Hi! From Saratoga CA!

[Chi Ma]

Hi Everyone! My name is Chi. I live in CA.

One day I asked some of the kids I work with if they knew where their
food comes from. Their response was the super market. I said "really?"
So I asked where did the super market get it from? All I got was a
shrug. It inspired me to make my own system to show the kids that food
doesn't magically appear at the super market.

I noticed a lot of systems are a lil um "3rd world" looking for the
lack of a better term. This is v1.0 for me to get all the plumbing
squared away. It is made with a 200 gallon tote, 4" ABS pipe for the
grow beds. 500 gph pump. Right now it is all running on house power but
in the spring when the storms are over will switch to solar. Also it
will get some cedar paneling around it so it will be more presentable.
Fish will be a mix of tilapia and channel catfish. I think I might need
to add a settling tank but I'll see how it goes.

Any suggestions to improve the system are welcome.

Design Goals:
1. Compact
2. Clean
3. Portable
4. Expandable

A little vid: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=494750945609

Beginnings:

[TCLynx]

I like it.

[AJ Grottke]

Nice addition, thats a lot of grow space.  Have fun with all that extra produce :)

[Chi Ma]

Today's radish harvest.

 

[Aaron]

Chi. Great job!

Chi Ma said:

Today's radish harvest.

 

[Sahib Punjabi]

Nice :-)

God bless

[Chi Ma]

Ok here's an update.

 

Cucumbers:

Watercress:

Cherry Tomater blossoms:

 

Garlic Chives:

 

Basil:

 

Arugula:

 

[David Waite]

Great color Chi. Well we know root crops love round media. How is your ph setting. I am tracking root crops, media and  ph ranges for each in a separate discussion on root crops. Would love it if you post this and give us the particulars in that discussion.

Chi Ma said:

Today's radish harvest.

 

[Chi Ma]

I dunno what my PH is. I don't even have a test kit. Fish and crays are breeding. So it must be ok

 

David Waite said:

Great color Chi. Well we know root crops love round media. How is your ph setting. I am tracking root crops, media and  ph ranges for each in a separate discussion on root crops. Would love it if you post this and give us the particulars in that discussion.

Chi Ma said:

Today's radish harvest.

 

[David Waite]

NO problemo simple is better. I would have to agree your system is rocking.

Chi Ma said:

I dunno what my PH is. I don't even have a test kit. Fish and crays are breeding. So it must be ok

 

David Waite said:

Great color Chi. Well we know root crops love round media. How is your ph setting. I am tracking root crops, media and  ph ranges for each in a separate discussion on root crops. Would love it if you post this and give us the particulars in that discussion.

Chi Ma said:

Today's radish harvest.

 

[Sahib Punjabi]

Great :-)

Chi Ma said:

Ok here's an update.

 

Cucumbers:

Watercress:

Cherry Tomater blossoms:

 

Garlic Chives:

 

Basil:

 

Arugula:

 

[Conrad Chin-Yee]

Chi,

Is one of the purposes for breeding the crayfish is for them to eat the excess food and detritus and wastes that accumulate in your fish tank? Can I grow them in my IBC totes?

http://www.aquaponicshq.com/forums/album.php?albumid=36

 

[Chi Ma]

Conrad,

Yep they are my clean up crew. They clean the intakes to my pumps, eat left over food and the occasional dead fish. You should be able to raise them in your IBC totes as long as you provide enough hiding places for them. When the breed I would isolate the females in another tank to have their babies.