aqua-perma-ponics

[mannytheseacow]

Okay, I don't even know where this thread belongs but I'm taking a stab at it right here.

Anyone here have any experience with aquaculture? Aquaponics?

I've been wanting to do this for years... then I was touring this ag supply facility a few weeks back and they were promoting aqua-ponics. Ya know, running fish water through plant tables to grow food hydroponically. I did some hydroponic and aqua culture stuff back in college but all the pumps and electricity and such... it's not really permaculture.

Anyway, this ag place was selling this system for thousands and like most folks on this site, I'm like "I can build that out of waste materials." But I'm still waffling on the pumps and space and lights and all that.

So, last week I saw a 65 gallon fish tank on craigslist for free. I've got 25 tilapia coming tomorrow from a hatchery just across the border in Wisconsin. I'm still not sure about the plants and hydroponics and such... I'll get there. But I'm thinking I'll grow this tilapia over the winter and maybe select a breeding pair. Once spring/summer rolls around I can start moving the fry into some extra large tanks outside that I'm using to collect my rain water.

Has anyone else out there ever done the math and figured out the volume of a 1" rain on their rooftop? It's a ridiculous amount of water. Being way up on a ridge water is pretty far down the hill, but when it rains a little I've got one hell of a catchment!

Bottom line is: anyone else got any experience growing fish for food?

[matt walker]

Nope, but I've got a hot tub out back next to the greenhouse that I just can't bear to heat with electricity any longer. Since I installed the RMH my bones are warm all winter so I have shut the tub down, and have often thought of doing a simple passive floating raft hydro system in it. I've watched a lot of videos on aqua systems and am totally interested. The only thing keeping me from doing it is that my freezer is always full to overflowing with salmon, halibut, cod, and crab, since I live where that stuff is free everywhere, and I fix and build fishing boats for a living. I find myself turning down fish for the freezer more often than not.

Anyway, I am fascinated by the idea since I love systems so much, and that just seems like a ton of fun to sort out. If you end up progressing with it, people are always giving away old hot tubs with dead heating elements. I think they would make great free tanks. As for power and plumbing, I know you have a great handle on those systems. Can't wait to see what you do.

Oh, I watched Bigelow Brook's video on his little siphon cup thingy, I can't remember what it was called right now, but that looks like some really fun systems engineering.

[mannytheseacow]

[George Collins]

Anyone ever played around with the idea of setting up an aquaponic system with hogs being the intended recipient of the system's output?

[DrewInToledo]

Hi Manny et al,

I figured I'd keep this thread kicking since I just built a raintower. The concept is that a reservoir is filled with nutrients (fish poo eventually), pumped up to a top reservoir drilled with many small holes, and then the liquid "rains" down over the root structures.

I started with a 6x6 fence post. I then made a jig to quickly route out many ovals on all four sides.



I cut many 45° sections of 3" PVC and used PVC cement to affix to said ovals. You can see the netpots that will fit into the 3" stubs:



Progress....


I found an old cooler as a reservoir.




The pump just arrived and I'm working on the top reservoir where the liquid will catch and rain from. Will update as progress continues.

[matt walker]

Wow, super cool Drew! That would be great in a greenhouse where space is limited, I'm really interested in exactly these kinds of solutions. Keep us posted please.

[mannytheseacow]

Yeah, that is dope! I could see stuffing that in a corner or most anywhere- that's a clean compact system. It would be great for any vining plants in the greenhouse.

By the way, welcome, Drew! I saw your post in the heating section but haven't had time to post lately, not to mention any experience or knowledge on your topic. Great to have you here, just the same.

I forgot about this thread. A little update, I started with 25 tilapia and I'm down to about 15 now. They started out as fingerlings, maybe 1 gram each. They are currently about 12-15 grams each 1 month later. I think the only way to do this seriously is to be breeding your own or the stocking cost is just too much. Not to mention, I don't think my cold climate is really conducive to anything serious. I really like doing all this stuff myself, and I'm not much of a "go-out-and-integrate-with-society" kind of guy, but the more I do, the more I realize why our society has become specialists. It seems like you have to specialize, do 1 thing, and do it really well. Gosh, I hate to focus!

[DrewInToledo]

If i did my homework correctly, you and i are in the same latitude, about 4 hours apart, without considering timezones. Unless, im confusing you with another member who lives in Illinios! So, I understand why your tilapia didnt make it. I would love to be in a position to raise tilapia. Im considering a small greenhouse and phase change (eutectic) salts to help maintain temperature if i can find them somewhere relatively local. I would love to feed a hydrogarden with fish waste and also have the fish to harvest. If i do find the eutectics, i will incorporate the salts into a RMH as well.
Stay warm,
Drew

[mannytheseacow]

Hi Drew,

I'm just slightly north of you, about 42.4* North, and on the other side of the state. I had a job offer in Toledo a few years back and went to check it out- I recall it being 8-10 hours. I'm a good 3 1/2 from Chicago and it's a good hour just getting through Chicago. It would have been a good job, but not worth leaving what I've got.

My tilapia are inside in a tank. Someday I'll get to some sort of hydro/aqua culutre system but I'm just learning right now.