Brand New need info! - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T14:11:34Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/brand-new-need-info?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A160306&groupId=4778851%3AGroup%3A28135&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThank you so much for the inf…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1602692011-07-21T22:40:57.011ZDALE MORRIShttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DALEMORRIS
<p>Thank you so much for the info, it was certainly helpful, there is much to learn, and limited time to learn it. thank you so much. I will certainly monitor your blog!</p>
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<p>Dale<br></br> <cite>Sheri Schmeckpeper said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/brand-new-need-info?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&#4778851Comment160304"><div><p>Have you ever had an aquarium, Dale? If so you're familiar with the initial cycling that takes place. When…</p>
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<p>Thank you so much for the info, it was certainly helpful, there is much to learn, and limited time to learn it. thank you so much. I will certainly monitor your blog!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dale<br/> <cite>Sheri Schmeckpeper said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/brand-new-need-info?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&#4778851Comment160304"><div><p>Have you ever had an aquarium, Dale? If so you're familiar with the initial cycling that takes place. When you start your system, it has to go through the nitrification process. That's the hardest part, really. The fish waste turns to ammonia, which attracts bacteria that turns it to nitrites, which then attract another bacteria that turns it to nitrates. This is what the plants love. Unfortunately, with a 275 gal tank it takes a lot of waste to get it started, and when you have little fish it takes a long time.</p>
<p>So as not to lose tilapia, we started our tank with goldfish. Many will say never to do this because goldfish tend to be unclean and disease laden. We took care to make certain they were healthy, and it worked very well. They're messy fish, so they create a lot of ammonia. They can endure major stress, changes in temperature, and the chemical fluctuations that tanks have to go through. Ours have cycled two tanks (275 gal & 325 gal) and are huge now.</p>
<p>You have to test a lot at first so you can monitor the cycling process. First you'll see a rise in ammonia. You'll know you're progressing when you see nitrite levels rise. Not long after that ammonia levels will go down. The same will happen when nitrates develop; at this point you may get an algae bloom and you'll feel defeated because the water can look horrible! But this is a good thing, because it means plants will grow, and it will pass. Put your plants in when you see nitrate levels increase. <br/><br/>You should have lots of aeration, and some kind of medium for the bacteria to grow in. This can be gravel, rocks, a bacteria filter, or just the grow bed medium. I prefer at least two media just in case something happens to one of them.</p>
<p>After cycling, we removed the goldfish and let it sit for a few days just to guard against parasites. Then we added 45 fingerlings which are between six & nine inches now. We'll harvest with a fishing pole, just as a friend of ours does (we're about 3 months to our first harvest). If you use large enough hooks & bait, you won't catch the little fish, and you can always catch & release. As for the number of fish, If we eat 12/month, and it takes 6-9 months to maturity, we need about 100 fish in our tank, with 12 newbies added each month. We breed the fish in a separate tank so we can control parentage and quantity.</p>
<p>Your gardening experience will enhance your aquaponics. You'll find things grow faster and produce a more stable crop, but some things still prefer soil. We do both. Pests still hurt plants, so your knowledge of that will really help. Depending on your greenhouse, the beneficial insects may have a harder time getting to your plants, so you want to bring them in. The fun thing about all this is that everyone does things differently, and you can be as creative as you want!</p>
<p>Here's a link to my blog with information, geared to the beginner. It needs to be updated, but it might help. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://supurbanfarm.wordpress.com/aquaponics/">http://supurbanfarm.wordpress.com/aquaponics/</a></p>
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</blockquote> As to fingerlings and harvest…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1605022011-07-21T19:24:42.277ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>As to fingerlings and harvest.</p>
<p>Yes you will normally buy some fingerlings from a fish farm or some other supplier. Then you will keep them and feed them until some seem big enough to you to be worth harvesting and cleaning and eating. How long this is and how big they are will to a large extent depend on you (deciding how big is big enough) but bluegill are often eaten at around a third of a pound.</p>
<p> Some people will use a hook to catch fish but most of us will use a net and…</p>
<p>As to fingerlings and harvest.</p>
<p>Yes you will normally buy some fingerlings from a fish farm or some other supplier. Then you will keep them and feed them until some seem big enough to you to be worth harvesting and cleaning and eating. How long this is and how big they are will to a large extent depend on you (deciding how big is big enough) but bluegill are often eaten at around a third of a pound.</p>
<p> Some people will use a hook to catch fish but most of us will use a net and just try to get the bigger ones.</p> Thanks, TCLynx! I wondered ab…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1603062011-07-21T15:26:02.378ZSheri Schmeckpeperhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/SheriSchmeckpeper
Thanks, TCLynx! I wondered about that & what you said makes sense. You have to understand your environment and work around the needs of the fish. <br></br>
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<cite>TCLynx said:</cite><br />
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/brand-new-need-info?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A158686&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment158686"><div>I'll make a quick caution here Sheri, the ground is only a good insulator if the temperature you…</div>
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Thanks, TCLynx! I wondered about that & what you said makes sense. You have to understand your environment and work around the needs of the fish. <br/>
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<cite>TCLynx said:</cite><br />
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/brand-new-need-info?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A158686&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment158686"><div>I'll make a quick caution here Sheri, the ground is only a good insulator if the temperature you want is close to the ground temperature in your area. Otherwise the ground is a huge thermal mass and in some parts of the country the ground will tend to keep the water too cool unlike in the desert or where I live where the ground temperature is really very nice.</div>
</blockquote> Have you ever had an aquarium…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1603042011-07-21T15:18:45.573ZSheri Schmeckpeperhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/SheriSchmeckpeper
<p>Have you ever had an aquarium, Dale? If so you're familiar with the initial cycling that takes place. When you start your system, it has to go through the nitrification process. That's the hardest part, really. The fish waste turns to ammonia, which attracts bacteria that turns it to nitrites, which then attract another bacteria that turns it to nitrates. This is what the plants love. Unfortunately, with a 275 gal tank it takes a lot of waste to get it started, and when you have little fish…</p>
<p>Have you ever had an aquarium, Dale? If so you're familiar with the initial cycling that takes place. When you start your system, it has to go through the nitrification process. That's the hardest part, really. The fish waste turns to ammonia, which attracts bacteria that turns it to nitrites, which then attract another bacteria that turns it to nitrates. This is what the plants love. Unfortunately, with a 275 gal tank it takes a lot of waste to get it started, and when you have little fish it takes a long time.</p>
<p>So as not to lose tilapia, we started our tank with goldfish. Many will say never to do this because goldfish tend to be unclean and disease laden. We took care to make certain they were healthy, and it worked very well. They're messy fish, so they create a lot of ammonia. They can endure major stress, changes in temperature, and the chemical fluctuations that tanks have to go through. Ours have cycled two tanks (275 gal & 325 gal) and are huge now.</p>
<p>You have to test a lot at first so you can monitor the cycling process. First you'll see a rise in ammonia. You'll know you're progressing when you see nitrite levels rise. Not long after that ammonia levels will go down. The same will happen when nitrates develop; at this point you may get an algae bloom and you'll feel defeated because the water can look horrible! But this is a good thing, because it means plants will grow, and it will pass. Put your plants in when you see nitrate levels increase. <br/><br/>You should have lots of aeration, and some kind of medium for the bacteria to grow in. This can be gravel, rocks, a bacteria filter, or just the grow bed medium. I prefer at least two media just in case something happens to one of them.</p>
<p>After cycling, we removed the goldfish and let it sit for a few days just to guard against parasites. Then we added 45 fingerlings which are between six & nine inches now. We'll harvest with a fishing pole, just as a friend of ours does (we're about 3 months to our first harvest). If you use large enough hooks & bait, you won't catch the little fish, and you can always catch & release. As for the number of fish, If we eat 12/month, and it takes 6-9 months to maturity, we need about 100 fish in our tank, with 12 newbies added each month. We breed the fish in a separate tank so we can control parentage and quantity.</p>
<p>Your gardening experience will enhance your aquaponics. You'll find things grow faster and produce a more stable crop, but some things still prefer soil. We do both. Pests still hurt plants, so your knowledge of that will really help. Depending on your greenhouse, the beneficial insects may have a harder time getting to your plants, so you want to bring them in. The fun thing about all this is that everyone does things differently, and you can be as creative as you want!</p>
<p>Here's a link to my blog with information, geared to the beginner. It needs to be updated, but it might help. <a href="http://supurbanfarm.wordpress.com/aquaponics/">http://supurbanfarm.wordpress.com/aquaponics/</a></p>
<br/> Thanks to all for your valuab…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1602012011-07-21T13:43:30.746ZDALE MORRIShttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DALEMORRIS
Thanks to all for your valuable feedback so far. The thing I am most ignorant about is the fish part as I am an experienced gardener( for what that is worth. I want to use bluegill due to their ability to use a wider range of temperatures. how does the harvesting of the fish work? I assume you buy fingerlings, let them grow and at some point you have to harvest some of the biggest ones, am I correct in this? If I start with just one of my 275 gallon tanks, how many fingerlings do I need…
Thanks to all for your valuable feedback so far. The thing I am most ignorant about is the fish part as I am an experienced gardener( for what that is worth. I want to use bluegill due to their ability to use a wider range of temperatures. how does the harvesting of the fish work? I assume you buy fingerlings, let them grow and at some point you have to harvest some of the biggest ones, am I correct in this? If I start with just one of my 275 gallon tanks, how many fingerlings do I need to start with? How big do the bluegill need to be before I start removing them? I'll make a quick caution her…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1586862011-07-21T11:51:38.685ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
I'll make a quick caution here Sheri, the ground is only a good insulator if the temperature you want is close to the ground temperature in your area. Otherwise the ground is a huge thermal mass and in some parts of the country the ground will tend to keep the water too cool unlike in the desert or where I live where the ground temperature is really very nice.
I'll make a quick caution here Sheri, the ground is only a good insulator if the temperature you want is close to the ground temperature in your area. Otherwise the ground is a huge thermal mass and in some parts of the country the ground will tend to keep the water too cool unlike in the desert or where I live where the ground temperature is really very nice. We have the opposite problem…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1598282011-07-21T03:50:13.473ZSheri Schmeckpeperhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/SheriSchmeckpeper
We have the opposite problem that you do. Being in the desert, we have to address the summer heat. We have a greenhouse to keep things cool; as long as the temps stay below 100 we can grow year-round. One of our tanks is sunk in the ground, the other is above ground but wrapped with styrofoam. The one in the ground has stayed around 85 through the summer - 105 - 110 average temps for the last month. The above ground gets into the 90s, but as long as we keep the evaporative cooler running it…
We have the opposite problem that you do. Being in the desert, we have to address the summer heat. We have a greenhouse to keep things cool; as long as the temps stay below 100 we can grow year-round. One of our tanks is sunk in the ground, the other is above ground but wrapped with styrofoam. The one in the ground has stayed around 85 through the summer - 105 - 110 average temps for the last month. The above ground gets into the 90s, but as long as we keep the evaporative cooler running it stays cool enough for our tilapia. I imagine sinking a tank would insulate against the cold as well. Just something to think about. :)<br/>
<cite><br/></cite> I would probably recommend sa…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1598272011-07-21T02:24:50.006ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
I would probably recommend saving your black ones as heat storage and perhaps using food grade tanks for your AP system.
I would probably recommend saving your black ones as heat storage and perhaps using food grade tanks for your AP system. Aquaponics, well many people…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1599012011-07-21T02:23:15.092ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>Aquaponics, well many people will say AP</p>
<p>I'm just growing Bluegill for my first season now, they seem to be a pretty good fish so far, I know they are good eating and being smaller than Channel Catfish are more appropriate to a system with smaller tanks (I also grow catfish but have decided I like to have at least 300 gallons of water in a tank to grow them out since I tend to grow them big.)</p>
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<p>The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask and get yourself into…</p>
<p>Aquaponics, well many people will say AP</p>
<p>I'm just growing Bluegill for my first season now, they seem to be a pretty good fish so far, I know they are good eating and being smaller than Channel Catfish are more appropriate to a system with smaller tanks (I also grow catfish but have decided I like to have at least 300 gallons of water in a tank to grow them out since I tend to grow them big.)</p>
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<p>The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask and get yourself into trouble because you didn't. This site can be a bit challenging to navigate so ask for help there too (there is a chat on the home page which might be useful for some quick questions.)</p>
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<p>I use Mozilla Firefox as my browser and it has some spell checking capabilities which I find immensely useful.</p> Thanks Sheri, my tanks had me…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-21:4778851:Comment:1598262011-07-21T02:20:22.461ZDALE MORRIShttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DALEMORRIS
<p>Thanks Sheri, my tanks had medical grade liquid silicone in them which was used in breast implants and are listed as non hazad.as they have been drained and filed with water for solar heating. Of course before I put fish in them I will steam clean, and disinfect drums thourghly. I also sell these tanks as a sideline so if the black ones don't work I can replace them with the clear ones easily. Thank you in advnce for any info you want to…</p>
<p>Thanks Sheri, my tanks had medical grade liquid silicone in them which was used in breast implants and are listed as non hazad.as they have been drained and filed with water for solar heating. Of course before I put fish in them I will steam clean, and disinfect drums thourghly. I also sell these tanks as a sideline so if the black ones don't work I can replace them with the clear ones easily. Thank you in advnce for any info you want to share.</p>
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<p>Dale</p>
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<cite>Sheri Schmeckpeper said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/brand-new-need-info?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&#4778851Comment158646"><div>Dale, in answer to your question about whether you can use your existing tanks, yes. We have two tanks made from the food-grade totes, but you need to be sure they haven't held any toxic chemicals that could leach into your water, and be sure to clean them very well so there's no residual of anything in them. Then spray with bleach & let it dissipate before filling. You'll probably be raising cooler temperature fish, and since your totes are painted black they might get too hot for the fish during certain times of the year, so watch the water temperature. The benefit of the black is that it reduces algae growth.</div>
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