Comment

Comment by TCLynx on October 20, 2013 at 10:54am

When you first start up a new system, you have to allow the bacteria to colonize the system and this often takes an average of 6 weeks and is what people often call cycling.  It can be done with or without fish (known as fishless cycling.)

Once a system is cycled up, as long as you have a balanced system (enough bio-filtration of the amount of fish) the bacteria are continuously converting the fish waste to pant nutrients.  If you register ammonia or nitrite, it means that either the system isn't cycled up or you have too many fish or are feeding too much for the bio-filter and in general this is more dangerous to the fish than it is to the plants.  It isn't like you put the fish in and then remove them and set a timer to know when the bio-filtration is done or anything like that.  It is a continuous system which is more like organic gardening where the microbes are constantly converting (breaking down) the slow release fertilizers for the plants.

Comment by Joey on October 20, 2013 at 9:21am

Thank you, TCLynx. Another question, how long will it take for the bacteria to covert the fish waste into the plant usable nutrients? How can we know the fish waste completely become usable nutrients?

Comment by TCLynx on October 20, 2013 at 8:47am

Remember Robert that it isn't really the plants that clean the water for the fish but the bacteria that covert the fish waste into plant usable nutrients and the plants use the excess nutrients so you don't need to do water changes for the fish.

Aquaponics is a method that combines Hydroponics with Aquaculture.  There are many methods of Hydroponics (NFT, Ebb and Flow, Flood and drain, Trickle, Wicking, DWC (raft), Aeroponics, vertical etc.)  Traditional chemical Hydroponics requires sterile conditions and chemical nutrient salts provided in already plant usable forms and combinations and to keep them from getting out of balance one must dump and change out the chemical nutrient solution every few weeks.

In aquaponics or any other bio ponics or organic hydroponics a bio-filter is needed to convert the nutrient into plant usable forms.  This means the system is not sterile and bio-films tend to form, this can make doing aeroponics difficult since bio-films tend to clog up sprayers.  In Aquaponics there are some methods of the Hydroponic portion of the system that can also fill other system functions as well.  For instance, flood and drain media beds not only act as the Plant growing space but they also fill the needs of solids and bio-filtration all in one single handy unit.  Things like NFT don't provide any filtration so to build a system that sends water to an NFT pipe requires that you add solids and bio-filtration before the water goes to the NFT pipe.  I would expect the same is true of Aeroponics though I have never tried it personally.

DWC can provide a certain amount of bio-filtration but generally it is best to add some additional filtration or at least some solids settling/removal.  DWC requires additional aeration in the raft beds for good results.

Comment by Robert J on October 20, 2013 at 8:17am

If you are looking for simple to start, Hydro is the way to go.  Try a dutch bucket system for fruiting plants, also look into the Kratky method for Lettuce and greens.  Alternatively, you can start with a small fish tank and grow bed setup.  There are lots of examples out here.  Just pump the water out of the aquarium into the grow bed, then drain it back into the fish tank.

Comment by Joey on October 20, 2013 at 8:07am

Thank you, Robert, but I ever saw some projects which can use FISH WASTE water to provide the feed solution to the plants as aeroponics, maybe it is more effective using hydroponics or aeroponics for commerical project.

Comment by Robert J on October 20, 2013 at 7:55am

I would break it down into two categories.  Hydropoinics, a system in which you provide a feed solution directly to your plants - no fish.  Aquaponics, a system where you use fish waste water to provide the feed solution to the plants and the plants clean the water for the fish.  There are lots of different types of grow bed solutions for both.  Aeroponics, is actually the same as hydro--but the food solution is sprayed onto the roots of your plants rather than allowing the roots to sit in the liquid.  I would reccomend checking out sylvia's book to understand the different grow bed options.  Also TCLynx and Nate Story have some interesting stuff on vertical solutions.

Comment by Joey on October 20, 2013 at 7:28am

There are three kinds of growing way, using grow bed or hydroponic or aeroponics, can we discuss what the main difference between them? Thanks.

Comment by TCLynx on October 20, 2013 at 6:12am

Verna, are your plants doing well?  Or Are they showing signs of Nitrogen Deficiency?

Basically, Why do you think your nitrate level is a problem?

If your plants are doing well, the I agree with Leo, that means the nitrate level is perfect (what ever it is, could be 0 could be 200.)  Just means you have found a good balance, at least for the current season.  Nitrate, since it is not highly toxic to fish, is really just a test to use as an indicator but not necessarily something need to keep at some arbitrary number.  In fact, if you did have a really high nitrate level, it might impede your plant's production of fruit in favor of more foliage  instead.

Comment by Leo White Bear on October 20, 2013 at 4:44am

Verna-

  Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are all heavy feeders, these three take a lot of nutrients out of a system.  You do not tell us the size of your system so it is hard to give an accurate assesment but it sounds like it is well cycled and the fish are doing what they do best, eat and poop.  I would venture a guess that you may have just a little more plants than you need so I wouldn't plant any more.  If you are really concerned with your nitrate levels, I think they are right on the mark,  If you want to raise the nitrate level add more fish, if you want to decrease the nitrate level plant more plants.  Either way, this is a good thing.

Comment by Verna Gross on October 19, 2013 at 10:20pm

Our system is about 10 mos old and is healthy. 35 growing Talipia 4 grow beds producing many tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, squash but my Nitrates remain in the 20-30 level. Our fish eat well and poop a lot. I keep the pH at 6.8 most of the time. Sometimes it drops and I adjust it up. Don't have an ammonia or nitrite problem. Both are just above 0. Should I be worried about the low nitrate level?

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