Aqua Vista: Aquaponics = the next big thing

Aquaponic Trial #1

2011-10-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Alas, my first trial setup

The view from a distance, tier 1 = koi pod, tier 2 & 3 = flower pod, tier 4 = biofilter pod.

The flower pods below (tier 2 & 3) with seedling starting to grow. It took awhile for them to pop up due to the location of the system under the porch roof which is preventing precious sunlight. Nonetheless, they still grow.

The biofilter pod (tier 4) is located on the topmost of the system, comprises of 4 filter elements with 3 aeration outlets between them. This pod is designed to capture solid fishwaste and dissolves it into elements which the plant then could absorb, such as ferum, potassium, kalium, etc. It is an essential to have this pod as described in the aquaponic cycle below.

The fish pod, basically contains my 3 koi fish and a pump. Since the system is practically new, the fish is quite stressfull and is a bit jumpy. So i didnt manage to take a picture of them, maybe next time, in the next update.

Aquaponics Design #2

2011-09-16T01:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, its been 5 months since my last post. But I've been wanting to post this for a long time. So here goes.

Continuing the 'Concept' topic on which I'll base my system on, here are the findings I got from the net apart from the last post.

The system from University of Virgin Island. One of the first systems I encountered back in 2006. Used as a learning field for Aquaponics study. Too big for me of course, just wanted to share it with u guys.

This would be how that system looks like under the raft. Remember that this is a deep water raft system much like the one I tend to adopt in my trial system at home.

Going back to my previous post, first image. This is the realization of it. Somebody must have build up this system according to that design and made it work. Nice looking system, but still too big for me to try, unfortunately.

Great design to accommodate the vege raft on the fish tank itself. Thus saving space for a more bigger fish population. But having too big fish to vegetable ratio will be problem for this setup I reckon.

Having seen all the design I could search in the net, this one of the smallest and simplest of aquaponics design I've came upon. Suitable in urban area where space is tight while still having all the features of an aquaponics system. I am in the construction phase of my system as of now. A little DIY assembling and I'll be posting my own system in a few days. Stay tuned.

Aquaponics Designs #1

2011-04-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

I need to figure out what kind of Aquaponics system design suitable for me, so I've google'd quite a few of them and saved those for future references. Some are really inspiring and ingenious designs that are worth sharing with u guys.

This somewhat the simple design that I was looking for; 2 growbeds, 1 fish tank, and a pump. But I wanted an aquaponics system using hydroponic (or deep water raft) system for my vegetables.

Now this is almost perfect, except that its for indoor system rather than outdoor. It could be done without the lighting if it's to be set-up outside tho. Quite an impressive design.

A bigger aquaponics design set-up, which I assume is for commercial purposes. The interior would probably looks like:

Which is fine if I'm running a commercial-based aquaponics. But I'm trying to find something I can work with; get my hobby started, get to do the trials & errors (hopefully few errors). A bit more like the system below:

This would be ideal for a beginner like me, simple and less complex to maintain. I'm eager to start my new hobby, just waiting for the right time (and also saving up some cash to get it started). Wish me luck!

Aquaponics Technology

2011-04-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Harmonising Nature and Technology with Aquaponics

Born from the abstract philosophy of ecocentric ideals, aquaponics has emerged at the very frontier of agricultural technology. Yet, many years after the modern concept was first realised it has yet to receive the commercial recognition that might unlock its true potential, writes Adam Anson, reporting for TheFishSite.

By definition, aquaponics is the symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment. What it could offers to the world of aquaculture and agriculture is hugely promising, yet its name is rarely uttered within the food sector.

Advocates of aquaponics will say that a well balanced system could eradicate the costs of feed, supplements, continuous employment and waste management. In return, providing a variety of high quality, natural food products in high yielding quantities, but the reality of the technology in practise today adheres to few of these promises.

Modern aquaponic systems usually take place within greenhouses in order to maximise conditions. Water from the fish tank is filtered and recirculated by the biological methods of the plant. Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and phosphorus are stripped away and then the freshly cleansed water is recirculated back into the fish tanks. In return, nutrients generated from fish manure, algae, and decomposing fish feed - that would be toxic to the fish - serve as liquid fertilizer to hydroponically grown plants.

Essentially what these systems create is a self sustaining renewable system that does not require fertilisers for the plants, or fresh water for the aquatic animals. Current systems still require the addition of fresh salt and water replacement for evaporation and plant uptake, but in principle even these inputs could be eliminated.

Practical Uses

The use of aquaponics is not a new idea. Some people point back to ancient Egypt when tracing its roots, but a modern view of aquaculture stems from the permaculture movement that began as an agro-ecological design theory in the 1970's.

Developed by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, the idea was used to create stable agricultural systems. This was a result of their perception of a rapidly growing use of destructive industrial-agricultural methods. Since then, aquaponics has become a movement in its own right, serving as a model of sustainable food production for both land-based and aquatic organisms.

A recent publication by the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) took a look at present day aquaponic systems in the US and current research into the production methods. According to the publication, Aquaponics - Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture, farmers are beginning to take an increasing interest in aquaponics due to the low input and waste management costs and also the green credentials that they provide.

For all its potential aquaponics must currently utilise complex technology and the skilled ability of workers to simultaneously monitor, manage and market the different types of agricultural products it creates. However, recent innovations have transformed aquaponic technology into a viable system of food production, claims the report. These systems can be highly successful, but they still require special considerations. Knowledge of both hydroponics and aquaculture are currently essential to the management of an efficient system.

Not all plants are adapted to strive in aquaponic greenhouses. Similarly, nor are all aquatic creatures suited to aquaculture systems. Furthermore, those plants and fish often require specific conditions to strive. pH, temperature, oxygen levels, feed are just some of the aspects that must be managed for optimum growth. It is the bringing together of these right conditions that makes aquaponics so difficult.

On top of that, managers must also harmonise the stocking densities of the chosen plants and animals. "Matching the volume of fish tank water to volume of hydroponic media is known as component ratio", explain the report. "Early aquaponics systems were based on a ratio of 1:1, but 1:2 is now common and tank: bed ratios as high as 1:4 are employed. The variation in range depends on type of hydroponic system (gravel vs. raft), fish species, fish density, feeding rate and plant species,"

However, if the basic set up of the system is correct, yields can more than compensate for the hard work. Not only will the input cost be minimised, but also the value of the product will be high. Products should be well managed and healthy, containing no artificial chemicals, or hormones and having no adverse effect upon the environment.

The products can then be marketed as organic and in return demand a greater price at market. Unfortunately, although organic aquaculture has a valued market in many countries, there has been no global consensus on its definition and a US Department of Agriculture accredited organic label has remained entirely allusive. For this reason, a movement towards organic aquaculture has been severely hampered.

Not So Radical Thinking

In many ways, the complexity of aquaponics requires an understanding of all life. Farmers must engineer a whole ecosystem that caters for the need of all the plants and animals that live within it. And yet, essentially, aquaponics lets nature do what it does best by allowing it to deal with the complex underworld of interactions, soil structures and micro-organisms that we really do not understand. Rather than attempt to bend nature to the whim of human knowledge, it realigns our knowledge on its path.

Aquaponics should not be judged and seen merely through the green-tinted lenses of eco-friendly eyes, it should be mutually acknowledged for the advantages it can provide on economic, health and market grounds. Not only does it harmonise yield products, but it also fuses natural processes with highly advanced technological ones to derive the best of both.

Unfortunately, with the rapid advancement of huge machines and intensive monoculture operations behind us, it can be difficult to look again and see a natural agricultural process take its place and be just as efficient. But time and again, the problems that intensive operations encounter have proved difficult to overcome with manmade contraptions. Nature already has the answers to most of our problems, it is merely learning to see and listen to them that often hinders our advancement.

credit to:
http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/570/harmonising-nature-and-technology-with-aquaponics

Aquaponics pH

2011-04-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

credit to: http://aquaponics.net.au/blog/

The term pH is short for potential hydrogen. pH is important because it affects plant growth, nutrient availability, elemental toxicity and microbial activity. The pH scale is where we measure the acidity and alkalinity levels for the growing of vegetables. Most vegetables like a pH of between 6 and 7, where 7 represents neutral. Numbers below this correspond to an increase in acidity, and above an increase in alkalinity. The uptake of nutrients and trace elements only occur in certain pH ranges. Iron, boron and manganese, for example need a slightly acidic pH level for their uptake, whereas nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium need a neutral to slight alkaline pH.

Mineral table and pH Image from Green Living.com

Here at Practical Aquaponics we have been keeping records of the PH levels in the different tanks. In the majority of the tanks the PH levels maintain themselves at around 6-7 PH.

However, we recently noticed that the level in our floating raft tank had dropped down and been sitting at around the 4-5 PH. The fish and plants were all doing well, but we decided it was time to buffer the PH level back up. A few days ago we added 10 grams of Potassium Hydroxide and then waited 24 hours to check the levels again. The PH had increased slightly, but on checking the next day it had dropped back down.
This time we diluted about 125 grams of lime and added it to the top tank so that it could dilute itself right down before it reached the fish tank.

Lime working it's way through the Box Filter.

Wow. I checked the PH as usual this morning and it had gone up a whole 2 points. The tank is now sitting at 6.5PH. Yesterday it was at 4.5PH. What a difference. And the plants, although they looked fine before, just seemed to have a more green look about them.

One of our other tanks, we call it the catfish tank, was slightly high, about 7-8 PH, and the plants in the beds didn’t look as if they were doing as well as they should be. To this tank we added about 15-20 ml of Hydrochloric Acid.

There wasn’t that much change in the PH level in this tank today, but I did notice a difference in the plants. Overnight, the plants looked healthier. There was more green growth on the plants than the day before and they just looked more alive.

The one thing that amazes me about the aquaponics system that I have noticed is how fast the plants seem to grow. From what I have seen since I started working here, the growth of the plants is much faster than planting in the ground. I have to wonder what this is all about. I am guessing that it has to do with the nutrient uptake, but will have to look into it more.

I will get back to you on this one.
Contributed by Kerry.
(Kerry is one of our staff members here at Practical Aquaponics)

Aquaponics Discounts

2011-04-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.friendlyaquaponics.com/free-diy-stuff/free-diy-systems/

Free Commercial DIY Packages and Commercial Trainings For Non-Profits and NGOs

We have been giving our Do-It-Myself Commercial Aquaponics Training package to accredited NGOs, churches, and bonafide non-profit groups for two years now, first for $50, then for a long time for $100. We have had SO many requests from non-profits for this “free” package that we’ve been spending up to a day and a half per week just answering emails, corresponding with people, printing and mailing the manuals. We’re not getting to spend that time on the farm, and we’re ALREADY not spending enough time with our family. So, we’ve had to increase our price to $250 to cover our time answering emails and posting the packages. This is STILL a $750 discount over the package’s normal price.
If you feel you qualify as a discounted receiver of our DIY Commercial package for your work, then please read the following “How-To” instructions carefully and follow them to the letter. Please don’t use our generosity against us; this is $1,000 worth of aquaponics information we are giving a $750 discount on.
“How To”: Mail us proof of accreditation of Non-Governmental Organization status, non-profit status, or church status, along with a letter from your Board of Directors with your name in it and some phone numbers we can call to verify, as well as a check paying for the $250 discounted price, with the organization’s name on it; to Friendly Aquaponics, Inc., at PO Box 1196, Honokaa, Hawaii, 96727. We will immediately mail off your DIY Commercial Package.
Also, if you wish to participate in one of our live group trainings, we will give you a free Live Group Commercial Aquaponics Training for this same $250 to cover course materials, room space, and refreshments. You need to supply airfare, accommodations, and all other needs for your participant. This is normally a $1,500 course; same conditions to prove you are non-profit apply as in the previous paragraph.

Aquaponics News

2011-03-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

Aquaponics Company Celebrates Achievements, Growth in 2010

2010 has been a year of achievements, milestones and growth for Nelson and Pade, Inc, a Wisconsin-based company specializing in aquaponics. Aquaponics is a sustainable method of food production that combines aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless plant culture) to efficiently grow both fish and plants in one recirculating system.

Montello, WI, USA (Vocus/PRWEB) December 07, 2010

2010 brought exciting new growth and substantial achievements for Nelson and Pade, Inc., a Montello, WI-based company that specializes in aquaponics and controlled environment agriculture. Aquaponics is a sustainable method of food production that combines aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless plant culture) to efficiently grow both fish and plants in one recirculating system. The fish waste provides an organic fertilizer source for the plants and the plants help to purify the water for the fish.

Nelson and Pade, Inc., a 20+ years-old company, offers complete aquaponic system packages for all applications, consulting and project planning services and comprehensive training workshops and learning programs. In early 2010, the principles and staff of Nelson and Pade, Inc. were busy settling into their new, much larger location, which provides expanded office space and over 8,000 sq. ft. of shop and warehouse space for manufacturing and system assembly.

Rebecca Nelson and John Pade, owners and Internationally-renowned aquaponics consultants, spent early March in Singapore, where they were invited to speak on aquaponics at the International Conference on Soilless Culture, sponsored by the International Society of Horticultural Sciences. The 5-day conference included 15-20 minute presentations from scientists hailing from 36 different countries. Nelson and Pade were given a 4 hour time slot to introduce aquaponics to this influential group from the horticulture and agriculture communities around the world.

In April of 2010, Nelson and Pade, Inc. resumed their popular aquaponics workshops and during the year taught aquaponics to over 200 people from 28 states and 12 countries. These comprehensive, hands-on workshops are very well received by attendees and are often the impetus for post-workshop developments in aquaponics. A 2010 workshop attendee, Stephen Mathews, Muskogee, OK, commented: “What can I say but thank you to the entire team. Thank you for creating a learning environment that was fun and relaxed. I have been to many conferences during my career as an educator, and this conference was the best I have ever attended."

So far in 2010, Nelson and Pade, Inc. has built 20 complete Clear Flow Aquaponic SystemsTM for commercial growers, hobbyists, mission groups, Universities and schools. These systems have been installed in locations throughout North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Cumulatively, Nelson and Pade, Inc. has built systems that cover over 2 acres. David Hamlin of Palmetto, FL recently purchased and is operating one of Nelson and Pade's Clear Flow Aquaponic SystemsTM. He shares: “With Nelson & Pade, you get excellent access to leaders of the industry, timely comprehensive answers to your questions, a superb staff and a system without equal.”

A milestone for Nelson and Pade, Inc. in 2010 was the design, assembly and delivery of the first Living Food BankTM aquaponic system to the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. Nelson and Pade travelled to Haiti in October to assist with the construction of the tropical greenhouse and the installation of the aquaponic system. The Living Food BankTM will provide fresh fish and vegetables to the mission and the people in Northwest Haiti.
In November, 2010 Nelson and Pade, Inc. completed the construction of their new 5,000 sq. ft. demonstration greenhouse in Montello, WI. This controlled environment greenhouse is home to a variety of Clear Flow Aquaponic SystemsTM and demonstrates aquaponic techniques, various crop choices and the latest developments in aquaponics technology. Attendees of Nelson and Pade, Inc.'s workshops, tours and Extended Stay Learning Program have the opportunity to learn about aquaponics first hand in this new, innovative aquaponics greenhouse.

Rebecca Nelson and John Pade's experience in soilless culture and controlled environment agriculture dates back to 1985, when they built the first large hydroponic greenhouse in Wisconsin and they wrote and produced the first video on hydroponic food production. Since then, they have worked diligently to develop soilless and aquaponic technology through their self-funded research. They have generously shared results and information on their website http://www.aquaponics.com (established in 1996), in the Aquaponics Journal, which they publish (started in 1997) and in writing and publishing books, videos and curriculums on aquaponics. The 2008 introduction of Nelson and Pade's book, Aquaponic Food Production, was the first comprehensive text written about aquaponics.

While there is a lot of talk about aquaponics, Nelson and Pade, Inc. is out there making it happen, supplying aquaponic systems, technology and training for people in developed and developing nations. For more information, visit their website at: http://www.aquaponics.com or call 608-297-8708. A new blog at http://www.aquaponics.com/blog/ provides perspective, information and updates on Nelson and Pade Inc.'s projects, news and events.

Aquaponics in Space

2011-03-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, a NASA Engineering Design Challenge asked students to think about the possibility of growing plants on the moon and then to design, build and test lunar plant growth chambers. On future long-duration missions on the moon, fresh-grown plants could be used to supplement meals.

A group of high school students from New Jersey not only came up with a unique way to grow plants, but their plant growth chamber also includes an idea for providing a source of protein for lunar astronauts. The project by students at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing, N.J., uses aquaponics -- plants and fish in the same environment.

Aquaponics combines aquaculture (raising fish) with hydroponics (growing plants without soil). The system designed by the New Jersey students combines bluegill fish and plants in the same tank. The fish live in the water in the bottom of the tank. The plants grow in the top half of the tank.

The seedlings are grown in rock wool, which is a type of mineral wool used in hydroponics. The seedlings are then suspended in a plastic pipe in the top half of the tank. The water is pumped from the bottom of the tank through the pipe, then back into the tank. The roots of the plants are exposed to the water stream as it flows through the pipe. As the plants absorb the nutrients in the water, they also filter it.

"The system is a symbiotic relationship between the plant and bluegill fish," explained the students' science teacher, Melissa Hannan. "The fish provide nitrogen and phosphate for the plants, while the plants provide beneficial bacteria to convert ammonia."

The system designed by a group of New Jersey students is an aquaponic system, which combines fish and plants in the same environment. Image Credit: Atlantic County Institute of Technology
Plants receive light from light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, under the wooden canopy on top of the tank. The lights are powered by solar panels. Reflective material on the sides and back of the tank enhances the solar-powered lighting, Hannan said.

Students researched bluegill fish, different mediums to grow seeds, and the chemical conversions taking place in the tank. They used three-dimensional design software to create a computer model of their tank design before building it.

They also experimented with the angle of the pipe and the water pressure to achieve the best results. "Our final product is quite different from our original product," Hannan said. "It was a lot of trial and error, which is exactly what science is."

Bluegill fish were chosen because of their small size and the constraints of the 45-gallon tank. However, Hannan said students are testing the same concept with freshwater bass in a 12,000-gallon tank in the school's greenhouse. In the small tank, students grew cinnamon basil seeds that had been flown on the STS-118 space shuttle mission in 2007 and distributed as part of the design challenge. In the larger greenhouse model, they are experimenting with growing herbs and lettuces.

Atlantic County Institute of Technology students Alex, Jack and Marco received a second-place medal for their project in the 2009 New Jersey SkillsUSA technology competition. Image Credit: Atlantic County Institute of Technology
"They thought it (aquaponics) would be a good idea for the astronauts on the moon because it's a self-contained system to provide protein and vegetation," Hannan said.

Students received a second-place medal for the project in the New Jersey SkillsUSA technology competition earlier this year. Hannan said judges were impressed with the construction of the system.

"What they (students) are really taking with them is hands-on experience," Hannan said. "They're learning what it's like to start a project, hit some problems and actually solve the problem, solve the issues, and refine your system and make it (work)."

The Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber project supports NASA's goal of attracting and retaining students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

link: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/9-12/features/aquaponics.html

Aquaponics Misconception

2011-03-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

Mythconception #6 – Aquaponics is Easy
October 26, 2009
By gary, http://www.microponics.net.au/?p=322

There are some people who would have you believe that operating an aquaponics system is just…..easy!

The people most likely to tell you that aquaponics is easy are those who want to sell you aquaponics kits or equipment – so their interest is fairly obvious. You’re much more likely to sell something to someone if you can convince them that it requires little or no effort or learning to operate.

Others like Dr Mike Nichols (a horticultural research scientist at the College of Sciences at Massey Universtity, Palmerston North NZ) have a different view.

In the March/April 2009 issue of Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses he reported:

“Sadly, I must report that aquaponics may be too difficult for many people. Theoretically, it should involve an equal marriage of aquaculture and hydroponics in which the two separate disciplines respond synergistically, and the nutrient waste from the fish is ‘purified’ by the bacteria and the plants and the clean water is then returned to the fish. In fact, because of the difference in the skills required for aquaculture and for hydroponics, it would appear that in many cases the synergy does not exist.

The majority of the income from aquaponics comes from the horticultural component, but as the majority of aquaponics projects evolve from aquaculture there is a distinct lack of horticultural knowledge by the participants. The result is that the aquaponics producer has to compete with the specialist hydroponics grower, but without the necessary skills base. It is my view that aquaponics (except on a very small scale) requires two specialists, an aquaculture specialist and a hydroponics specialist. Without this any large project would appear to be at risk.”

While Dr Nichols makes it clear that he’s talking about commercial aquaponics systems, I believe his contention is just as applicable to any aquaponics system – large or small.

While I acknowledge that the financial cost of incompetence may be far greater in a commercial operation, the practical outcome is the same….dead fish and plants that fail to thrive…..regardless of the size of the operation.

I guess I’m puzzled (and faintly suspicious), therefore, at how quickly many people (who have no previous experience of either aquaculture or hydroponics) develop confidence in their ability to undertake aquaponics.

Their excitement and confidence is understandable when you realise that it is the product of what they are told – that that the mere combination of these two disciplines creates something which is somehow easier to comprehend than either of the component parts.

They’re told that “the fish produce waste that the bacteria convert to plant food. The fish feed the plants and the plants clean the water for the fish.”

“It can’t be that simple” say the interested onlookers. “There must be more to it than that.”

At this point, the kit maker or their agent produces a few ”guidelines” – sage little wisdoms that are easy to remember and which still leave the novice with the illusion that aquaponics is easy to do.

The ”guidelines” include:

True aquaponics requires that the water recirculate from the fish tank through the growing system and back into the tank. See Recirculating or Open Loop?
That you stock the system at the rate of one fingerling per 10 litres of water (according to one kit maker). See Mythconception #1 – Stocking Density
For each litre of water in the fish tank, you must have one litre or two (depending on the source) of grow bed volume. See Mythconception #2 – Component Ratio
Grow beds must be 300mm deep. See Mythconception #3 – Grow Bed Depth
That you don’t need to clean out your aquaponics system because worms will turn all of that fish poop into plant nutrients. See Mythconception #4 – Removal of Solid Wastes.

Tart these ‘guidelines’ up with a few exaggerated claims about sustainability (see Mythconception #5 – Sustainability) and productivity and our onlooker is (with pen poised over the order form) rushing headlong into a Damascus Road conversion to aquaponics.

While the symbiotic relationship between fish and plants is the essence of aquaponics, the simplistic fish/plant dialogue trotted out by some vested interests is a very long way from explaining its intricacies.

My own experience of small-scale food production spans 30 years. In that time, we’ve kept all sorts of birds and animals and attempted to grow many types of plants using a variety of production systems and achieving proficiency in aquaponics has been as big a challenge as any of them…..and it is ongoing.

Now, having spent this time attempting to convince you that aquaponics is not as easy as some people would suggest, I don’t want you to believe that it’s beyond those who are prepared to make a reasonable effort to learn.

Aquaponics will, of itself, offer a reasonable return on your investment of time and money. Like any other investment, however, aquaponics may prove risky for those who are too lazy to do some basic research.

If your interest is in small-scale aquaponics, there are several books available. My personal favourite is The Urban Aquaponics Manual – 2nd Edition. While I confess to a certain bias (I wrote it), it is also the most up-to-date publication of its type in the world.

If you’re still itching for more on recirculating aquaculture – and if you’re well-healed – I’d recommend Recirculating Aquaculture Systems by Timmons, Ebeling, Wheaton, Summerfeldt and Vinci. It even contains a 40 page section on aquaponics.

Couple that with some reading about hydroponics. I recommend:

Hydroponic Food Production by Howard Resh
Commercial Hydroponics by John Mason
Hydroponic Crop Production by Joe Romer

By the time you’ve digested these books, you’ll be in the top 2 percentile (in terms of your knowledge of aquaponics) in the world.

If you’re just starting out in aquaponics, you will have a distinct advantage over those who have gone before you. Notwithstanding the hocus pocus, there’s more information out there than ever before. You’ve just got to sort the wheat from the chaff (like this little gem from another kit maker)……..

“Running an aquaponic system CAN be easy… I know of people who had no idea about fish keeping and no idea about growing plants yet with a few simple guidelines they are producing and harvesting their own produce from their systems.”

And here’s my point…..everything is easy until something goes wrong. When that something happens, the simplistic little guidelines don’t prevent the fishkill……or the subsequent anguish and the inevitable loss of confidence that occurs.

Forums like www.aquaponicshq.com/forums chronicle the trials of many people who have taken such advice and had bad experiences. But for these forums, and the technical support (and the occasional bit of group therapy) that they provide, such people would simply founder and drift away from aquaponics.

To summarise, aquaponics will provide:

crops of plants and fish for the same amount of water that it would normally take to just grow the plants.
clean, fresh, affordable food for you and your family.

…..but, like any worthwhile pursuit, your rewards will be commensurate with your efforts. The more you know; the more you grow!

Aquaponics DVD

2011-03-09T01:19:00.000-08:00

Aquaponics Made Easy (2009) DVD
by Murray Hallam

Grow fish and vegetables together in your own backyard the easy way. Whether you want to build your own system from bath tubs or assemble a ready-made kit, Murray Hallam will guide you through every step, so you can enjoy fresh fish and organic vegetables at your place.

If you’re worried about using commercially made fish pellets, Murray will show you how to grow your own fish food – the natural way.

Everything you need to know to get started in your Aquaponics adventure is packed into this educational DVD.

Over 90 minutes of quality information:

* Assembling a kit system

* Grow Beds, Tanks, Gravel Media explained

* Flood and Drain, Auto Siphons

* Fish Aeration, pumps, filtration, backup systems

* Growing plants successfully

* The Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling

* Testing your Water

* Maintaining a balanced system

* Choosing suitable fish for Aquaponics

* Batching your fish for endless food

* Dealing with pests

* Feeding your fish – Growing your own fish food

* Building your own Bathtub Aquaponics system

* Solar powered systems

* Essential checklist summary

Aquaponics Forum

2011-02-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

The Aquaponic Gardening Community is a Ning site that was established in early February, 2010 by Sylvia Bernstein. She is assisted by an Advisory Group of 8 - 10 active members.

The vision for the site is to form a diverse community of aquaponic gardeners, both experienced and novice, that is small enough to foster intimate relationships, but large enough to offer robust discussion across a wide range of topics and aquaponic gardening styles. The Ning format was selected because it easily facilitates forum discussions and group formation by geographic location, fish type or other areas of interest. It also encourages photo and video sharing and tagging, and the announcement and coordiation of events.

The idea here is to take the notion of community between aquaponic gardeners to a whole new level of interaction and idea exchange. So much of what has been learned so far about aquaponics is due to the open discussions between the early pioneering gardeners growing with this amazing technique. There is so much still to learn in this incredible new way of gardening. Together we can change the world.

Direct Link: http://aquaponicscommunity.com/

Aquaponics DIY

2011-02-22T18:52:00.000-08:00

If you love to garden and the idea of growing your own vegetables sounds appealing but you have limited space or no access to fertile soil then an aquaponics DIY garden may be what you are looking for.

Aquaponics systems can be as small as an aquarium purchased at a pet store or as large as a commercial system with several acres. The system concept is the same just on a much larger or smaller scale.

If you live in an apartment and have limited space the ideal solution would be an aquaponics kit which may be a turnkey solution, you will have to add the water, plants and fish. If you have a larger space to work with you will be able to design a larger system with room for expansion.

Either way you will be able to grow your own vegetables or herbs and they will be at your fingertips year round.

An aquaponics DIY system can be an enjoyable hobby that will provide you with fresh herbs or plants. However if space is not an issue you would be able to produce enough vegetables to feed an entire family year round.

The idea of growing your own vegetables may be appealing just from the money you would save yearly but there is another benefit you will be able to control the quality of the food you will be producing and due to the recent food contamination scares that is a very appealing thought.

It is important to be realistic about your aquaponics DIY system because you are not going to save hundreds of dollars per year from an aquarium size system, which would be considered more of a hobby than a vegetable producing empire. However if you are ambitious and have the resources not only would you be able to produce enough foodstuffs for your consumption but you would also be able to profit from selling the excess.

It would be wise to invest in a step by step guide to help you get your system off the ground but will also help avoid any pitfalls that you might not think of in advance.

Reference : http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/

Aquaponics Variety

2011-02-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

Types of common fish and vegetables suitable for Aquaponics

Vegetables

Most of the common garden vegetables do well with aquaponics, except for a lot of the root vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic, etc. Growing root crops with aquaponics is possible but they can be tricky in this kind of deep water raft system, perhaps media fill system could do it.

Common fruit bearing vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, squash, peppers, melons, strawberries and even corn if supported will grow beautifully. Leafy greens like lettuce, cabbage and herbs like basil grow amazingly well.

Common legumes like beans and peas also do quite well. Viney plants like pole beans and cucumbers are great because they can be rooted in the grow bed, and the rest of the plant can grow off in some direction and take advantage of space and light away from the grow bed.

Fish

Tilapia, a fresh water fish that is hardy and fast growing, is most commonly raised fish in aquaponics. Numerous other freshwater fish, such as crappie, bass, carp, brim, goldfish and koi are being raised in aquaponics. More intense commercial operators are experimenting and developing hybrid systems to raise trout, char and salmon, such systems are more complex and require higher levels of technologies and management for rearing environment control.

Here are a short list of suitable fish for Aquaponics:
Tilapia
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Lake Perch
Bluegill
Channel Catfish
Hybrid Striped Bass
Northern Crayfish
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
All Carp
Goldfish
Sunfish
Bream
Crappie
Pacu
Koi

reference from: http://ezinearticles.com

Aquaponics Valentine

2011-02-13T20:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day

Here are 3 more Aquaponics reference links I would like to share.
Note: I will update the Reference page as soon as possible.

1. Hobby Aquaponics: Zero Effort Farming - Aquaponics
- http://www.squidoo.com/hobbyaquaponics

2. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
- http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/aquaponic.html

3. The Aquaponics Guidebook (an e-Book) at Blue Planet Green Living
- http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2010/01/13/the-aquaponics-guidebook-an-e-book/

Have a nice day

Aquaponics Question

2011-01-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

How Many Aquaponics Tanks Do I Need?

By Ronald E. Hudkins

Aquaponics is the farming method that combines both aquaculture and hydroponics. Both of these farming techniques are environmental friendly, and when they are combined their benefits are even greater. The greatest benefit that comes with aquaponics is the conservation of water and soil nutrients. There are two stages involved in the set up of an aquaponics system. One stage involves setting up a garden where you will grow your plants. The other stage involves setting up an aquarium for the fish. Proper planning before you set up your aquaponics farming system will enable you to identify the correct number of tanks that will be sufficient.

The number of tanks that you need will depend on a number of factors. How big is your aquaponics system? If you have a large project, you might want to have more than one tank. However, most people practice small-scale aquaponics. Therefore, they only need one or two big tanks. The number of fish that you want in your system also factors in. The recommended amount of water is normally one gallon for every fish. This means that if you want more than a hundred fish in your aquaponics system, you have to have a tank or tanks than can hold 100 gallons of water at any one time.

The number of tanks that you will have will also depend on your budget. If you do not have enough money to buy and maintain multiple tanks, then you can manage with one or two tanks. However, you have to ensure that your tanks will be enough for the fish to survive in. The issue of maintenance is also a factor to consider when you are thinking about how many tanks are ideal for your aquaponics project. Maintenance involves ensuring that the water temperature is normal and the pH is not too high or too low. Maintenance also involves making sure that there is sufficient and efficient air circulation in the tanks. If you think that you cannot carry out all these maintenance activities in many tanks at the same time, then the fewer your tanks the better.

There are some people who prefer many small-sized fish tanks while others prefer fewer but larger tanks. The number of fish tanks that you want to get is entirely up to you. However, you should also realize that maintaining a small tank takes much more effort and time than maintaining a large tank. If you are a busy person practicing aquaponics as nothing more than a hobby, then you should consider getting a larger, easier to manage fish tank. However, if you are into aquaponics as a full time job, you can get smaller multiple tanks because you will have all the time to manage them.

If you are looking for a farming technique, which will enable you, to conserve the environment, think aquaponics. While planning what you want to do with this farming system, do not forget to plan for the right number of tanks.

Aquaponics Facts

2011-01-21T18:29:00.000-08:00

Aquaponics uses up to 90% less water than conventional farming does

Aquaponics is energy efficient: It requires up to 1/3 of the energy
other farming systems use.

Aquaponics can have up to 8 to 10 times more vegetable production in
the same amount of time and area than conventional gardens or farms.

Labor can be reduced as much as 40%, while useful byproducts are
created that can be used to farm other crops, trees, soil, water, and
energy.

Credit to 'fukuoka_farming'

Greenhouse growers and farmers are taking note of aquaponics for several reasons:

Hydroponic growers view fish-manured irrigation water as a source of organic fertilizer that enables plants to grow well.
Fish farmers view hydroponics as a biofiltration method to facilitate intensive recirculating aquaculture.
Greenhouse growers view aquaponics as a way to introduce organic hydroponic produce into the marketplace, since the only fertility input is fish feed and all of the nutrients pass through a biological process.
Food-producing greenhouses — yielding two products from one production unit — are naturally appealing for niche marketing and green labeling.
Aquaponics can enable the production of fresh vegetables and fish protein in arid regions and on water-limited farms, since it is a water re-use system.
Aquaponics is a working model of sustainable food production wherein plant and animal agriculture are integrated and recycling of nutrients and water filtration are linked.
In addition to commercial application, aquaponics has become a popular training aid on integrated bio-systems with vocational agriculture programs and high school biology classes.

Credit to 'attra.ncat.org'

In addition, i've updated the Aquaponics Extra page's Special Topic: Permaculture.
Permaculture and Aquaponics can combine and focuses truly sustainable closed-loop
systems that provide all the needs for the system with in the system itself.

Aquaponics Extras

2011-01-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I've created a new page called Aquaponics Extras to hold a few Special Topics regarding Aquaponics and i'll start off with the Duckweed topic. Duckweed is an easy, cheap and abundant food source for fish. Its very high in protein (~40%) and could clean off waste water as well.

The reason i open this Special Topic is to learn about Duckweed myself since i intend to farm this plant for my fishes (tilapia likes duckweed a lot) . Duckweed has high growth rate (doubles in 3 days) and this creates FREE fish food and saves me a lot of money from buying fish feed.

Aquaponics Startup Kit

2011-01-06T21:40:00.001-08:00

This is my setup kit to kickstart my aquaponics adventure
As u can see the design is still incomplete, havent done the piping, aeration and whatnot
But I'm currently improving that, and will be posting the finished design soon

Aquaponics Starting Tips

2010-12-28T18:07:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!
Here are some Beginners' Startup Tips i came across while surfing the net.
Its very informative and would probably save us a lot of valuable time as well.

1) System type – Media bed is recommended for new, Hobby growers.
Why not NFT or Deep Water Culture (AKA raft or DWC)?
A media bed performs three (3) filtering functions;
1 mechanical (solids removal)
2 mineralisation (solids breakdown and return to the water)
3 bio-filtration

Because the media bed also acts as the place for plant growth, it basically does everything all in one component – making it all simple.
Media also provides better plant support and is more closely related to traditional soil gardening because there is a media to plant into.
The cost of building the system is lower because there are fewer components.
It is easier to understand and learn.

2) Grow Bed
The industry standard is to be at least (300 mm) deep to allow for growing the widest variety of plants and to provide complete filtration.
Must be made of food safe materials and should not alter the pH of your system (again, beware of concrete).

3) Fish tank
If you have flexibility here, (1000 litres) or larger seems to create the most stable Aquaponics system. Larger volumes are better for beginners because they allow more room for error; things happen more slowly at larger volumes.
Must be made of food safe materials and should not alter the pH of your system (beware of concrete, for example).

4) Stocking Density
20kg of fish per 1000 ltrs. This is a very safe stocking density for new systems.

5) Steps for Planning your System
Determine the total grow bed area in square meters.
From grow bed area, determine the fish weight required (kg) using the ratio rule 5 kg of fish for every square meter of grow bed surface area, assuming the beds are at least 300mm deep. Determine fish tank volume from the stocking density rule above.
For example, if you plan to have 2 x 1 sqm grow beds, total of 2 sqm of growing area. Plan to stock so you have a mature weight of no more than 10kg of fish which will require 500 litre fish tank.

6) Media
Must be inert – i.e won’t decompose or alter the pH of the system.
LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate, AKA Hydroton or CANNA clay), Lava Rock, and Gravel are the most widely used media types. If you choose gravel, understand it’s source and avoid limestone and marble as they could affect your pH.

7) Water Flow
You should flood, then drain your grow beds. The draining action pulls oxygen through the grow beds.

If you are operating your system with a timer you should run it for 15 minutes on, and 45 minutes off. If you are running auto siphons, they will determine the time of the flood and drain cycle.

You want to flow the entire volume of your fish tank through your grow beds every hour if possible. Now consider the “head” or how far against gravity you need to move that water and use the sliding scale that is on the pump packaging to see how much more pump capacity you need.

8) Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates
Ammonia and Nitrite levels should be less than .75 ppm
If you see Ammonia levels rise suddenly, you may have a dead fish in your tank.
If you see Nitrite levels rise you may have damaged the bacteria environment in your system.
If either of the above circumstances occur, stop feeding your fish until the levels stabilise, and, in extreme cases, do a 1/3 water exchange to dilute the existing solution. Nitrates can rise as high as 150 ppm without causing a problem, but much above that, you should consider adding another grow bed to your system.

9) Oxygen
Be sure there is plenty of oxygen in your fish tank. You can do this through the use of a separate aeration device and by diverting part of the water from flooding and draining your grow beds directly into your fish tank. The only way you can have too much oxygen in a fish tank is if you are literally blowing your fish out of the tank. If you don’t have enough oxygen being infused into your tank your fish will be gasping for air at the water surface, but if you reach this stage you may have done permanent damage to your fish’s respiratory system.

10) When to add plants
As soon as you start cycling your system, but accept that they may not grow well for the few weeks required for cycling to occur.
If you add Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed to your tank when planting or Seasol at the rate of ½ litre per 1000 litres, your plants will establish themselves much more quickly. (then at the rate of one CAP full per day until system is established)

11) When to add fish if you are using a Fishless Cycling technique
Add fish once nitrates are present and the ammonia and nitrite levels have peaked and declined below 1.0 ppm.

12) Feeding Rate
As much as your fish will eat in 5 minutes, 1 – 3 times per day. As soon as the fish start to loose interest in feeding. Stop feeding. An adult fish will eat approximately 1% of its bodyweight per day. Fish fry (babies) will eat as much as 7%. Be careful not to over feed your fish.
If your fish aren’t eating they are probably stressed, outside of their optimal temperature range, or they don’t have enough oxygen.

13) Worms
Add a handful of composting red worms to each grow bed once your system is fully cycled and fish have been added. Red wrigglers are most favoured.

14) pH
Target a pH of neutral, or 7.0, in your Aquaponics system. This is a compromise between the optimal ranges of the fish, the plants, and the bacteria. For fish, this is a pH of around 6.5 to 8.0. For plants, this is a pH of around 5.0 to 7.0 and for bacteria it is a pH of 6.0 to 8.0.
Test pH at least weekly, and as frequently as 3 – 4 times per week. During cycling pH will tend to rise.

After cycling your systems, pH will probably drop below 7.0 on a regular basis and require being buffered up. If you need to lower pH it is generally because of the water source (such as hard ground water) or because you have a base buffer in your system (egg shells, oyster shell, shell grit, incorrect media).

Best method for raising (buffering) pH if it drops below 6.6
Calcium hydroxide – “hydrated lime” or “builder’s lime”.
Potassium carbonate (or bicarbonate) or potassium hydroxide (“pearlash” or “potash”). If possible, alternate between these two each time your system needs the pH raised. These also add calcium and potassium, which your plants will appreciate. While they work, be cautious about using natural Calcium Carbonate products (egg shells, snail shells, sea shells). They don’t do any harm, but they take a long time to dissolve and affect the pH. So, you add it, check pH two hours later and nothing has changed, so you add more. Then suddenly, the pH spikes because you have added so much.

Best methods for lowering pH, in order of preference, if it goes above 7.6
pH Down for Hydroponics- (be careful of using the aquarium version as this has sodium that is unhealthy for plants).
Other hydroponic acids like nitric or phosphoric as the plants can use the nitrate or phosphate produced.

Other acids, such as vinegar (weak), hydrochloric (strong), and sulphuric (strong) – last resort as directly adding these acids to your system could be stressful for your fish.
Use caution when adding anything to your system containing sodium as it could build-up over time and cause harm to your plants.

Do not use citric acid as this is anti-bacterial and will kill the bacteria in your bio-filter.

Happy Gardening! - reference: Practical Aquaponics Blog

Welcome to Aqua Vista!

2010-10-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Feel free to go through the Overview Page for some insight
This Home Page will be for my farm updates, soon I hope

You can also go to the Reference Page for more info
Please do not hesitate to contact me for any feedback

Regards,
Viceroy