Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Allen Busiek on January 16, 2012 at 7:44pm

Allen in Springfield MO

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12' x 24' DIY backyard greenhouse - started construction Nov 2010.

(2) aquaponics "nodes" - 1 node on each side cobnsisting of:

(1) 275g partially buried fish tank, (1) 110g buried sump, (12) half-barrel grow-beds.

One node has approx 140 Tilapia (fry/fingerlings bought April 2011)

The other node has approx 15 hybrid Bluegill & 15 Channel Cats (started with 50 each)

I'm aware of at least 7 folks within 30 mi of Springfield actively doing aquaponics.

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Regards,

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Allen 65809

abusiek(*at*)mchsi(*dot*)com

Permalink Reply by Gary P on January 17, 2012 at 10:32pm

Allen,

Thanks for responding. How do you heat your greenhouse, and do you grow all winter?

Permalink Reply by Allen Busiek on January 18, 2012 at 2:22pm

Solar - currently constructing 8' x 12' solar water collector to provide heated water to 330 gal of water thermal storage buried below greenhouse.  Currently have a 1kW "bucket heater", along with (4) 300W aquarium heaters in Tilapia tank in order to maintain Tilapia tank temp > 60 deg until solar system is completeed.

 

I do grow all winter - lowest air temp in greenhouse thus far this winter has been 38 deg.

Gary P said:

Allen,

Thanks for responding. How do you heat your greenhouse, and do you grow all winter?

Permalink Reply by Gary P on January 26, 2012 at 7:49pm

Allen,

I am planning on using one of our greenhouses for the AP unit. I have a wood furnace installed and am adding a secondary space heater just in case the temps drop.  I will be using  4 IBC's  that held 275 gal.  I will cut them down to 200 gal and only fill them to the 150 gal mark. That will give me the 4 tops to grow in, plus we are adding 10  other grow beds.  They will be 55 gal drums cut in half longways. We would like to add some 4 inch pipes to the system, but need to get the first two setups working properly first.

Permalink Reply by Max In Missouri on April 10, 2012 at 11:07pm

Live here up the 44, St Roberts MO... Not sure how close you are to me, but would enjoy exchanging ideas and information with you... let me know and add me as friend... Thanks

Permalink Reply by Allen Busiek on April 11, 2012 at 7:23am

Hi Max,

I'm not far from you (right now).  I work at FLW (allen.busiek@us.army.mil) & commute daily from-to Springfield.  I'd be interested in comparing notes / exchanging ideas, etc.  Visitors are always welcome to see my aquaponics greenhouse & other self-sufficiency / self-reliance endeavors in Springfield; and I'm always eager to learn from what others are doing along those lines.

Don't know how to "friend" on this website - never got comfortable with Facebook & generally avoid it -- much prefer the Yahoo Groups format.

Later,

Allen

Max In Missouri said:

Live here up the 44, St Roberts MO... Not sure how close you are to me, but would enjoy exchanging ideas and information with you... let me know and add me as friend... Thanks

Permalink Reply by Allen Busiek on April 11, 2012 at 7:31am

FYI -

There will be an Aquaponics Seminar at the upcoming www.USAPrepares.com "Get Prepared Expo" on April 28-29 at the fairgrounds in Springfield MO. 

Two local aquapons, Franco Molea & Rodney Kays, will be presenting the seminar. 

I'll be presenting a seminar on "Prepper / Survivalist Communications".

Later,

Allen

Permalink Reply by Gary P on April 12, 2012 at 11:16pm

Max,

I am about 1 1/2 hours south of Rolla on 63. I would add you as a friend if I knew how.

Max In Missouri said:

Live here up the 44, St Roberts MO... Not sure how close you are to me, but would enjoy exchanging ideas and information with you... let me know and add me as friend... Thanks