"Green" Aquariums?

[docturtle91b]

I was wondering what steps my fellow fish heads have taken to make their fish keeping more eco-friendly?

I raise my own feeders mollies, gambusia, and guppies. Also, I use my garden to source inverts (worms, insects, spiders, etc.) for the fish. Thus reducing my need to buy food or have it shipped.

Old water from WC's is used in the plants both potted and garden. The replacement water for wc is rain water that I collect specifically for that purpose. Insect larvae from the tanks holding rain water go to feed the animals as well.

I reuse glass jars to contain the roots of some of the terrestrial plants that I grow in my tanks (brugmansia, red cedar, etc.) as well as for containers in the fish room.

I have designed the layout of my fish room to use natural light as much as possible. I'm also using more and more plant based filtration for the tanks lowering my energy needs.

 

[MN Fish]

It sounds like you have alot of time on your hands.

 

[docturtle91b]

Maybe I have more time than some people but I doubt it. However, since living in as sustainable way as I can became a priority, many of the changes that I made to live that life are habit now and just as time consuming as the practices I did before. Evaluating my behavior, planning a few steps in advance, and making the life changes gradually are the things that helped me make my lifestyle more "green".

 

[lp85253]

It sounds like you have alot of time on your hands.

sounds to me like somebody that LOVES the hobby

 

[ecoli73]

If you have that much time on your hand, buy some solar panels and try to use that to power your fish needs.

 

[docturtle91b]

Dudes, its not like I have that much more time than anyone. How exactly is what I'm doing that much extra time? And whats with that kind of comment? I'm simply asking what other people are doing out there in the fish community.

 

[Rivermud]

Well I guess you could say I'm going green.. or greener anyway.. If I had a renewable power source I would be nearly neutral. I have an vermiponics setup. I can feasibly grow tilapia and raise crops without doing major water changes or adding outside fertilizers.

It's about as green as we can get in the household hobby.... would be cool to have renewable power for it.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...s-Fish-Plants-and-Worms&highlight=vermiponics

 

[docturtle91b]

That is a sweet set up bro. Way to go on that.

 

[karak]

I also collect rain water for my aquariums and the WC water goes out onto the garden, other then that im sadly quite wasteful

 

[sjkoi]

A different angle on your concept, but the same general idea. I am going green with koi ponds. Reuse water in landscapes, air lift pumps and solar panels that double as shade for ponds and pond builds that use more economical techniques and materials. The same goes for the feed, but that is a touchy subject so don't anyone bring it up. It makes the hobby more enjoyable, thoughtful and sustainable economically. Going green also equates to less cost and better husbandry.