Solar Greenhouse Design and Construction for Low Energy Use - Heating & Cooling - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T19:27:38Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/solar-greenhouse-design-and-construction-for-low-energy-use?feed=yes&xn_auth=noYes. Check out Lee Porter Bu…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-12-01:4778851:Comment:4203012012-12-01T04:34:10.354ZWorld travelerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Worldtraveler
<p>Yes. Check out Lee Porter Butler's book. If you get one let me know. He's dead now....100% energy efficiency all over the USA. add me as a friend. World Traveler in Bali</p>
<p>Yes. Check out Lee Porter Butler's book. If you get one let me know. He's dead now....100% energy efficiency all over the USA. add me as a friend. World Traveler in Bali</p> Hi Brad,
I'm reading through…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-07-17:4778851:Comment:3686772012-07-17T02:02:35.571ZDebbie Buonomohttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DebbieBuonomo
<p>Hi Brad,</p>
<p>I'm reading through some old posts with regards to building a solar greenhouse and stumbled upon yours. Have you had any success with building a solar greenhouse without any need for electricity to heat? I live south of Nashville just west of Columbia. I'm curious to find out what others in middle TN have used for their, year round, AP systems.</p>
<p>I've read through some of the links you provided but need to take more time to study the ideas and concepts. We're hoping…</p>
<p>Hi Brad,</p>
<p>I'm reading through some old posts with regards to building a solar greenhouse and stumbled upon yours. Have you had any success with building a solar greenhouse without any need for electricity to heat? I live south of Nashville just west of Columbia. I'm curious to find out what others in middle TN have used for their, year round, AP systems.</p>
<p>I've read through some of the links you provided but need to take more time to study the ideas and concepts. We're hoping to start building a greenhouse within the next month or so. It depends on how quickly I can digest information. We had an AP system set up in our basement for a while and decided we need to get it outside. </p>
<p>Look forward to hearing from you.</p>
<p>Debbie</p> Keep in mind in most of our n…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-11-07:4778851:Comment:2444572011-11-07T14:35:43.826ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>Keep in mind in most of our natural systems, we have a variety of strains of bacteria that work at different temps and pH conditions. If the lab tests dictated exactly how our outdoor natural system worked, then I doubt Aquaponics would be nearly so functional as it actually is.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that most Fish slow down at lower temps as do most of the plants so it isn't necessary to have the bio-filter functioning full tilt when the fish aren't eating and the plants are not growing…</p>
<p>Keep in mind in most of our natural systems, we have a variety of strains of bacteria that work at different temps and pH conditions. If the lab tests dictated exactly how our outdoor natural system worked, then I doubt Aquaponics would be nearly so functional as it actually is.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that most Fish slow down at lower temps as do most of the plants so it isn't necessary to have the bio-filter functioning full tilt when the fish aren't eating and the plants are not growing much.</p> The article was certainly enl…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-11-07:4778851:Comment:2444432011-11-07T12:38:18.630ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
The article was certainly enlightening, and Biozome does seem promising...Rob, have you actually used the stuff in your AP system? Do you have any info on Archea behaves towards petroleum based plastics? (Liners, containers ect)...
The article was certainly enlightening, and Biozome does seem promising...Rob, have you actually used the stuff in your AP system? Do you have any info on Archea behaves towards petroleum based plastics? (Liners, containers ect)... "Is the bacteria really as s…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-11-07:4778851:Comment:2443542011-11-07T12:09:03.126ZRob Nashhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobNash
<p> "Is the bacteria really as sensitive to temps as the internet and books tells us?" ...yes! but there is hope!</p>
<p>look up BioZome. this product contains "Archaea" wich can convert amonia to nitrate in freezing temps. this stuff rocks! <a href="http://www.maximumyield.com/article_sh_db.php?articleID=504&yearVar=2009&issueVar=November">http://www.maximumyield.com/article_sh_db.php?articleID=504&yearVar=2009&issueVar=November</a></p>
<p> "Is the bacteria really as sensitive to temps as the internet and books tells us?" ...yes! but there is hope!</p>
<p>look up BioZome. this product contains "Archaea" wich can convert amonia to nitrate in freezing temps. this stuff rocks! <a href="http://www.maximumyield.com/article_sh_db.php?articleID=504&yearVar=2009&issueVar=November">http://www.maximumyield.com/article_sh_db.php?articleID=504&yearVar=2009&issueVar=November</a></p> When the water is cold, the f…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-11-07:4778851:Comment:2444302011-11-07T02:10:27.965ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>When the water is cold, the fish won't be eating as much so the bacteria being slower usually isn't such a problem. The system won't be churning the way it is in full summer but you should be able to keep it alive and still grow the cold weather crops.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you are growing trout, you need more filtration to keep up with the reduce bio-filter rate at colder temperatures. Just like if you are running much lower pH you may need more filtration to keep up with the less efficient…</p>
<p>When the water is cold, the fish won't be eating as much so the bacteria being slower usually isn't such a problem. The system won't be churning the way it is in full summer but you should be able to keep it alive and still grow the cold weather crops.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you are growing trout, you need more filtration to keep up with the reduce bio-filter rate at colder temperatures. Just like if you are running much lower pH you may need more filtration to keep up with the less efficient bacteria function. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Understand these issues exist so you are prepared for them but don't get too bound up with the numbers since there are people out there who grow trout in aquaponics and it works. There are people out there who manage to overwinter systems at a slow tick in a minimally heated greenhouse. You will just have to find the balance that works out in your situation. </p> Hi TC, say we have the plants…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-11-07:4778851:Comment:2437902011-11-07T00:51:44.231ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>Hi TC, say we have the plants worked out, your typical winter stuff, spinach, cabbages, iceburg type lettuces etc, and we have an appropriate cold hardy fish, trout, carp, lake erie perch, whatever...and the water isn't freezing in the pipes...what about the bacteria?</p>
<p>I remembered seeing a chart ( I think that Rupert may have posted it, not sure) a while back that showed the biological activity of nitrifying bacteria at various temperatures. It pretty much monkey-wrenched my dream of…</p>
<p>Hi TC, say we have the plants worked out, your typical winter stuff, spinach, cabbages, iceburg type lettuces etc, and we have an appropriate cold hardy fish, trout, carp, lake erie perch, whatever...and the water isn't freezing in the pipes...what about the bacteria?</p>
<p>I remembered seeing a chart ( I think that Rupert may have posted it, not sure) a while back that showed the biological activity of nitrifying bacteria at various temperatures. It pretty much monkey-wrenched my dream of getting away with 'just keeping the pipes from freezing' :( I'll try to dig it up somewhere, but basically according to that chart, (and others that I've had the misfortune of looking at since then) the bacteria at below 10 or 12 (even 15) degrees Celsius were working at a drastically reduced rate. (Again this is according to the charts).</p>
<p>I am assuming that if your water is colder than is optimal for your particular type of fish, that the fish slow down as well, and that this sort of parallels with what the bacteria are doing? But what do you suppose happens if you have trout feeding full throttle (and higher protein food at that) at temps in the 7-10 degree range (45-50 Fahrenheit)? Is the bacteria really as sensitive to temps as the internet and books tells us?</p> I know I've seen some greenho…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-11-06:4778851:Comment:2443112011-11-06T23:28:01.542ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
I know I've seen some greenhouse designs on permacutlure sites that will work fairly well for growing year round as long as you are still growing seasonally appropriate plants. This doesn't mean that you can get away with growing tilapia in a snow covered landscape with no additional heating. If you can keep the greenhouse warm enough to keep water from freezing in the system, you can grow climate appropriate fish in a greenhouse aquaponics system.
I know I've seen some greenhouse designs on permacutlure sites that will work fairly well for growing year round as long as you are still growing seasonally appropriate plants. This doesn't mean that you can get away with growing tilapia in a snow covered landscape with no additional heating. If you can keep the greenhouse warm enough to keep water from freezing in the system, you can grow climate appropriate fish in a greenhouse aquaponics system.