I recently found a product from Sure to Grow called a 6" slab. It is 36"L x 6"W x 3"D and resembles the batting used in upholstery work. I am planning to put it into the center of my tower and then push the net pots in around it. I previously had a central pipe fitted with emitters at intervals and spraying outward soaking the roots. The problem was that the fluids were escaping through the net pot and rock wool cubes holding the plants. Another issue I encountered was the fluids dripping…

Our FLL team, Lego Lightning, did a presentation on shelfponics at the Robopalooza tournament on January 7th, 2012.  The team had a blast building their system, which was based on the shelfponic system at GardenPool.org.  Many thanks to Dennis at GardenPool for allowing us to use their design.  We added wheels and will be adding grow lights to create a mobile design that can be used indoors as well as out. 

We will be taking our system to UCF…

Made major mistake last nite. Left new tank heater running since it appeared to be keeping temp stable at around 74F. This morning water was too hot. Didn't take time to measure but likely in the 120F range. Immediately started pouring cold tap water in tank. One fish died, others survived near cooler water inlet from NFT system. 

Two huge mistakes on my part. The heater is suspended in the top volume of water, about 5-8 inches below the surface. The temp probe was temporarily siting…

Wow- the Grow Bed is literally jumping into gear! About a week after adding fish.

Just had a spike in Ammonia- the extra Nitrogen inspired an overnight burst of plant growth!

Happy to report no deaths of fish or plants.

We are finally getting back to my greenhouse.  We are putting the heating system in.  This is the modified pellet stove/water heater.  We are working on a design to manufacture our own, but this was a great deal faster to test the idea.  The pellet stove will heat the air and through a hydronic raidiant…

The first thing I want to say is You people who grow in the winter are fabulous.  I couldn't pull it off.  I think about you (seriously) when I am out complaining about the hot sun and the lack of rain.  We got our first rain in 10 months the other night. Hallelujah It was about an inch.  I live on the dry side of Oahu.  I am so impressed when I read what all of you are doing.  It makes me believe that this movement is here to stay.  Keep it up we need everyone of you. 

Things here on…

Thank God!

A year after my amazing discovery of this God-sent method of gardening/farming, we are slowly growing.  A week ago I met Khalid, who also lives in Jeddah and who had been doing, or at least attempting to do Aquaponics.   We discussed his challenges and to help him kick-start again the halted project, I gave him a siphon using the Affnan technique. Inshallah, God willing, he will restart again soon, I was also blessed to be given some worms, duckweeds and a grape…

Nearly 2-inch fingerlings arrived on the 24th and they were hungry! They kept striking at my hand on the outside of the bag- not stressed at all- I really didn't expect them to be so active. I fed them a little and waited a couple of hours to acclimate them before freeing them to the tank. My system is complete now- very cool.

My plants look good after nearly 2 weeks. Tilapia go in tomorrow. Very exciting.

Beijing Greenlink Institute LLC

Multi-Integrated Agriculture & Aquaculture Systems (BIMIAAS) 

The experimental farm of Mr. Carey Ma is part of an interdisciplinary team of volunteers, working on the development of integrated multi-trophic agriculture & aquaculture (IMTAA) systems AKA (multi trophic aquaponics).

The goal of IMTAA or MTAp approach is to create a balanced…

Build a simple raft system in just a few minutes

Hydroponics is an easy way to grow your own food. It can be made very small and put anywhere you want. It reduces work, and you don’t have to water your plants, since that happens automatically. That means that you save more time with watering plants, and you save more water because you keep using the same water over and over.

A…

I am very excited to say that Molly, the fish, the cats and I are all moving to a bigger space (with a full basement and half an acre)!  This is exciting news for the tilapia, who are now 6 months old and are threatening to breed.

This means that I get to plan new systems for the new house!  Livestock wise, I want to do perch outdoors on the screen porch (in Michigan), and tilapia and red claw crayfish indoors.  The tilapia will need to be tackled first.

I am…

Today I came home to find 75 % of my 275 gal tote had overflowed .

This is not the fisrt time this has happened- this would be the third time .

Overview of system: I have a flood and drain system 275 gal tote 600 gph pump to beds with about 100 sf of grow space .

My return tank is a 40 gal brute trash can with a 1000 gph sump pump I purchased at a garden warehouse .

The pump has stopped working three times leading to overflowing .

Question:

Does…

This is what I have so far-

type: CHOP

Tanks: Stock tank=100gal Rubbermaid stock tank, sump=100gal Rubbermaid stock tank,

Growbeds: 4'x3'x1' 60g Aquaponics Sorce growbed w/ bell siphon, media=3/4" gravel.

Plumbing: Rio Pro+ 1100 pump (in sump)

Livestock: one lonely crayfish

The system has been running since September, the plan being to let it run over the fall and winter to give it plenty of time to cycle. There where about a dozen crayfish but I grossly…

 I am officially in "cycling" phase. Sadly I must admit in following my own path of least resistance I am using the sacrificial "gold fish" to get things going. Surprisingly enough they are pretty effective at their job. (Amonia NO problem!) Am getting seedlings in today in raft system in hopes that I get them in in time enough to possibly save a few of these little gold buddies. :-)- ok, so I know  should have gotten the plants in first but. my overzealousness got the best of me. Is my…

Well I can say this is my first day as part of the Aquaponic Gardening Community.

I have been doing research in preparing for spring and setting myself up.

I hope to gain a lot of good information and share everything I can to help others.

Thanks in advance for everything.

I spotted this today and could not resist posting... now we have yet another reason to try salmon in aquaponics!  

Salmon Sperm Is Your Next Generation Optical Storage Device…