Anyone done this? And I don't mean having the equivalent of a freshwater refugium. I'm currently getting ready to set up my 155g, which was used for saltwater and is drilled, so I will be doing sump filtration since I'm going to have some fairly big fish in there. Since I'm already going to be doing this I am strongly considering having the water run through an aquaponics bed before entering the sump. Any potential problems? This appeals to me both because I'd like to grow veggies in the winter and because it would hep suck nitrates, and keep the water quality up in my tank. Anyone doing anything like this or have any feed back? How effective will it be in helping the water stay nice?
Anyone added an aquaponics component to sump system?
- Thread starter Quo Vadis
- Start date
I've got a refugium for a sump and it works great.
So I have no experience in what your asking, but there can be possible issues with growing veggies with your aquarium water. Mostly with meds you might have to use. ( can't eat veggies now). Or even with salt you want to use for your fish. Plants won't like that..
Just a thought
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So I have no experience in what your asking, but there can be possible issues with growing veggies with your aquarium water. Mostly with meds you might have to use. ( can't eat veggies now). Or even with salt you want to use for your fish. Plants won't like that..
Just a thought
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You need pretty bright light for most veggies. In addition not all veggies work well in hydroponics.
Ive grown hydroponic lettuce. Outdoors. Indoors the plants failed under 12/hrs day 120w.
Not worth more power so now im trying pothos and bromeliad pups from my vivariums.
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Ive grown hydroponic lettuce. Outdoors. Indoors the plants failed under 12/hrs day 120w.
Not worth more power so now im trying pothos and bromeliad pups from my vivariums.
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As mentioned above, your going to need to either pump some serious light into your setup (I use a ufo light that is traditionally used in hydroponic setups) or at least have the planted area of the sump exposed to direct sunlight, like a window on a south facing wall.
I'm assuming that this will be a constant flow system vs a drain and fill since it will be part of the sump. There's also the floating bed option, which would be less costly in the long run.
Choosing your plants and/or vegetables will be easy once you know what kind of light you plan on using as well as what type of system they will be growing in. Not to mention what type of stocking the tank will have (available nitrates for plant growth). Ph is definitely important as well so you'll have to decide what plant species you'd like to grow based on your fish's optimum ph level.
Also mentioned above; adding pothos is a super easy way to add plants to your setup while reducing nitrates but I understand the urge to grow something you can eat
. Of course you'll need to make sure you go as natural as possible (no meds etc.) So that you do not taint your crops.
Good luck on your new setup; I'd suggest doing some reading on traditional aquaponic setups and incorporating what you like/what will work for you into your own.
Make sure to keep us updated, its always nice to see aquaponics incorporated into traditional aquarium setups!
I'm assuming that this will be a constant flow system vs a drain and fill since it will be part of the sump. There's also the floating bed option, which would be less costly in the long run.
Choosing your plants and/or vegetables will be easy once you know what kind of light you plan on using as well as what type of system they will be growing in. Not to mention what type of stocking the tank will have (available nitrates for plant growth). Ph is definitely important as well so you'll have to decide what plant species you'd like to grow based on your fish's optimum ph level.
Also mentioned above; adding pothos is a super easy way to add plants to your setup while reducing nitrates but I understand the urge to grow something you can eat
. Of course you'll need to make sure you go as natural as possible (no meds etc.) So that you do not taint your crops.Good luck on your new setup; I'd suggest doing some reading on traditional aquaponic setups and incorporating what you like/what will work for you into your own.
Make sure to keep us updated, its always nice to see aquaponics incorporated into traditional aquarium setups!
I actually have done a fair amount of research into aquaponics in general, because I'm always looking for a new challenge with it comes to my hobbies, and that happens to combine two of my hobbies, gardening and aquariums (also chickens, but I'm not sure how to incorporate that! haha). I actually already have various houseplants growing in my tanks, and a vivarium, so I am looking for something different, that is actually full on aquaponics. How much nitrate will lettuce, etc. absorb compared to pothos, peace lily? Is there any reason planting them in a bed of aquaponics media, but having water run through there constantly wouldn't work? I know it's not typical, but I don't see any problems. But then I am no expert.
Also any suggestion on best route to go with lighting? I metal halide worth it, or should I just go with T5s?
Also any suggestion on best route to go with lighting? I metal halide worth it, or should I just go with T5s?
Or if I used 1 (2-3?) of these bulbs in a fixture, would that work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-Orange-...iers_and_Ceiling_Fixtures&hash=item4865b24b44
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-Orange-...iers_and_Ceiling_Fixtures&hash=item4865b24b44
As far as lettuce, I honestly have no idea but I do know peace lilies don't absorb much if any more than pothos. I'm a tomato and strawberry guy myself.
As far as lights I don't know much about the ones you've posted but for comparable info, this is the one I'm running: http://growblu.com/48x3w-super-ufo (I've got the older model that doesn't looks so iron man, lol)
As far as lights I don't know much about the ones you've posted but for comparable info, this is the one I'm running: http://growblu.com/48x3w-super-ufo (I've got the older model that doesn't looks so iron man, lol)