All Discussions Tagged 'houseplants' - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T10:27:02Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=houseplants&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHouse Plants for an aquaponics systemtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-11-08:4778851:Topic:206452010-11-08T17:32:14.000ZRicky Flickengerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickyFlickenger
I saw a question about this on here awhile back, and can't find it again to answer, so I though I would start a forum about my experience so far to help answer the question. Keep in mind my system is in a ten gallon aquarium, the water is pumped to the bottom of 1 main filter and 2 aux filters. The main filter gathers a bunch of the solid waste (lava rock is the media in all filters) The water go up through the rock, past the plant roots, and spills back into the tank. The 2 aux filters work…
I saw a question about this on here awhile back, and can't find it again to answer, so I though I would start a forum about my experience so far to help answer the question. Keep in mind my system is in a ten gallon aquarium, the water is pumped to the bottom of 1 main filter and 2 aux filters. The main filter gathers a bunch of the solid waste (lava rock is the media in all filters) The water go up through the rock, past the plant roots, and spills back into the tank. The 2 aux filters work the same, but with a slower flow, I have those in mainly for growing more bacteria. Plant roots are completely submerged all the time (so I guess that's akin to a constant flood system) Tank completed cycling recently, and has remained stable and healthy since increasing fish load and feeding. Currently living the tank are 3 feeder goldfish, 4 fancy guppies, 4 cherry shrimp, and 2 yellow shrimp. Not to mention an abundance of 2 snail varities (which are helping to keep main filter clean), some worms, and 2 very small slugs. The tank stays between 76 - 80 degrees.<div><br/></div>
<div>The plants I'm having success with so far are:</div>
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<div>Ficus tree - loves the system! Is actually the centerpiece and largest plant of my system. It was just cured of a spider mite problem (I took it from a friend) when I put it in with the other plant that started the system, a schefflerra, and had about an inch of new growth from week 2 until now. </div>
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<div>Schefflerra - was having a similar spider mite issue that I cured it of before I put it in. It was alive, but hadn't grown a new leaf in months. It has sprouted threw new fronds and has new shoot growing since starting.</div>
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<div>Creeping Fig - another member of the ficus family. I have two types that were cuttings, very small, when I put them in. The one has a new shoot growing out of it and the other has some amazing root development on it. These were added just a few weeks ago.</div>
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<div>Ivy - I have several types in my system. All rooted very fast and have new growth.</div>
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<div>Moss - I have several types, though I'm not actually sure what all of them are. The one is the common moss you'll find growing in a carnivorous planted tank (I actually transplanted it from my carny tank) and it's doing well. The other looks like a cross between a common carpet moss and java moss - dense & thick, green & very pretty. It has started to do well to - the main clumps are sending out thin lines of growth to neighboring rocks & exposed roots.</div>
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<div>Tarantula Fern - just put it in and is sitting in a crevice on the ficus roots that are above the water line, but are drawing up moisture through capillary action. I checked it a few days ago and there is root development from the rhizome, and the leaf on it is very green, though no new growth yet.</div>
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<div>Club Moss - I can't tell yet with this plant. It grows well in very moist places (it loves my carny tank and grows by sending roots down to the soil, but all the leaves grow above the soil, lifted up by the roots) some parts of this plant seem to have finally established and are doing well, other parts are rotting. I can't figure out what the difference in placement is yet.</div>
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<div>Philodendron - as long as it roots, they are very happy. Though I have noticed some cuttings are taking way longer to root, and some rooted after a day. I don't know why. I have two that have new growth on them.</div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><br/></span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">Dieffenbachia - had it in a vase of water before, no growth in months. It has gone crazy with root & leaf growth. Huge leaves, great coloring, and roots shooting straight down into the gravel from the top of the tank. Both stalks have new stalks bursting from the sides.</span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><br/></span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">Zygocactus (christmas cactus) - added some cuttings about a week ago. new root development and new shoots forming.</span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><br/></span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">Cerpigia Woodi (string of hearts) - rooted quickly, and has new growth, though light levels may be a problem because new leaves are very tiny. Recently upped my lighting, so we'll see how that changes things.</span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><br/></span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">Java moss - alive and doing well, though not the kind of growth I've read about in other forums, this is my first time growing it.</span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><br/></span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">Elodea - just planted in my tank the other day, but seems happy so far, no rotting on either root or top ends. </span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><br/></span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">I plan on adding some seeds from a purple velvet plant soon to see how seedlings do in this kind of set up - all this learning is going to be put to use in the spring for an indoor veggie set up with a 55 gallon tank. I hope this answers some questions for those starting out or wondering about house plant functionality in an AP system.</span></font></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#5E5E5E" face="'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><br/></span></font></span></font></div> My experimental 10 gallon aquaponics tank - shooting for eventual organic indoor gardeningtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-10-23:4778851:Topic:182372010-10-23T19:14:41.000ZRicky Flickengerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickyFlickenger
So I started this tank about a month ago. I have a ton of experience with fish tanks and with houseplants (though this is my first attempt to combine the two) . I'm a personal chef in the Seattle area, and have been thinking about where the food I'm teaching comes from. I'm hoping this phase 1 experiment is a success by winter's end, then I can start phase 2 with a bigger tank and edible veggies - though still ornamental fish.<div><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656360554?profile=original"></img> This is a pic from…</p>
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So I started this tank about a month ago. I have a ton of experience with fish tanks and with houseplants (though this is my first attempt to combine the two) . I'm a personal chef in the Seattle area, and have been thinking about where the food I'm teaching comes from. I'm hoping this phase 1 experiment is a success by winter's end, then I can start phase 2 with a bigger tank and edible veggies - though still ornamental fish.<div><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656360554?profile=original" alt=""/> This is a pic from when I first set up the tank. I don't have much room - or experience with aquaponics. Of all the systems I read about, I've read a lot that said there are many ways to set up. I decided to use the lava rocks as my bio filter, solid filter, and growing medium. I have a small tank with a larger pump, so lots of circulation and exposed surface area (with water streaming down sides of the central vase) so didn't feel the need for additional filtration. In case anyone is wondering, this set up is meant to be more beautiful than anything else. By the end of winter I want a lush, planted tank that is healthy with min upkeep - hence all the use of glass bricks & vases. I'm also using as many recycled materials as I can.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">To my surprise, the tank cycled faster than I thought it should. It cycled without fish, just the two plants (a sickly ficus from a friend that I cured of spider mights and a schefflera in the same condition) that had some decaying organic matter still clinging on the roots. About a week after starting, it seemed ready to go. I'm not using any chemicals in the system, not even to get rid of chlorine (I let the water sit first) - even though I'm not eating the houseplants, I'm going for organic here. Based on observation, plant reaction, and my prior knowledge of tanks & chemistry - I went for fish about a week later.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">These are my first two fish. One of them got damaged in the first couple days - then disappeared on his own - very odd.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656361314?profile=RESIZE_320x320" alt=""/> Since then, I've added two more goldfish, two more aux filters (I wanted max space in a 10 gallon for bacteria) and more plants. I'm currently growing a ficus, schefflera, dieffenbachia, creeping ficus, ivy, spider plant, christmas cactus, java moss, and various terrestrial mosses on top of the filters. The way the filters are set up is the pump directs water through hoses to the bottom of the containers. The water flows up through the lava rocks & roots, then spills back out into the tank. So far everything seems very healthy, the water is nice and clear, and the fish are growing and happy. </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> The water has remained clear, free of smells & I have seen other life start to flourish such as two types of snails, some baby slugs, and even a centipede (I welcome these critters as part of the natural cycle, plus there's not much room for a population to get out of control). Not just enormous root growth, but also full leaf production. Most plants have shown a significant amount of growth in the past two to three weeks, much more than I would have expected. No yellowing or small leaves, and reaching full maturity. Old leaves also look very healthy. The only thing I did notice was some, not all, of the leaves on the ficus have a warped, crumpled look. They are not dry (it is planted in water, LOL) they are soft and green as a new leaf should be. Then grow bigger into a mature leaf - but look weird. Can't figure out why, its also not the whole plant, just some of the leaves. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The only other thing I noticed (I'm doing a lot on observation and no test kits for this first one because I'm literally doing this on a dime) the other day was my goldfish gulping at the top and a bit of highly foamy water. Wasn't a problem before, but I was thinking low O2. In the pic above you can see a tan line looping down off the main filter vase. That's some natural twine I added to divert some of the water flow away from the side of the vase to drip down on top of the water and break some surface tension and help with O2 exchange. I added four such dripping pieces yesterday - and so far the fish seem happier (not gulping anymore and happily swimming near the bottom of tank now) plus zero foam. Looks like I fixed the problem, I'm guessing as the O2 needs for fish, plants & bacteria went up, the initial agitation was no longer enough?</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Anyway, this is my first aquaponics tank - any feedback or thoughts are quite welcome, and I'm new to this site so it would be nice to hear from some more experienced users :)</p>
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