Aquaponics

[RichnSteph]

Quite the learning curve w/AP. Huh?? Sounds like a fun project.

Indeed!

 

[nordicacres]

Very interesting! My DH owns a small business. He specializes in saltwater tanks, freshwater tanks, ponds, and Aquaponics systems! Cool to know that others are also interested in growing in this manner. Last year he did celery in his growing medium and it did amazing! We moved last Fall and he doesn't have his pond system up and running yet. The poor Koi don't much appreciate their swimming pool

 

[knjinnm]

Very interesting! My DH owns a small business. He specializes in saltwater tanks, freshwater tanks, ponds, and Aquaponics systems! Cool to know that others are also interested in growing in this manner. Last year he did celery in his growing medium and it did amazing! We moved last Fall and he doesn't have his pond system up and running yet. The poor Koi don't much appreciate their swimming pool

Nordicacres and RichnSteph,
What are you using as a growing medium? Earlier someone mentioned using a rain gutter for growing greens, is it working OK?
jac

 

[RichnSteph]

Nordicacres and RichnSteph,
What are you using as a growing medium? Earlier someone mentioned using a rain gutter for growing greens, is it working OK?
jac

We're using lava rock for our grow beds. I've seen the gutter system for growing greens and strawberries and it's something that we've considered..... but right now our plan is just to see if we can actually make the system we have work.



We bought our fist tilapia yesterday. We got 26 of them that are 2-5 inches long for $100. Yeah it was a bit of cost but down here finding fish that are healthy and close enough that I can drive to pick them up has been a pain in the behind. Our tomato plants are still taking a beating from both wild birds and squirrels but since we're still 40+ days out from them actually putting on a bunch of fruit I can afford to spend some time to get cages built instead of just throwing something together. Our cucumbers have started to put on actual fruit and they are the cutest things you've ever seen. Bell peppers are doing well, jalapenos are not. Lettuce and swiss chard are doing well considering that they are cold season crops. The peas aren't going to make it..... dang it. The 5 random melon/squash plants that we have near the AP tank have taken over their 16x12 area and are now growing out of the fences. So far we have one acorn squash for sure, unknown on the others. The okra is about 2 feet tall and budding out and the green beans have become some sort of mutant plant as they are growing up the fence and producing beans much faster than I think they should. All in all I can't complain.

And on a chicken note one of our broody hens kicked an empty eggshell out of her nest last night. It seems that she's actually hatching chicks.

We also have had a few deer birthed near the house and they along with their mothers have been coming to the feeder. Our oldest doe dropped twins again this year and I just want to pick the babies up and hug them.

RichnSteph

 

[nordicacres]

I believe my DH uses expanded clay (not sure on proper terminology).

 

[RichnSteph]

I believe my DH uses expanded clay (not sure on proper terminology).

Hydroton. I wanted to use them also but they are very very expensive.

 

[politicalcenter]

Hydroton. I wanted to use them also but they are very very expensive.

I would greatly appreciate news on how your tilapia do. I considered them but the expense held me back.

Have they eaten all your duckweed yet? If so ...it is free food and you can always get more.

My fish are doing fine...no floaters for a while but the bluegill seem to be growing faster than the catfish. I also have very small minnows hatched in the pools.

 

[RichnSteph]

I would greatly appreciate news on how your tilapia do. I considered them but the expense held me back.

Have they eaten all your duckweed yet? If so ...it is free food and you can always get more.

My fish are doing fine...no floaters for a while but the bluegill seem to be growing faster than the catfish. I also have very small minnows hatched in the pools.

So far they are doing well although I think I lost a couple of the smaller ones to my bass. During the day they are usually hiding in the plants and cover that's in the tank. In the evenings they are out in force. Our algae is all but gone and the tank is cleaner than it's every been. I never did get around to collecting duckweed but I still plan to do so. As you said it's a free food source. Oh and on a side note one of our larger tilapia has carved out a nest in the corner of the tank and appears to be getting ready to breed. Works for me if they can make it happen.


Glad to hear your fish are doing well! I'd have loved to have just straight bluegill on ours but couldn't seem to catch enough of them out at the lake to bring home.

RichnSteph

 

[politicalcenter]

So far they are doing well although I think I lost a couple of the smaller ones to my bass. During the day they are usually hiding in the plants and cover that's in the tank. In the evenings they are out in force. Our algae is all but gone and the tank is cleaner than it's every been. I never did get around to collecting duckweed but I still plan to do so. As you said it's a free food source. Oh and on a side note one of our larger tilapia has carved out a nest in the corner of the tank and appears to be getting ready to breed. Works for me if they can make it happen.


Glad to hear your fish are doing well! I'd have loved to have just straight bluegill on ours but couldn't seem to catch enough of them out at the lake to bring home.

RichnSteph

I have heard that Tilapia are filter feeders so the algae is probably fish food too. I found some duckweed at the local CO-OP. It was floating in a flooded loading dock so I got some. It is in my plant pond. It is very hard to transport bluegill in this heat and I lose more than I keep. I'll wait for cooler weather before I try it again. But the ones that survive seem to thrive.

My water is still green...except for the plant pond. I switch out the water between my plant pond and my fish ponds and I use the water plants to filter the water. I have been turning the pumps off during the day to save money.

 

[knjinnm]

Are you running an air pump at night?