Aquaponics

[Brian Ring]

I didn't know exactly where to post this, since it is fish and garden, so I chose here.  Anyone able to give me some concrete formula or number on how many fish to stock in a tank and the ratio you should have to the number of plants and size of growbed?  I will be getting a pre-owned 50 gallon aquarium, and can also access 55 gallon plastic drumbs for free or $10 a piece at most.  I would like to try growing in pea gravel or expanded clay and would also like to experiment with a NFT grow method in 4" PVC.

Any suggestions?

[Jason Akers]

Nick has had a guy on saveourskills talking about this.

Last number I heard was 2 gallons per pound of fish but I may be transcribing that. 

Now the number of plants and size of growbed I do not know and I'm gonna have to find out real quick this spring when I try this.

Jason

[ladieu]

http://www.saveourskills.com/complete-guide-barrelponics

[Brian Ring]

Nick - I read through the post on your website, but I couldn't find info on the plant to fish ratio other than "it depends".

[ladieu]

It is an excellent question. My advice would be to post this questin to the backyard aquaponics forum... you will get an answer rapidly there

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/

[Brian Ring]

Thanks I will do that.

[ladieu]

Thanks I will do that.

post back with your results... i'm tracking this thread.. Thanks man!!

[Brian Ring]

Thought I would let you know what I found...It depends.  That is the only answer anyone has.  They do have a pretty good formula for grow bed to fish tank ratio, which is twice as much grow bed as fish tank size.  With that said the next biggest factors are fish type, number of fish, and amount the fish are fed.  So, it depends.

I am going to start with 10-20 Goldfish in an 18 gallon storage container, pumping water to a 130 quart (about 2 times size) under the bed storage container filled with Perlite.  The grow bed will be at a slant and empty the water to another, smaller (not sure on size yet) plastic storage container that will have duck weed growing in it, this will then flow down to a plastic cup filled half way with oyster shells (to control PH balance – does it automatically), then finally back to the “fish tank”.  So, if all works okay I will have an entirely self-sufficient, contained system.  I will not have to buy feed or test the PH of the water.

Any comments?

[Brian Ring]

Here is a link to a photo of my system in case anyone wants to see it:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JlM1PMRUE1IAL09cpuAAt8m02peazUvjWkzRU74prIE?feat=directlink

[CopperKnight]

I love homemade setups like that.  

Couple questions:
How do the goldfish do without a lot of light?
What do you have growing in the perlite?
Why the small black hoses instead of just letting the water flow from the highest point?

[Brian Ring]

I was told that the fish do do not need a lot of light, so far so good.  they eat their food and swim around.  They actually run away whenever I point my flashlight in the water. 

I am currently growing loose-leef lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, raddish, basil, and one green onion (bought from the grocery store and we weren't going to use it before it went bad, so I planted it. It is thriving! Since the photo, it has grown 4 inches above the bottom of the light).

I thought about just letting the water flow, and I might go back to that, but while they are seedlings I know it is important that they all have water and some of the perlite was not getting as wet as other parts when I just let it flow.  The tubes make sure water reaches all parts of the perlite.

FYI...I have had a problem with the duckweed container with the PVC through the bottom, it has leeked a few times. I sealed them with silicon, but I will probably be building a new duckweed container that drains out the side instead of the bottom.

[CopperKnight]

Are you planning on transplanting the root vegetables when they get bigger, or see how they do growing the perlite? 

Spreading the water does sound like a better option.  Flowing water doesn't seem like it would give the roots time to collect the nutrients before they are washed away.

[Brian Ring]

I really want to see how the root veggies grow in the Perlite.  They are mostly an experiment to see if it is possible to grow the root crops in the Aquaponics.  I know from others that greens will work as well as the Basil, which is great, but if at all possible I want to be able to grow a majority of my veggies for all winter next year.

Though we do plan on canning and a root cellar, nothing beets a fresh carrot just plucked and eaten.

As an update, the raddishes seem to be doing the best, they are 3 inches tall now, followed by the beets and the carrots are going a bit slower.

The spinach is growing a bit funny, the roots keep pushing up out of the perlite, don't know what that is about, but hopefully they will get with the program.

[ladieu]

OK awesome... and would fit perfectly in my basement space. I may hit you up with questions when the time comes

Here is a link to a photo of my system in case anyone wants to see it:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JlM1PMRUE1IAL09cpuAAt8m02peazUvjWkzRU74prIE?feat=directlink

[Jason Akers]

I love this setup as well.  Much like what I am considering.

Jason