Starting my new basement system, would love feedback... - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T11:27:23Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/starting-my-new-basement-system-would-love-feedback?feed=yes&xn_auth=noHD sells 3/4" foam panels wit…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-07-16:4778851:Comment:3669302012-07-16T14:33:16.658ZJon Parrhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JonParr
HD sells 3/4" foam panels with a Mylar skin for $7, cheaper than drywall, mud, and paint.<br />
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One thing to consider about duckweed in sump is that returning water will drive the duckweed down to intake level of pump. Pump will then distribute DW to growbeds, where it will rot and attract fungus gnats. In order to eliminate this, you could have your return lines dump under the surface of the water, but then lose extra aeration. Also, fluctuating levels in DW tend to deposit most of the DW on the…
HD sells 3/4" foam panels with a Mylar skin for $7, cheaper than drywall, mud, and paint.<br />
<br />
One thing to consider about duckweed in sump is that returning water will drive the duckweed down to intake level of pump. Pump will then distribute DW to growbeds, where it will rot and attract fungus gnats. In order to eliminate this, you could have your return lines dump under the surface of the water, but then lose extra aeration. Also, fluctuating levels in DW tend to deposit most of the DW on the walls as water level lowers, and it clumps and dies. I'd keep the DW separate. i read that flat white paint…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-07-16:4778851:Comment:3667512012-07-16T13:18:40.147ZKeith Rowanhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KeithRowan
<p>i read that flat white paint is better than foil.. something to consider</p>
<p>i read that flat white paint is better than foil.. something to consider</p> Updated design... Thinking a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-07-14:4778851:Comment:3623882012-07-14T01:35:13.717ZJohn Leschornhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohnLeschorn
<p>Updated design... Thinking about wisest use of light, reducing the "wasted" light on the fish tank and sump and simplification of the overall infrastructure...</p>
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<p>Another question... Why not grow duckweed in the sump tank? Assuming you can somehow keep the pumps from pumping it all out by stopping them before water gets too low? Would save a tank and floor space...</p>
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<p>Updated design... Thinking about wisest use of light, reducing the "wasted" light on the fish tank and sump and simplification of the overall infrastructure...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Another question... Why not grow duckweed in the sump tank? Assuming you can somehow keep the pumps from pumping it all out by stopping them before water gets too low? Would save a tank and floor space...</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772215359?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="695" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772215359?profile=original"/></a></p> I use SunBlaster flourescents…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-07-13:4778851:Comment:3626042012-07-13T21:21:05.189ZIan Cameronhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/IanCameron
<p>I use SunBlaster flourescents. I looked around for the best intensity light with lowest energy use and came up with these. Sourced reasonably locally at a green house supplier. Also, 0.06/kwH electricity helps a lot as long as I don't exceed 1200 kwH/month. Then it goes up to 0.12/kwH. I did some experimenting with reflector designs, but found that the aluminum foil curtain right down to the grow bed really helped a lot.Mind you, its a very small set up. 12sq. ft. of grow bed. Got my first…</p>
<p>I use SunBlaster flourescents. I looked around for the best intensity light with lowest energy use and came up with these. Sourced reasonably locally at a green house supplier. Also, 0.06/kwH electricity helps a lot as long as I don't exceed 1200 kwH/month. Then it goes up to 0.12/kwH. I did some experimenting with reflector designs, but found that the aluminum foil curtain right down to the grow bed really helped a lot.Mind you, its a very small set up. 12sq. ft. of grow bed. Got my first crop of Swiss Chard and spinach third week of April. The system was fully cycled by 1st week of March, about 60 days from start to plant.</p>
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<p>I am seriously looking at LED lighting, especially as am considering getting a larger system by the end of the current summer cycle.</p>
<p> We are in a relatively poor economic area, and any source of wholesome, reasonably priced produce during winter will be taken advantage of very quickly.</p> Ian - You have a short growin…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-07-12:4778851:Comment:3622142012-07-12T22:40:29.798ZJohn Leschornhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohnLeschorn
Ian - You have a short growing season and long winters, how do you contend with lighting needs of you plants?
Ian - You have a short growing season and long winters, how do you contend with lighting needs of you plants? Looks good. I created aluminu…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-07-12:4778851:Comment:3619532012-07-12T19:15:01.787ZIan Cameronhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/IanCameron
<p>Looks good. I created aluminum foil light curtains for my system when it was in the house. I just taped the ends of the foil to wooden dowels and hung the curtains from the fluorescent's down to the grow beds. That way, they can be rolled up when working on the beds. On thing I found was that ventilation is a must, especially if you have a tight house. I just ran a 4" inlet pipe from outside and ran a bathroom extraction fan setup for the exhaust, again to the outside. A noticeable…</p>
<p>Looks good. I created aluminum foil light curtains for my system when it was in the house. I just taped the ends of the foil to wooden dowels and hung the curtains from the fluorescent's down to the grow beds. That way, they can be rolled up when working on the beds. On thing I found was that ventilation is a must, especially if you have a tight house. I just ran a 4" inlet pipe from outside and ran a bathroom extraction fan setup for the exhaust, again to the outside. A noticeable improvement in the plant health.</p>