Advanced aquaponics Discussions - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T07:28:20Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/group/advancedaquaponics/forum?groupUrl=advancedaquaponics&feed=yes&xn_auth=noPumping Head !! What it meanstag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-04-18:4778851:Topic:3222392012-04-18T15:17:34.726ZDan Pontonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/danielponton
<p>When I think of head pressure I think of pumping up.. so when the pump data says it has 21 ft of head pressure does that mean horizontal or vertical or both?</p>
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<p>I will only be going vertically 6 or 7 ft but horizontal length of 30 feet. What should I look for in a pump?</p>
<p>When I think of head pressure I think of pumping up.. so when the pump data says it has 21 ft of head pressure does that mean horizontal or vertical or both?</p>
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<p>I will only be going vertically 6 or 7 ft but horizontal length of 30 feet. What should I look for in a pump?</p> Criticism of Fish Caretag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-01-10:4778851:Topic:2763162012-01-10T16:34:55.701ZRob Torcellinihttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobTorcellini
<p>I'm curious to know how people deal with criticism of the welfare of their fish. I have an indoor and outdoor system and I make sure my fish are well cared for and I really keep a low stocking density. The other day, I had this comment left on a video that featured both systems (<a href="http://youtu.be/VBspR2p0YYM">http://youtu.be/VBspR2p0YYM</a>):</p>
<blockquote><p>Interesting set up, though your indoor fish tank is really sad and awful, Do you not realise that that fish is a being,…</p>
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<p>I'm curious to know how people deal with criticism of the welfare of their fish. I have an indoor and outdoor system and I make sure my fish are well cared for and I really keep a low stocking density. The other day, I had this comment left on a video that featured both systems (<a href="http://youtu.be/VBspR2p0YYM">http://youtu.be/VBspR2p0YYM</a>):</p>
<blockquote><p>Interesting set up, though your indoor fish tank is really sad and awful, Do you not realise that that fish is a being, should not be in a totally empty tank, what a life!</p>
<p>Please do something about it!!</p>
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<p>My response was:</p>
<blockquote><p>I feel I must respond to this since I am the subject of this video and own this setup. These fish are well cared for and I always keep less fish per gallon than most people do. There is no need to put objects in a tank as they have no desire to be entertained by them. In fact, objects can be a hazard where they can be injured against them. She is about 6 years old and will easily live 25-30 years unlike most people that end up flushing them in a year or two.</p>
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<p>BTW, the fish in question is in this video:</p>
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<p></p> Monitoring in mature systemstag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-27:4778851:Topic:1642212011-07-27T08:59:52.856ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
<p>I have been looking at a lot of input and my own experience. If a system is designed and managed correctly, what should we monitor in the end? Are performance issues not typically design flaws or operational decicions rather than ecological processes?</p>
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<p>The concensus from what I could read is pH, DO and Ammonia (I am assuming we all watch temperature naturally) is all we need to think about. Thoughts?</p>
<p>I have been looking at a lot of input and my own experience. If a system is designed and managed correctly, what should we monitor in the end? Are performance issues not typically design flaws or operational decicions rather than ecological processes?</p>
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<p>The concensus from what I could read is pH, DO and Ammonia (I am assuming we all watch temperature naturally) is all we need to think about. Thoughts?</p> Timed irrigation and towerstag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-07-19:4778851:Topic:1578522011-07-19T15:32:21.736ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
I am experimenting a bit with towers on timed flow. So far (winter) they are happy with 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off. Anyone have experience with towers on timer during hotter weather?
I am experimenting a bit with towers on timed flow. So far (winter) they are happy with 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off. Anyone have experience with towers on timer during hotter weather? Remember the simplicity......tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-05-17:4778851:Topic:1125192011-05-17T10:02:04.038ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
<p>It has been a while since I added something here. The mixed aquaponics page got dibs on the sand bed experiment (which is going great!!) and I have been immersed in fisheries and aquaculture literature in preparation for a meeting that has just passed. More of a serious job interview than a meeting, but show me a typical interview that has taken over 2 months and is not completed yet.</p>
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<p>I digress. I have been tinkering with my old faithful test bed and part of what was…</p>
<p>It has been a while since I added something here. The mixed aquaponics page got dibs on the sand bed experiment (which is going great!!) and I have been immersed in fisheries and aquaculture literature in preparation for a meeting that has just passed. More of a serious job interview than a meeting, but show me a typical interview that has taken over 2 months and is not completed yet.</p>
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<p>I digress. I have been tinkering with my old faithful test bed and part of what was accomplished in the addition of the sand bed is (finally) clear water going into the 110 mm pipe. A previous (read failed) attempt to have a one pump and dirty line NFT component was to send the water into a setting tank before it got to the NFT. That did not work. But it did remind me of one of my favourite scientific concepts. Occam's razor, or for the fancy lot, <em>lex parsimoniae</em>. What am I on about? Well, why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. Occam's razor is a wonderful anchor for lofty technical minds like the one I try to contain and keep busy. It reminds us that the simplest answer to the problem, the one with the least assumptions, is often going to be a good bet. A VERY good bet.</p>
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<p>Lets put my observation into context. When the bug called aquaponics bit, we were terribly impressed with the idea that you just have to add fish food to water, let the fish eat it and transform it into super plant food, and the rest is history. Fish tank on the one side, jungle on the other. Then fast forward a few months/years and we are fussing over everything. Trace elements this, micro nutrients that. Additives, shortcomings............ is it the pH? Do I need to change food brands? I was going into assumption overdrive with some of my plants. Nutrients stress - just look at those leaves! But my pH is not high enough to lock away the trace elements. Is my food no good? Those shifty rats at ______________ (insert manufacturer's name here), they have cheapened their formula! Actually the answer was quite simple. Look at the muck in the 110 mm pipe you KNEW were not the best design ever. You told yourself a while back to deal with it, but delayed it to get the sand bed finished. </p>
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<p>Once the pipe was cleaned and the plant roots given a rinse (I was also impressed that there was NO root rot - definitely another indication that AP is good at harbouring good microbes and suppressing bad ones) the improvement was immediate. Same plants, same food, same pH. Just Occam applied.</p>
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<p>Thus Aquaponics remains just that. Forget the fine tooth comb every now and then and enjoy the jungle that comes from adding good fish food to a tank full of water and allowing the fish to turn it into super fertilizer. Do the basics right. All the time.</p>
<p> </p> Sand as a medium in a flood and drain bed?tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-22:4778851:Topic:957742011-04-22T16:58:39.106ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
<p>I have taken an interest in using sand as a media in one of my grow beds again. Only thing is that my beds cycle permanently on flood and drain auto siphons. I am worried that the sand will pose a considerable problem in continuing this type of water circulation. One option is to put the beds on timed cycle and just use an overflow standpipe with drilled base (overflow if filling rapidly, draining when water is cut). I'm not too keen on this, as I am intent on keeping the "no aerator"…</p>
<p>I have taken an interest in using sand as a media in one of my grow beds again. Only thing is that my beds cycle permanently on flood and drain auto siphons. I am worried that the sand will pose a considerable problem in continuing this type of water circulation. One option is to put the beds on timed cycle and just use an overflow standpipe with drilled base (overflow if filling rapidly, draining when water is cut). I'm not too keen on this, as I am intent on keeping the "no aerator" idea going with the use of cascades in the unit.</p>
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<p>The next option is to have a small amount of gravel in the bottom of the bed and a screen between the gravel and the sand. This will likely develop management issues in the medium and long term. A final option is just to have a fine mesh strainer on the guard pipe, but I am not sure if this will allow enough water through to efficiently operate the siphon.</p>
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<p>Any thoughts on / experience with this issue? </p> No aerator updatetag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-11:4778851:Topic:862062011-04-11T18:10:03.914ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
<p>It is now going into autumn, and I can now confidently state that the system configuration that I was testing - having no aeration originating from an electronic aerator, has been a success. I have not lost a fish (40 tilapia in 1000 liters) at all, and always managed to operate with a DO well within the limits of my fishes' tolerance. While the fast-flowing water have caused some issues such as reduced fines retention in the gravel, I have been able to keep most of the plants I tried…</p>
<p>It is now going into autumn, and I can now confidently state that the system configuration that I was testing - having no aeration originating from an electronic aerator, has been a success. I have not lost a fish (40 tilapia in 1000 liters) at all, and always managed to operate with a DO well within the limits of my fishes' tolerance. While the fast-flowing water have caused some issues such as reduced fines retention in the gravel, I have been able to keep most of the plants I tried happy, including a tomato in a raft bed.</p>
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<p>I feel confident that cascades can be used as a viable alternative to pumped air in any setting where electricity use is a major concern.</p> How long can we leave the media beds alone?tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-11:4778851:Topic:855732011-04-11T16:50:57.869ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
I have been running my system since late 2008, and in two different inflow configurations. The first try was gravity flow dispersed over the surface of the grave in a grid, and the second mode is pumped into the beds via submerged inlets. A year seems to be the limit for both set-ups in terms of the time that the beds can be operated before I have problems. First up, my beds are relatively small, contain fruiting crops and I have only recently been able to get a hold of the correct worms to…
I have been running my system since late 2008, and in two different inflow configurations. The first try was gravity flow dispersed over the surface of the grave in a grid, and the second mode is pumped into the beds via submerged inlets. A year seems to be the limit for both set-ups in terms of the time that the beds can be operated before I have problems. First up, my beds are relatively small, contain fruiting crops and I have only recently been able to get a hold of the correct worms to add to the beds. Dr Lennard's calculator recommends a 6 - 12 month running time before the gravel is re-worked. What is the sentiments on gravel bed maintenance here? Water consumption in a fruiting crop systemtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-22:4778851:Topic:714032011-03-22T11:40:45.605ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
<p>I have never searched home system references for water loss ratios, but if I remember correctly, UVI data suggested a daily loss of around 1 - 2% of your total volume per day. I have been operating pretty comfortably even in the drought, but as my bigger plants are maturing, I have seen a dramitic increase in water use. It got so that I started looking for leaks in the system. I have a huge passion fruit vine, amongst others, and I think that my focus on fruiting crops is elevating my…</p>
<p>I have never searched home system references for water loss ratios, but if I remember correctly, UVI data suggested a daily loss of around 1 - 2% of your total volume per day. I have been operating pretty comfortably even in the drought, but as my bigger plants are maturing, I have seen a dramitic increase in water use. It got so that I started looking for leaks in the system. I have a huge passion fruit vine, amongst others, and I think that my focus on fruiting crops is elevating my water use - now closer to 4 - 5% of water volume per day.</p>
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<p>Any one out there with thoughts on the topic?</p> Changing ratios over time?tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-22:4778851:Topic:704372011-03-22T07:36:58.529ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
I have recently seen my water clarity go from pretty good to grim, without increasing my feeding rates or taking away any filtering capacity. What has happened though, is that I started focussing heavily on fruiting crops and I have a sneaky suspicion that the large root mass that I now have in my gravel beds are messing with my component ratios. The system is now a bit over a year old in its current location, and is still extremely productive. I am just thinking that fruiting crops over…
I have recently seen my water clarity go from pretty good to grim, without increasing my feeding rates or taking away any filtering capacity. What has happened though, is that I started focussing heavily on fruiting crops and I have a sneaky suspicion that the large root mass that I now have in my gravel beds are messing with my component ratios. The system is now a bit over a year old in its current location, and is still extremely productive. I am just thinking that fruiting crops over time deminish gravel bed operation. Any thoughts?