Home Aquaponics

[Pingdong]

if you are able to add a layer to filter out teh solid chunks, you may be saving your self soem time cleaning later.

the pump pumps up all teh poop and solids that fit through it and it get splashed all over those lovely rocks with rough, air pocketed surfaces filling them and making them slimy and way less effective. also far less nitrogen changing going on.

it takes some months for it to build up depending on how many fish, but it can get pretty gross in time and plant roots like air space, not slimy and slightly anaerobic type stuff.


just putting that hose into a little tub with some filter cloth put in will make things soooo much nicer down the line...unless you plan on replacing frequently, in that case nevermind.

[ironlady]

jd, plan on coming to my house and setting me up with something like this.

[jdsmith]

if you are able to add a layer to filter out teh solid chunks, you may be saving your self soem time cleaning later.

the pump pumps up all teh poop and solids that fit through it and it get splashed all over those lovely rocks with rough, air pocketed surfaces filling them and making them slimy and way less effective. also far less nitrogen changing going on.

it takes some months for it to build up depending on how many fish, but it can get pretty gross in time and plant roots like air space, not slimy and slightly anaerobic type stuff.


just putting that hose into a little tub with some filter cloth put in will make things soooo much nicer down the line...unless you plan on replacing frequently, in that case nevermind.

I don't worry about it, as I replace maybe1/3 of the water each week or so with water from the dehumidifier, or if it looks grimy. Also, something they don't tell you at the fish shop is that the pump needs to be cleaned every week, rinsed out in warm water. The slime builds up and can not so theoretically kill the pump.

So, far the best thing that grows in it is lettuce and tomatoes. The peppers don't seem to be working. The brocoli was doing OK, but I moved it outside where it was promptly eaten by caterpillars. I moved out the tomatoes because they were 3.5 feet tall and not flowering. They are outside now in the sun and I noticed flowers last night. I tried basil before I had the lights hooked up., but they didn't do so well.

jd, plan on coming to my house and setting me up with something like this.

I plan on setting up mine almost immediately. Either with tilapia or trout this time around.

[Pingdong]

Most things from the mint family will do pretty well depending on species and light. good call on cleaning it, im just lazy

very surprisingly you can grow things like green onions and garlic in this kind of system too. but works better with finer material like pumice/perlite. or just putting it on top and shading the top with a board with the plants growing through. beans can do OK as well, but root rot resistant varieties might be wise.

any pics of it ready to pick for dinner?

[jdsmith]

This was before I replanted the tomatoes. I snip lettuce off every few days for sandwiches or salads.