Mixed Aquaponics Design
Do you combine different media, methods or even culture species in such a way that no rules or system descriptions out there really applies to you? This is the place to share, ask questions, learn and refine.See More
A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners
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Kobus Jooste
- Male
- Uitenhage, Eastern Cape
- South Africa
- Blog Posts (40)
- Discussions (346)
- Events
- Groups (21)
- Photos (132)
- Photo Albums (6)
- Videos
Kobus Jooste's Groups
Kobus Jooste's Discussions
Holy grail for aquaponic production
Started this discussion. Last reply by Nate Storey Dec 7, 2011. 56 Replies 0 Likes
Which plants are still considered "difficult" or "impossible" to grow in aquaponics? I have begun a process of trying to design a system that can grow as many different varieites of crop possible. …Continue
Mozambique tilapia strains outside of Africa
Started this discussion. Last reply by Kobus Jooste Oct 13, 2011. 3 Replies 0 Likes
I'm interested in finding out if there are any international breeders that have specialised in stock improvement of mozambique tilapia. With our environmental laws stalling permits for hybrids or…Continue
Aquaponics, worms and E. coli
Started this discussion. Last reply by TCLynx May 7. 134 Replies 7 Likes
I have been made aware of a section in the latest newsletter of an aquaponics trainer making some rather interesting statements around the risk of introducing "deadly" E. coli HO157:H7 into…Continue
Vertical level switches
Started this discussion. Last reply by Kobus Jooste Sep 13, 2011. 25 Replies 0 Likes
Hi there all I am currently working on a design of a very small self watering garden, and want to find an effecient way to switch a small pump on and off. Even the 15 minutes of mechanical timers…Continue
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Latest Activity
Kyle McCloud joined Kobus Jooste's groupMixed Aquaponics Design
Do you combine different media, methods or even culture species in such a way that no rules or system descriptions out there really applies to you? This is the place to share, ask questions, learn and refine.See More
matthew ferrell replied to Kobus Jooste's discussion pvc aggregate media for towers in the group Mixed Aquaponics Design"Kobus, an update if you will."
Mixed Aquaponics Design
Do you combine different media, methods or even culture species in such a way that no rules or system descriptions out there really applies to you? This is the place to share, ask questions, learn and refine.See More
Wesley B replied to Kobus Jooste's discussion vegetarian fish culture in aquaponics"We are going to start digging the ponds near the end of this month. We are building a large raised bed about 300 feet long with the dirt removed to create to ponds flanking either side of the raised beds, one for the tilapia and one for the…"
marty lininger replied to Kobus Jooste's discussion vegetarian fish culture in aquaponics"have you had any success so far? i want to make an AP system that has duckweed as the main crop, and that going to the tilapia. have lots of other stuff to figure out, but want to get moving ASAP.
i think the typical tilapia grow…"
TCLynx replied to Kobus Jooste's discussion Aquaponics, worms and E. coli"Catching a fish that is raised in e. coli tainted water isn't usually a big danger since we usually cook fresh water fish before eating it. The real danger with e. coli and aquaponics is that most people don't cook their lettuce…"
Jon Parr replied to Kobus Jooste's discussion Aquaponics, worms and E. coli"Actually Jason, fish themselves are safe from e. coli, as they are cold blooded. You'd probably be safe eating a carp from a feed-lot mud puddle, in that respect. I think it is generally agreed among the community that worms do not cause e.…"
Jason Eaton replied to Kobus Jooste's discussion Aquaponics, worms and E. coli"So every angler that has ever pulled a fish out of a natural stream, lake or other body of water are also playing a dangerous game with E Coli? I mean its impossible to rule out cross contamination from manure with widespread raising of livestock…"
sheikh shahzad khurram liked Kobus Jooste's blog post Original thoughts on hybrid design (recovered blog)Peter Shaw joined Kobus Jooste's groupMixed Aquaponics Design
Do you combine different media, methods or even culture species in such a way that no rules or system descriptions out there really applies to you? This is the place to share, ask questions, learn and refine.See More
Kobus Jooste posted a status"Just gave my small aquaponic system away for what will hopefully turn out to be a worthy cause."
Kobus Jooste posted a status"It's been four months since moving to Cape Town. Still to sell my house in Uitenhage and find a new place."
Profile Information
- How did you find us?
- a friend
- Are you an aquaponic gardener already?
- Yes
- If so, what type of system? (pick all that apply)
- combination, I run a hybrid system in which I try to optimise the use of space in a 3 m x 3 m space. In there is a 1000 liter tank as the lowest level, with three 220 liter gravel bins operating flood-and-drain as the main gas exchange / filtration unit. I also have a 220 liter deep raft, 110 mm pipe "deep NFT" and a 100 l "wet" gravel flow-through bed for watercress. Soon I'll be adding a "mulch box" based on what I have seen in Australia, which can be used to grow root crops such as radish and carrot. "NFT" is added below as well as above the gravel beds, creating a 4-layered system operating on a single 70 Watt pump with no mechanical aeration. The system is currently housing tilapia, but I have run it since 2008 on everything from guppies to koi. The plants are too numerous to mention, but is everything from leaf crops through to fruiting veggies and even cut flowers. I am working towards a 1:2 tank to bed ratio, from where I will try to see if I can add more fish safely. It currently runs on 40 fish, and is a outdoor system clad in greenhouse plastic. The system runs "fast" compared to what I have seen elsewhere - cycling the entire tank volume in around 20 minutes. This oxygenates the water and keeps it well within safe operating conditions for tilapia without any extra filtration components. I have a bigger 27 meter square polycarbonate greenhouse, but am currently running it for research purposes only.
- How old is your system?
- 2 yrs or more
- What type of fish do you grow with? (select all that apply)
- Koi, Tilapia
- How big is your fish tank?
- About 200 Gal (900 liters)
- Please tell us something else about yourself.
- I love to mess around with ideas, do not think much of rules and ratios, and experiment rather than stick to known methodology.
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Community pages need new management
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 1:36pm 16 Comments 0 Likes
For the last couple of weeks, mounting pressure from family commitments, work and research projects have been taking its toll on my “aquaponics time”. Recently, these little distractions culminated in the news that a job that I have applied for months ago had finally come through, and that I will be heading off to Cape Town, 800 km from where I live now. I do not have much time to get all my things in order, and part of what I would like to sort out are the pages that I have started over…
Continue My pick for a commercial fruiting plant in aquaponics: The passion fruit
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 10:47am 18 Comments 3 Likes
Most people interested in commercial aquaponics invariably start looking at potential yields of different crops and then, after a thorough literature search, will discover that there is very little available in terms of potential yields of larger crops. Stuff like basil, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers etc. seem to be written about the most.
With the advent of what I consider to be the most likely design for my own use in a commercial environment, namely gravel beds and…
Continue Can "Dirty" water NFT work?
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 6:29am 6 Comments 0 Likes
Time for all the plant experts to wade in please! I have been tinkering with a number of different media-less / media filled growing configurations of late. The ones that interested me the most in the end was partly filtered versus “dirty” NFT. The reason why this has become interesting for me relates back to the type of technology that is required to run these. Should there be some way of making “dirty” NFT work, then there should be an advantage in trying to understand what I am…
Continue Time to innovate is here
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 2:54pm 6 Comments 4 Likes
There have been a number of articles milling in my head again. Being a person of above average curiosity in many directions is not always a good thing when there is an internet connection around, as you tend to spend far too much time scratching around in science and technology articles than updating your taxes or whatever else is pending.
The joy is when you read three or four totally unrelated papers and get that little flash of insight that allows you to draw new…
ContinueComment Wall (25 comments)
- At 10:29am on May 19, 2012,
Teresa N Florida said… Hi Kobus, Hope all is well for you and yours.
- At 7:37am on March 18, 2012,
Jacques Kleynhans said… Hi Kobus, I read in one of your posts that you moved to cape town. I also stay in cape town. The aquabug bit me and now I am planning my first setup. But with so many startup failures because of bad planning I want to take my time and learn everything before I start spending money. Would be nice if we can meet up so that I can pick your brain get some knowledge transfer.
regards
jacques
- At 9:41am on December 2, 2011,
Carey Ma said… Hey buddy, sorry for late response. I'm happy that you found solid work and am sure you will make a difference to improve the quality of life for your countrymen. I sure miss your input and feedback. Please don't be a stranger and drop me a line once in a while.
May your god comfort and guide you.
Cheers
- At 6:04am on October 24, 2011, Gene McIver said…
Thanks for the info about the jig for the tower. I like the coffee cup addition.
- At 5:01am on September 16, 2011, Londiwe Melody Phoswa said…
Thanx Kobus for the warm welcome.
- At 8:15pm on September 14, 2011, Eric Warwick said…
- I'll send you it via e-mail. Is this your e-mail? kobus@seasresearch.co.za
- At 3:26pm on September 14, 2011, Eric Warwick said…
- Kobus I typed a research paper for a class and I used some information you have put on this community. Please tell me if I misused or in any way misconstrued your statements. They are about growbed design and duckweed. Also I want to send you the document so I know if I made a mistake, as I'm posting this on the community. If you would like your quotes to be taken away I can revise the paper. Thank you.
- At 12:39am on September 9, 2011,
Attie Esterhuyse said…
- Hi Kobus, I completely forgot that I registered on this site. I will have a look at the group and join.
- At 5:01am on July 27, 2011,
Mark Huppelschoten said… - Hi Kobus,
Have you got an e-mail address, I will mail some of my questions if you don't mind?
- At 4:05am on July 27, 2011, Mark Huppelschoten said…
- Hi Kobus,
Great to know that there are some EC okes involved in AP. How far along are you in the process? I have a million questions (well, nearly) that I'd like to ask you... BE WARNED!
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