Grow plants in your biofilter

[mrgrackle]

I've recently become really interested in aquaponics... it's an aquaculture hydroponics hybrid. you use something like gravel as a biofilter for your fish and then grow plants in the gravel ala hydroponics. anyways, i ended up on this website trying to find information about fish... nice forums!

here's a little aquaponics system i set up...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNLbu07MDA

i suppose the only problem with doing this for an indoor aquarium is the size of the biofilter/growbed and suffecient light for your plants so they actually use the nutrients created for them. the larger and denser you stock your aquarium the bigger your filter needs to be. in commercial systems the max. ideal ratio is 4 gallons of filter / 2 gallons of water / 1 lb. of fish.

I have a 300 gallon system I'm in the process of setting up. I'll post some pics. if anyones interested.

 

[Dr Joe]

Nice test set-up.

I've designed many of these systems in all 3 categories for clients over the years. Best research I've found is the University studies and programs, if thet're state funded they usually have full disclosure (no sense re-inventing the wheel).

It's a very interesting and rewarding (if done right) project. It can also be very frustrating as you found out. Hydroponic plants can really suck up the nutrients.

A lot of people on here are using this idea in the refugium form. Their only concerned in removing the nitrAtes and getting the water clean.

Let us know if we can help you with any questions, we have all sorts of backgrounds here.

(oh, by the way ...classing ending to your vid, but I think you blu your grant ).

Dr Joe

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[frasertheking]

i would love to see that drop me a pm if you do this sounds great you system is so simple yet effective

 

[mosthated]

i thought the plants removed the nitrAtes?

 

[Blub Blub]

This is a very intresting twist in the hobby. Keep us updated on your progress!

 

[mrgrackle]

aye, the plants remove the nitrates.

 

[Dr Joe]

This is a very intresting twist in the hobby. Keep us updated on your progress!

Not that new... Egyptians wrote about their gardens .

 

[mosthated]

i retract my last post on here. i miss read part of the doc's post lol.

 

[basslover34]

LMAO Don't be embarassed... so did I the first time I read it ... then realized that DR is smarter than that and re-read it

 

[mrgrackle]

These are my growbeds, they will bed filled with gravel and planted with veggies. probably 120 gallons of grow bed.

This is the entire system. you can see one of my goldfish.