10 x 12 aquaponics greenhouse build, downtown Sac - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T13:11:56Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/10-x-12-aquaponics-greenhouse-build-downtown-sac?groupUrl=sacramento-aquaponics&groupId=4778851%3AGroup%3A267200&id=4778851%3ATopic%3A336602&feed=yes&xn_auth=noso my fish tank will be a 50…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-15:4778851:Comment:5784132014-09-15T20:24:23.373ZButch Pornebohttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ButchPornebo
<p>so my fish tank will be a 50 gallon aquarium, prolly will support 10 to 15 fishes.</p>
<p>Up to how many bluegill can a 50 gallon support ?</p>
<p>I was just planning to use a 100 watt Submersible Aquarium heater. This should work. right ?</p>
<p>I am also planning to wrap some insulation Styrofoam around the aquarium during the cold days.</p>
<p>so my fish tank will be a 50 gallon aquarium, prolly will support 10 to 15 fishes.</p>
<p>Up to how many bluegill can a 50 gallon support ?</p>
<p>I was just planning to use a 100 watt Submersible Aquarium heater. This should work. right ?</p>
<p>I am also planning to wrap some insulation Styrofoam around the aquarium during the cold days.</p> If you can keep them in the 6…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-15:4778851:Comment:5782002014-09-15T20:12:24.592ZPaul Trudeauhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulTrudeau
If you can keep them in the 60's, they will continue eating and you will get better plant growth. If you can't heat them they'll survive fine but won't eat for those cooler months.
If you can keep them in the 60's, they will continue eating and you will get better plant growth. If you can't heat them they'll survive fine but won't eat for those cooler months. thanks for your informative r…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-15:4778851:Comment:5781962014-09-15T19:43:34.968ZButch Pornebohttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ButchPornebo
<p>thanks for your informative reply.</p>
<p>For the bluegill, no heating required at all even during winter or cold days ?</p>
<p>Do you think FRESHWATER FISH COMPANY in south sac is a good source for the bluegill ?</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <cite><br/></cite></p>
<p>thanks for your informative reply.</p>
<p>For the bluegill, no heating required at all even during winter or cold days ?</p>
<p>Do you think FRESHWATER FISH COMPANY in south sac is a good source for the bluegill ?</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <cite><br/></cite></p> Thanks for your message Alan.…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-15:4778851:Comment:5779962014-09-15T17:19:42.914ZPaul Trudeauhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulTrudeau
<p>Thanks for your message Alan. Lucky for you to have visited Olomana Gardens in Hawaii! Yes, the bucket isn't just like an external bell siphon, it is an external bell siphon. And yes, not only is there no room for the standpipe of an internal bell siphon when you use a false bottom in the growbed and locate your siphon outside the growbed, there's no need or desire to have a standpipe inside the growbed, because the external arrangement has many inherent advantages: does not take up room…</p>
<p>Thanks for your message Alan. Lucky for you to have visited Olomana Gardens in Hawaii! Yes, the bucket isn't just like an external bell siphon, it is an external bell siphon. And yes, not only is there no room for the standpipe of an internal bell siphon when you use a false bottom in the growbed and locate your siphon outside the growbed, there's no need or desire to have a standpipe inside the growbed, because the external arrangement has many inherent advantages: does not take up room in growbed; can be situated anywhere; much easier maintenance; allows more complete draining of growbed; and no risk of a vertical cylindrical media guard lifting up and allowing media into your siphon and other plumbing, since there is no such media guard.</p> I visited Glen's farm earlier…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-15:4778851:Comment:5781852014-09-15T16:17:21.775ZAlan Barnetthttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AlanBarnett899
I visited Glen's farm earlier this year, what an amaizing place. The bucket is like an external bell siphon. The trays are nested together so there is no room for a stand pipe. Glen also used the buckets to siphon multiple grow beds from one point.
I visited Glen's farm earlier this year, what an amaizing place. The bucket is like an external bell siphon. The trays are nested together so there is no room for a stand pipe. Glen also used the buckets to siphon multiple grow beds from one point. No, the water is pumped from…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-15:4778851:Comment:5782412014-09-15T10:29:50.129ZPaul Trudeauhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulTrudeau
<p>No, the water is pumped from the sump tank into the bucket via a tank fitting (aka "bulkhead fitting") in the bottom of the bucket.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Butch Pornebo said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/10-x-12-aquaponics-greenhouse-build-downtown-sac?groupUrl=sacramento-aquaponics&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A578229&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment578228"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>is the plumbing of the water…</p>
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<p>No, the water is pumped from the sump tank into the bucket via a tank fitting (aka "bulkhead fitting") in the bottom of the bucket.<br/> <br/> <cite>Butch Pornebo said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/10-x-12-aquaponics-greenhouse-build-downtown-sac?groupUrl=sacramento-aquaponics&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A578229&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment578228"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>is the plumbing of the water coming in to the bucket higher than the arched openings in the bottom of the bell ?</p>
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</blockquote> Hi Butch,
Good questions. M…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-15:4778851:Comment:5779912014-09-15T10:23:52.136ZPaul Trudeauhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulTrudeau
<p>Hi Butch,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Good questions. My intent is to process solids in the media bed via aerobic bacteria and worms to make those nutrients available to the system. In theory, the media environment remains aerobic due to the ebb and flow of the water and air through the media. Anywhere solids get clogged up in the media, anaerobic bacteria would take over. They would break down the solids but they would also release undesirable compounds, so no, I don't want buildup of sludge. I…</p>
<p>Hi Butch,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Good questions. My intent is to process solids in the media bed via aerobic bacteria and worms to make those nutrients available to the system. In theory, the media environment remains aerobic due to the ebb and flow of the water and air through the media. Anywhere solids get clogged up in the media, anaerobic bacteria would take over. They would break down the solids but they would also release undesirable compounds, so no, I don't want buildup of sludge. I don't think worms in the system will necessarily process all the solids quickly enough to avoid development of anaerobic zones if the system isn't designed to optimize water flow. The clear space under the "false bottom" is part of the design to optimize water flow.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Interestingly, at the national Aquaponics Association conference this weekend, I did hear something about a more benign or beneficial form of anaerobic digesting. Essentially it is the same process and the same microbes used to ferment various foods. At this point I would not know how to promote those microbes in the system while inhibiting the typical ones that release harmful compounds, so I'm sticking to trying to avoid all anaerobic zones in my system.</p>
<p></p>
<p>In the current version of this system, I use a plastic concrete <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-Black-Large-Concrete-Mixing-Tub-887102C/205451585" target="_blank">mixing tub</a> in my system for deep-water culture (raft) where a larger tray would not fit. At 8" tall, it is plenty deep for that purpose. Initially I did use mixing tubs for all the rafts and for the media beds but have moved away from those as explained in a recent post in this thread. The whole point of using double tubs for media beds is to give you a false bottom with 1" of free space underneath to promote water flow. Filling the space under the top tub with media would defeat that purpose and would add only 1" to the overall depth of the media. 9" or 8" or 6" or even 3"-deep media beds are all fine in my opinion unless you grow plants with roots that are longer that that, at which point the roots get into the plumbing and clog things up. Current version of my system uses those two nested 40-gallon stock tanks which gives well over 12" in media depth. </p>
<p></p>
<p>I use bluegill. They are hardy, are compatible with our local year-round climactic conditions, and taste great. Would love to use Sac Perch some day. They may become more available in the future. I don't use tilapia - not only are they restricted in our area, I understand they would require significant artificial heating for several months of the year, which to me is not sustainable economically or environmentally. I think other people have commented about various fish species in other discussions in the Sac AP group. You can search all those discussions for that info.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks for your interest!</p> don't you think the accumulat…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-14:4778851:Comment:5782292014-09-14T17:34:57.892ZButch Pornebohttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ButchPornebo
<p>don't you think the accumulation of sludge in the bottom of your double tray bed is somewhat important for nutrient availability and eco system for the plants instead of just scraps of PVC ? Then add in worms that will habitat the sludge zone.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm planning to build a double tray just like yours BUT only 1 grow bed for now. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Are those trays you are using concrete mixing tubs ? Unfortunately mixing tubs are only 8 inches high but making it as double trays will…</p>
<p>don't you think the accumulation of sludge in the bottom of your double tray bed is somewhat important for nutrient availability and eco system for the plants instead of just scraps of PVC ? Then add in worms that will habitat the sludge zone.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm planning to build a double tray just like yours BUT only 1 grow bed for now. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Are those trays you are using concrete mixing tubs ? Unfortunately mixing tubs are only 8 inches high but making it as double trays will increase the height of the grow media by adding media on the bottom tray instead of PVC . I'm basing this from Murray Hallam's statement that he found over the years of doing AP that having 1 foot high grow media is best.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm also from Sacramento.</p>
<p></p>
<p>What edible fish do you recommend for AP ? </p>
<p>I'm considering Tilapia, I know about the local restrictions, Bluegill, Channel catfish, Crappie or maybe Sacramento Perch. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Have you tried any of these fish ? And if you did what are the pros and cons based on your experience ?</p>
<p></p>
<p>Wish we can access Jade Perch ? the Omega 3 content is off the chart on that fish even higher than salmon.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Sorry about the questions. Hope you don't mind.</p> is the plumbing of the water…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-14:4778851:Comment:5782282014-09-14T17:19:50.089ZButch Pornebohttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ButchPornebo
<p>is the plumbing of the water coming in to the bucket higher than the arched openings in the bottom of the bell ?</p>
<p>is the plumbing of the water coming in to the bucket higher than the arched openings in the bottom of the bell ?</p> Hi Butch,
The siphon action…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-09-14:4778851:Comment:5783122014-09-14T17:12:17.055ZPaul Trudeauhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulTrudeau
Hi Butch,<br />
<br />
The siphon action drops water level in bucket and media bed. When that level gets to bottom of bucket, arched openings in bottom of the bell allows air to enter and rise thru the bell to break the siphon.<br />
<br />
So, yes the bucket bottom is lower than the media bed bottom, but that's not what causes the siphon to break. Theoretically, what it does do is allow the media bed to drain all the way down each cycle, which should help inhibit buildup of anaerobic zone at bottom of media bed.
Hi Butch,<br />
<br />
The siphon action drops water level in bucket and media bed. When that level gets to bottom of bucket, arched openings in bottom of the bell allows air to enter and rise thru the bell to break the siphon.<br />
<br />
So, yes the bucket bottom is lower than the media bed bottom, but that's not what causes the siphon to break. Theoretically, what it does do is allow the media bed to drain all the way down each cycle, which should help inhibit buildup of anaerobic zone at bottom of media bed.