Studing aquaponics BEFORE starting a system up......ideas and comments welcome.

[Rhonda Blair]

I have a traditional square foot garden that I have had great success with but I will have to give it up due to being disabled and no longer able to weed it. I found the subject of aquaponics on YouTube last week and it seems like a great thing for me to try.

 I have always grown organically so this really appeals to me. Due to very limited income at this time I will probably use a lot of recycled materials to build my system.  Plus the fact that I live by the motto of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Any of you who repurpose things to use in your AP systems please pass on your ideas.

I have not desided if I am going to use a small greenhouse or grow outside or both. So ideas on that would be great. Either way I know that I am going to start small with grand hopes of expanding soon.

I am remodeling my bathroom and putting in a shower since I can no longer safely get in and out of my garden tub. So I plan on using the tub for my fish tank. The tub is approx. 4 and 1/2' long by 3' wide and 2' deep. Would this be a good size? Deep enough to keep the water temperatures ok during the hottest weather in Alabama? Also can someone tell me how to calculate how many gallons of water it will hold once I measure it to know the exact dementions?

Also I am thinking of sinking the fish tub to just above ground level so that I can keep my grow beds and crops lower since I would be unable to use a ladder to harvest the crops. Have any of you done this? Ideas/suggestions?

I will more than likely go with fish native to Alabama definately catfish and maybe bass or bream. For those of you raising these PLEASE give me some tips.

Ok I guess I have rambled on long enough for now.........Blessed Be.

 

[Leo White Bear]

Rhonda-

  Your's is the same reason I got into aquaponics, A rough life and time does that to a person.  I no longer can do soil gardening either.  Personally I think a garden tub is a great idea to experiment with aquaponics but just sinking it into the ground in Alabama might not be enough to keep your fish cool, afterwards, you have a great koi pond.  Some sort of cover would also be needed for shade in a searing sun. 

  Depending on your winters, no need for a building for now, but when the weather turns I think the shallow aquarium might be a problem.  Here in Wisconsin winter aquaponics without a building is impossible so for me this is going to be a seasonal thing until the greenhouse or shed is a reality.

  My experiments with barrelponics is a fantastic success so a larger custom unit is in the works for next year.  Keep studying and asking questions, people here are happy to share what they know.  Be well

White Bear

[Rhonda Blair]

Ahhh so the tub wouldn't be deep enough. Alright on to other ideas. Suggestions anyone?

[Sahib Punjabi]

Hello Rhonda,

You may want to become a member of the Group "Aquaponic Media Posts" as well as the one on "Books...". You will get a lot of information there. I am sharing the discussion that I recently posted and suggest that you download and read this excellent Manual by one of the leading authorities and experienced Aquapons in the world, Joel Malcolm of Backyard Aquaponics. Here the discuss the use of IBC totes to use as your fish tanks +. I currently use an IBC tote (full size 285 gallons), for my Catfish (another group to join...TCLynx (another Aquapon who has a wealth of Aquapon + knowledge), is the "Master" in Florida as regards Channel Catfish. She recommends no more than 30 or so in such size containers (depending on what size you would like to harvest your fish).

 

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/Travis/IBCofAquaponics1.pdf

 

Let me know how you progress.

 

God bless, 

[TCLynx]

hay there.  The garden tub could work as a fish tank but could also be a bit on the small side so summer may push the temp too high for comfort and winter would probably be extreme on the other side depending on where you are in the climate range (if you are near the gulf you might get away with only minimal winter protection and grow year round but if you are further North you may need to heat or shut down or be in a good greenhouse for year round production.)

 

For growing catfish, I like at least 24 inches of water depth and am partial to having 300 gallons of fish tank for them but I do tend to grow my catfish big.  I've got bluegill in a 100 gallon tank and they seem to be doing well enough so you could probably manage them in the garden tub.  But you could also use the garden tub as a grow bed.

 

Not to pry but what is it about the weeding that your disability prevents you from your normal square foot gardening?  Just wondering since we want to help you design an aquaponics garden that will improve your situation rather than just change the problem form dirt to gravel or something.  A gravel bed out on the ground in the open can still get weeds from blown seeds, they are easy to pull if you recognize them but it can still happen.  However, in a greenhouse the pest control can be a bit trickier and some plants need extra help being pollinated in a greenhouse since the natural insects or wind that does it might not have access.  Large plants you might be able to grow in a hanging down fashion rather than growing up if that would work better for your situation.

[Wayne]

W x L x H = cubic feet x 7.48051948

 

Your tank would be around 202 gallons

 

[TCLynx]

The formula works if the tub is really rectangular.

[Wayne]

Yes sorry, For oval calculations multiply by 5.9 instead of 7.48

Thanks for pointing that out TC.

TCLynx said:

The formula works if the tub is really rectangular.

[Rebecca B]

Is the tub plastic? If it is porcelain, any nicks or scratches exposing the metal will have to be covered to not expose that surface to the water.  

[TCLynx]

Good point, you definitely want to patch over any chips in a porcelain tub before use in aquaponics.

[Rhonda Blair]

Thank you I am heading over to those topics to check them out now.

Sahib Punjabi said:

Hello Rhonda,

You may want to become a member of the Group "Aquaponic Media Posts" as well as the one on "Books...". You will get a lot of information there. I am sharing the discussion that I recently posted and suggest that you download and read this excellent Manual by one of the leading authorities and experienced Aquapons in the world, Joel Malcolm of Backyard Aquaponics. Here the discuss the use of IBC totes to use as your fish tanks +. I currently use an IBC tote (full size 285 gallons), for my Catfish (another group to join...TCLynx (another Aquapon who has a wealth of Aquapon + knowledge), is the "Master" in Florida as regards Channel Catfish. She recommends no more than 30 or so in such size containers (depending on what size you would like to harvest your fish).

 

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/Travis/IBCofAquaponics1.pdf

 

Let me know how you progress.

 

God bless, 

[Rhonda Blair]

I have spastic CP so bending has always been a problem for me. I usually harvested/planted/weeded on my hands and knees but as I get older (41 this year) I have more trouble with my back and knees due to joint damage caused through so many falls during my life.

I live in central Alabama so I have hot summers but not as bad as the coast and mild winters.

I am leaning towards a greenhouse if I can come up with enough materials for my son in law to build it.

I don't think I could use the tub as a grow bed due to not being able to stretch to reach the plants in the middle. Then again I could get my daughter to help with that I just tend to be independant.

Catfish and bluegill both sound like good options for me since I prefer to stay with native species. I may be wrong but I figure native species will adapt better to climates/waters they are already used to.

TCLynx said:

hay there.  The garden tub could work as a fish tank but could also be a bit on the small side so summer may push the temp too high for comfort and winter would probably be extreme on the other side depending on where you are in the climate range (if you are near the gulf you might get away with only minimal winter protection and grow year round but if you are further North you may need to heat or shut down or be in a good greenhouse for year round production.)

 

For growing catfish, I like at least 24 inches of water depth and am partial to having 300 gallons of fish tank for them but I do tend to grow my catfish big.  I've got bluegill in a 100 gallon tank and they seem to be doing well enough so you could probably manage them in the garden tub.  But you could also use the garden tub as a grow bed.

 

Not to pry but what is it about the weeding that your disability prevents you from your normal square foot gardening?  Just wondering since we want to help you design an aquaponics garden that will improve your situation rather than just change the problem form dirt to gravel or something.  A gravel bed out on the ground in the open can still get weeds from blown seeds, they are easy to pull if you recognize them but it can still happen.  However, in a greenhouse the pest control can be a bit trickier and some plants need extra help being pollinated in a greenhouse since the natural insects or wind that does it might not have access.  Large plants you might be able to grow in a hanging down fashion rather than growing up if that would work better for your situation.

[Rhonda Blair]

Luckily the tub is fiberglass.

Rebecca B said:

Is the tub plastic? If it is porcelain, any nicks or scratches exposing the metal will have to be covered to not expose that surface to the water.