their files to a 3D printer in order to have them printed.

Step 3: Step 3: Cut the Wood

Cut the wood so that the pieces will support the trough and basin.

The basin will have 4 supports. These should be cut so that each support measures 1 inch wide, 6 inches long, and .25 inches tall.

The trough will have 2 supports for it. The measurements for the trough's supports should be the same as the basin, except that the trough supports should be 7 inches long.

Step 4: Step 4: Glue the Pieces Together

When the trough and basin are done being printed and they are ready for further use, they will be glued together with their supports.

The trough and basin will be glued together first. The opening of them will be glued together to form a path for the water to flow. When gluing, make sure that an excessive amount is not used. Make sure that the glue has dried between the pieces before moving on with the supports.

It is best to flip the trough and basin upside down when gluing the supports. Glue the basin supports on the corners of the basin, in a sort of diagonal direction. Hold them down until the glue can support them and then move onto the trough supports. The trough supports should be glued on either end of the trough, so that their width runs parallel to the trough's width. Hold the supports down until the glue can support them. Let the glue dry on all the supports before the last step.

Step 5: Step 5: Put Last Pieces Together

Use the suction cups on the filter to hang it from the side of the tank. Make sure the tube is lined straight and the holes are on the bottom of the tube.

Then glue the bottom of the supports to the floor of the tank and let it dry. Make sure that the trough and the tube of the filter line up, so that the tube is directly above the trough and holes face the trough.

Fill the basin with tank rocks or gravel. Do not fill it completely, only so that the rocks cover the holes in the basin. If you want to, you can fill the bottom of the tank with the rest of the tank rocks/gravel. This will not affect the system.

Step 6: Complete

Now that all the parts are together, the aquaponics system is ready for use. The filter just has to be plugged in and turned on, and the tank just has to be filled with water.