Aquaponics Help

[Deadliestviper7]

I never expanded past a 10g, which I no longer have running. I couldn't come up with a concrete, useful plan.

I'll help:

Make a rectangular pond of desired size.

Make a grow bed with gravel as substrate, all excess water should flow back to the pond.

You can grow onions,garlic, chives and others easily in the grow bed.

Water doesn't necessarily have to flow thru the grow bed continuously, a few minutes every day is sufficient for most plants.

Since you wish to grow kosher species as food, I would try to go with: bluegill, a few crappie, some LARGE golden shiners and lake chubs (to provide additional forage),
And tilapia.

The standard blue tilapia survives temps as low as (sometimes lower than) 55 f.

As a food source you could use a mix of purina pellets,grasshoppers and crickets,cooked rice and bread .
(The bread gives the fish a better flavor).

Given enough room bluegill won't do much fighting.

 

[markstrimaran]

I have decided my bed might be too shallow.

I will be using a piece of foam insulation as a light barrier. For the grow cups, but I am unsure of the best thickness. I am thinking 2" as it will hold the plant a little dryer.

Then I could also go with a rigid plastic HDPE 1/2" which I could bridge the tray and then block up allowing better air flow, and more room.

Maybe some 27 gallon totes.

Maybe some rock wool cubes.

Been too busy reading about spinach and getting the seeds to grow. Learned they need colder temps to germinate.

 

[J. H.]

I'm in southern NY. Anything would have to be able to survive 4 months of frost and a few nights of ~(-15F). It would have to be childproof, look pretty, not use more then 50w, and be cheap. I may put something up come spring using styrofoam as a cheap waterproof material, but fish would be an issue. I may go with local caught sunnies and just eat them before frost.

 

[Coryloach]

It's all about the choice of plants, weather conditions and the set up itself. Some plant tolerate more water in the roots, some don't. Some will be fine in colder weather, some won't. There will be some trial and error for sure to figure out what works for you.

I'd start with smaller amount of fish while fiddling with the plants. When the plants start flourishing, you can tell by the plants if more fish are needed. Nitrogen deficiency will show up if the bioload is not enough, in the form of old leaves yellowing and dying. There could be other deficiencies coming up too, depending on your source water. Iron deficiency is very common in hard water for example. So it will not all by dandy and easy but surely entertaining and rewarding.

 

[markstrimaran]

The hydrohobinic strawberries. This is a spare, It is not needed for any filtration purposes.

It was growing moss.

 

[markstrimaran]

Trying out the white 50 watt grow leds, 200 watt total, + 10 on the red/blue.

 

[markstrimaran]

Latest strawberry picture. The ones under the purple light are still looking a little rough.

I have 3 varieties of ever bearing.
I was surprised by the green leaves. They were under 12" of snow.