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aquaponics

Aquaponics...getting started

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posted 12 years ago

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So my wife and I started a CSA this year, and I was doing some reading around, and kinda had this in the back of my mind on doing Aquaponics with it as well. Just wondering if there was anyone here that has/is doing it and where to get some information on how to start one up.

Thanks for the help up front

Tyler Ludens

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Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8

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posted 12 years ago

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I'm a beginning aquaponicist and I've already killed my first batch of fish! Not uncommon, as it turns out. Going to try again in another couple weeks. My primary lesson: Don't try to get along without a water test kit!

I've found a good amount of info and help here: http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/index.php

Idle dreamer

Neal McSpadden

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posted 12 years ago

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Aquaponics is great, especially for high intensity spaces. What kinds of things do you want to know?

Check out my Primal Prepper blog where I talk about permaculture, prepping, and the primal lifestyle... all the time!

Peter Mally

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posted 12 years ago

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Neal McSpadden wrote:Aquaponics is great, especially for high intensity spaces. What kinds of things do you want to know?

pretty much how to do it easy, inexpensive. I probably wont be able to get started this year, probably have to wait till next year, but I'd like start putting plans together and have some idea on what I need to get started...don't have a ton of room and would like to do it with some solar power as well

Abe Connally

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Location: Chihuahua Desert

posted 12 years ago

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Check out LEAP:
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11704
http://www.aquaponicshq.com/forums/showthread.php/6994-Low-Energy-Aquaponics-LEAP/

read both of those threads all the way through. Once you are done, buy this book: Small Scale Aquaculture

Then, you will have everything you need to know to get started. There is a lot to learn, and a lot to plan for. Don't jump into it, and don't assume anything.

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Neal McSpadden

Posts: 269

posted 12 years ago

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This is my very basic demonstration system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7tlgqzmQmM

It goes over the components of what you'll need. Sizes vary, of course. The demo system is only 5 gallons of fish tank, so you'll probably want to build something larger eventually.

AP has 4 fundamental components: a fish tank, a grow bed, a pump, and symbiotic bacteria that convert fish waste (ammonia) to plant food (nitrate).

For me there is nothing quite like doing, so I always recommend setting up a small system to help you understand how the pieces fit together. Experiment small, then build big.

Oh, and generally solar and inexpensive don't go together unless you are able to source free solar parts.

Check out my Primal Prepper blog where I talk about permaculture, prepping, and the primal lifestyle... all the time!

Peter Mally

Posts: 15

posted 12 years ago

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Neal McSpadden wrote:This is my very basic demonstration system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7tlgqzmQmM

It goes over the components of what you'll need. Sizes vary, of course. The demo system is only 5 gallons of fish tank, so you'll probably want to build something larger eventually.

AP has 4 fundamental components: a fish tank, a grow bed, a pump, and symbiotic bacteria that convert fish waste (ammonia) to plant food (nitrate).

For me there is nothing quite like doing, so I always recommend setting up a small system to help you understand how the pieces fit together. Experiment small, then build big.

Oh, and generally solar and inexpensive don't go together unless you are able to source free solar parts.

Thanks! I'll check it out.

Yeah, the solar panels wont be for a while longer than this. definitely starting small makes a lot of sense.

Abe Connally

Posts: 1502

Location: Chihuahua Desert

posted 12 years ago

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if you look at those threads on LEAP, you can have cheap and solar at the same time. The whole idea is to reduce the head as much as possible, and to use efficient pumps at low head (airlift). I think the final design could do about 60kg of fish a year on 10 watts (or less) and cost around $600 (or less).

Seriously, though, get Small Scale Aquaculture, it goes over everything in great detail, and has a lot of good information.

Buy Our Book! Food Web: Concept - Raising Food the Right Way. Learn make more food with less inputs
Off Grid Homesteading - latest updates and projects from our off grid homestead

Christian McMahon

Posts: 72

posted 12 years ago

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I have had great success with DIY Aquaponics by Murray Hallan. Yes you will need a lot of patience and a quality water test kit. I am ready for a larger system now. I will also be getting a greenhouse to keep the water warm in the winter time. It should also help with the wind blowing the flower petals off some of the plants.

Travis Day

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Location: Idaho, 43rd parallel Zone 6A

posted 12 years ago

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Well I am not sure how much room you have to work with, but lets say you have room for a 12'x24' greenhouse you could have a 4000-6000 gallon FT that could turn over about 6000-8000 or more Tilapia a year (if legal for you) and with a NFT system you could harvest 100-150 heads or luttuce a week.

I hope that is helpful as an idea of what you can expect from 288 sq ft of space.

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Jon Tomlinson

Posts: 3

Location: Houston Texas

posted 11 years ago

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Hmm, I have a 12 by 24 Greenhouse and it was all I could do to put in 2500 gallons, I guess I could have squeezed another 1750 gallons into it but why? With less than 300 fish my nitrate stays at about 80.
I keep hearing of numbers 1 fish per 1 gallon and that's just not a maintainable number in a 12 by 24 green house, nor would I ever put 1 to1 ratio even if I had the room. I can just imagine seeing a Tilapia at 1 pound in a 1 gallon milk jug.
I have seen that kind of fish numbers to gallons of water at the Hong Kong markets, They all look sick and diseased and that's just a holding tank.

R Scott

pollinator

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Location: Kansas Zone 6a

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posted 11 years ago

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You CAN stock that dense, but that is running at the edge and things can go belly up FAST. If you have room, it makes your life MUCH simpler to run at a lower stocking rate.

The LEAP threads are very helpful for thinking about energy efficiency whether you go full LEAP or not.

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