So…I’m totally hooked on aquaponics – the combination of aquaculture & hydroponics. I first learned about the concept a few weeks ago, in the business section of the local rag. Some folks in Escondido sell turnkey kits for $1200 USD. Well, with the new baby and the economy – and my generally cheap nature – I decided to make my own system. Several weeks of vigorous Internet research on YouTube.com, Instructables.Com, and a bevy of aquaponics sites (Aquaponics.Com, BackYardAquaponics – esp. their forums, and S&S Farms…to name a few), led me along my way.
In the video below, you can see the progress I’ve made so far. We planted our first veggies today, and I hope to add fish early next week. And, the whole operation should be solar powered by Sunday night or Monday afternoon. We should be able to raise up to 40 lbs of tilapia, along with MANY pounds of fresh veggies. In the mighty words of Zach De la Roacha, “We gonna take the power back!”
February 1st, 2009 at 10:08
Another resource you may want to look into is the barrelponics yahoo group. I am the fellow who wrote the Batrrel-Ponics Manual and it too may be something you may want to look into. One of the things I am surprised the others on the other forums did not tell you about is to plant the plants after the fish are in and the nitrogen cycle has completed. Putting plants in before fish will now make any nutrients available for the plants.
Travis W. Hughey
February 1st, 2009 at 21:34
Travis, I’m astonished that you responded to my post…thank you! I have read your manual, ok…I skimmed it, but I’m going to be using the bed portion of your design to get the additional grow bed space I need. Thank you for making me aware that I need fish first. I figured that at seed stage, the plants wouldn’t need all that much nutrient to get started (this is my weak mind remembering bean sprout experiments in kindergarten). However, I have added some channel cats for the time being, that should help w/ algae and detritus. I’m still trying to track down tilapia fingerlings, unfortunately. I’ll check out the barrelponics group.
February 2nd, 2009 at 03:11
Hey Matt,
Don’t be surprised I answered your post. I am passionately interested in where this technology goes and seeing to it people start growing their own food. Am only to glad to be helpful where I can. Please feel free to email me anytime you have a question. Good to now you put in the fish. Be sure to account for the tank to cycle through and it may take 6 weeks or more. As far as tilapia fingerlings go, where do you live? I am working on building a hatchery and hope to have fingerlings available in the next year or two. I want to fill the small order market. ANyhow, keep up the great work!!
Trav.
February 2nd, 2009 at 09:13
T, I’m in southern California. It would be great to have an easy source for getting fingerlings. I really looking forward to our food independence. I’ll be sure to send off questions as I continue to work through the project. Thanks.
March 2nd, 2009 at 18:58
Travis,I am in San Marcos ,Ca.and i am interested in using a 7′ by 12′ concrete pond that is 21 inches deep for my fish pond and pump water to and from a Hydroponic Garden. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
August 2nd, 2009 at 18:35
Dear Matt,
This is my first visit to your great newsletter! I just returned home from a long day at Sweet Water. Dave Schemberger(Dr. Dave), Manuel Garey, and I made a lot of progress organizing Sweet Water’s composting piece. Dave is very big into cereal sprouts, especially wheat grass, which, with the help of worm castings, can be ready for juicing in 6 days. Boy, does wheat grass pack a punch! It’s a natural “high” and energy drink. Good for us too, I’m told!
I look forward to checking out the resources you and Travis have provided. I’d like to brainstorm with the folks in Escondido. Instructables.Com, the aquaponics sites you mentioned, (Aquaponics.Com, BackYardAquaponics – their forums, and S&S Farms), Travis’ barrelponics yahoo group: I hope to check out all of this.
I’ll bet your work draws much needed attention to the possibilities of aquaculture!
God bless,
Godsil
http://www.milwaukeerenaissance.com/Main/HomePage
http://www.milwaukeerenaissance.com/SweetWaterFishFarming/HomePage
August 3rd, 2009 at 01:19
James, welcome to my site and thanks for taking a read. I’m also anxious to see what we can do for aquaponics on the world stage. I’m hopeful that we can provide a low-cast, healthy, sustainable learning/feeding tool for schools and Afghan Nationa Army outposts. I’ll keep you all up to date. I really appreicate your support and the help you’ve provided through your network. You’ve been an invaluable connection.