Aquaponics Getting started.

[Savvypro]

YouTube - Video 111 Seed Starting.wmv


Many different ways of starting seeds, and my rocket stove.

How were the wieners here in the UK we just call them hot dogs.

An alternative fish food source you might want to try is Anacharis (Egeria densa), it's much more manageable than duckweed (as its a stem plant) and very cheap. Not sure if it is available in Florida, as in some states - it's illegal to sell it (same with duck weed). I’m not sue if Tilapia will take to it, but I don’t see why not - as lots of other species from gold fish to snails eat it as quick as they can get it.

The fish tank in your kitchen looks too small for the Tilapia (not just in size but in overall water volume), especially without much growing in the grow bed.

[theremart]

An alternative fish food source you might want to try is Anacharis (Egeria densa), it's much more manageable than duckweed (as its a stem plant) and very cheap. Not sure if it is available in Florida, as in some states - it's illegal to sell it (same with duck weed). I’m not sue if Tilapia will take to it, but I don’t see why not - as lots of other species from gold fish to snails eat it as quick as they can get it.

The fish tank in your kitchen looks too small for the Tilapia (not just in size but in overall water volume), especially without much growing in the grow bed.

Thanks for the tip about anacharis, I may check that out.

As for the tank being too small you are correct. That is why I swap out the water, I have the 250 gallon tank outside, but in fear of it getting to cold here I am not putting those fish out there, I am still in process of doing fishless cycling so when it warms up I may move the talapia outside.

Mart

[Savvypro]

Thanks for the tip about anacharis, I may check that out.

As for the tank being too small you are correct. That is why I swap out the water, I have the 250 gallon tank outside, but in fear of it getting to cold here I am not putting those fish out there, I am still in process of doing fishless cycling so when it warms up I may move the talapia outside.

Mart

Mart how are you doing the fishless cycle - are you using household cleaning ammonia or just feeding tank water?

Also one way to cheaply add a large surface area for the nitrifying bacteria is to use cheap plastic pot scrubbers - something like so (dollardays.com/i296104-wholesale-scouring-pads.html).

Another option, a bit more expensive - but adds a very large surface area and last a very long time: is to use something like AlfaGrog or Supra Pond Filter (as it's known in the USA). 1 liter (about 500g) of the stuff will give you about 1000 liters of bio load capacity.

[theremart]

How I cycle.

Mart how are you doing the fishless cycle - are you using household cleaning ammonia or just feeding tank water?

Also one way to cheaply add a large surface area for the nitrifying bacteria is to use cheap plastic pot scrubbers - something like so (dollardays.com/i296104-wholesale-scouring-pads.html).

Another option, a bit more expensive - but adds a very large surface area and last a very long time: is to use something like AlfaGrog or Supra Pond Filter (as it's known in the USA). 1 liter (about 500g) of the stuff will give you about 1000 liters of bio load capacity.

Hi,

I am adding Ammonia, and earth worm tea, with the changes I do with the tank I have inside I dump the water in the tank and put fresh rain water for the fish.

The pot scrubber has been working great, thanks for that tip.

[Savvypro]

Hi,

I am adding Ammonia, and earth worm tea, with the changes I do with the tank I have inside I dump the water in the tank and put fresh rain water for the fish.

The pot scrubber has been working great, thanks for that tip.

In terms of surface area, their one of the cheapest things to use. Pity their getting harder and harder to find in my area. Especially in bulk packs.

[theremart]

Update

YouTube - Video 112 update.wmv

I bought a "Castnet" this week and caught 2 adult bluegills and a few minnows which went into my aquaponics. I am getting better at casting the net so fish need to be on the lookout :-)


One of my grow beds is doing very well, buglight is right over the fish tanks so getting free fish food.

Strawberry seeds from seed in plastic zip lock bag worked great. Also show how my square foot garden is doing.

Mart

[theremart]

New worm bin, ready to harvest.

YouTube - Video 113 update on Aquaponics worm bin BSF.wmv

Create a supersized worm bin, now with black soldier flies which the fish love.

Really impressed with the size of the leaves on the plants. If I was not addicted before, I am now.

[ashtweth]

Square foot gardening and aquaponics make local food co ops practical, thanks for all the updates Mart. Stevia plant nice !

Ash

[Savvypro]

Square foot gardening and aquaponics make local food co ops practical, thanks for all the updates Mart. Stevia plant nice !

Ash

Ash, have you heard of the Mittleider method?

On a different note I got a meeting this afternoon to discuss a local community farming project - I've suggested a couple of methods (from square foot type gardening to aquaponics). It's the first time the interested parties are getting together so I not sure what direction the group is heading in.

[theremart]

Thanks Ash,

Square foot gardening and aquaponics make local food co ops practical, thanks for all the updates Mart. Stevia plant nice !

Ash

Ya, I have found a local organization that makes squarefoot gardens for the poor.

Ending Hunger One Garden At A Time: Feed The Need Garden (Ocala, FL) | Small Town Living

looks like the right thing to do, help others learn to make gardens.

[Savvypro]

I mentioned the Mittleider method, because when I found out about it. I read about a project in which a university (I think it was in Arizona) began a project, where they were growing food in the desert. Literally growing in the desert sand.

Anyway, had my meeting yesterday, the organiser is going to look to get some local government funding for training courses and materials to build off the ground square foot style raised beds - which will allow for people with wheel chair access and those who have problems kneeling down.

If there is enough space underneath the beds, it will be used for composting buckets/tubs. Might as well make use of the empty space. We may even go for miniature bed size green houses.

I did suggest aquaponics as a possible option, but based on the traning courses available and the experience of the people who attended - it would be too big of a leap for them. Also the site that might be used, isn't ideal for an aquaponics setup or to start with an aquaponic setup.

[ashtweth]

Guys i hope you realize that your "blog" posts are making a new course for every one, what a wealth of NEEDED infoz , the OPEN SOURCE urban farming course/vid will have every thing, that i am filming and getting all that info in from you guys, i cant tell you how much it helps and how useful it will be, plus a delight for me to add your credits Thanks a lot guys.

Did not know ANY of that. Its the people that make this forum alright.
Savv, please keep us all updated how you did this, i found one group for you, hope they can give you some ideas bro

Brisbane Transition Hub



Ash

[Savvypro]

Guys i hope you realize that your "blog" posts are making a new course for every one, what a wealth of NEEDED infoz , the OPEN SOURCE urban farming course/vid will have every thing, that i am filming and getting all that info in from you guys, i cant tell you how much it helps and how useful it will be, plus a delight for me to add your credits Thanks a lot guys.

Did not know ANY of that. Its the people that make this forum alright.
Savv, please keep us all updated how you did this, i found one group for you, hope they can give you some ideas bro

Brisbane Transition Hub



Ash

Ash I'm assuming by "blog posts" you mean the posts in this thread.

Also I have an idea for a laminar flow hood design that I'm thinking of open sourcing. In the Growing algae thread (haven't updated that in a bit as I'm getting the funds together to get some culture samples), I provide links to a couple of sites covering DIY laminar flow hoods.
A month or so back I got the idea for my design, while thinking about how I could save on the cost of buying the HEPA filter (can’t seam to find any for sale here in the UK like you can on ebay.com covering the US, I’m looking to do the algae project on a budget and don’t fancy going to lab suppliers to get royally screwed on the filter).

Anyway, once I’ve built the prototype I’ll release the plans, my biggest issue is going to be the air supply. I’m planning on using computer fans with high air flow - if I can get the required flow out of the diy filter medium then I’ll open source the design. The most difficult component to get will be the computer fans and best of all not expensive HEPA filters to get or have to replace every few years - the filter medium I'm looking to use is reusable.


On the farming project, I didn’t organise it, I’m just contributing because of a family member who is unwell and we need something for them to do. Anyway, during the meeting I came up with the off the floor raised bed design while I was describing the square food beds.

I saw the raised beds design on a youtube video sometime ago about a community garden in New York, it was built on an old parking lot that was covered with concrete.

My idea is to use the space underneath for composting, the heat that is given off can also be used to keep the beds warm during the winter. Although I still need to figure out how to keep the roots from getting too warm. If we go down the mini bed greenhouses route to extend the growing season (building a large normal green house would be too expensive - bed size ones would keep the costs down), I’ll be looking to get some of the heat into the mini green houses. I’m currently thinking about having either an area or strips which will act like vents. This bit is still at the idea stage, but the beds will be off the ground which gives us the opportunity go use the space underneath productively.

Also thanks for the link, the more ideas I can get the better, as my mind will start factoring them in, adapting them to the current situation and need - which is how I get some of my off the wall ideas.

[theremart]

Open source

Guys i hope you realize that your "blog" posts are making a new course for every one, what a wealth of NEEDED infoz , the OPEN SOURCE urban farming course/vid will have every thing, that i am filming and getting all that info in from you guys, i cant tell you how much it helps and how useful it will be, plus a delight for me to add your credits Thanks a lot guys.

Did not know ANY of that. Its the people that make this forum alright.
Savv, please keep us all updated how you did this, i found one group for you, hope they can give you some ideas bro

Brisbane Transition Hub



Ash

Hi Ash,

Why is it all the good aquaponics info is from australia? LOL

As I have journeyed the net I found this site, they think very very big, and have some amazing accomplishments for getting farming open sourced.

YouTube - Open Source Tractor, Rototiller, Biodiesel Reactor, Solar Panels

these guys are skilled!

[theremart]

Food for the fish...

YouTube - 114 Supersized worm bin details.wmv

More details of the worm bin, I harvest each morning for some happy fish :-)