Landscaping for Aquaponics

[Robert Rowe]

I am strongly compelled to integrate AP into my landscape scheme.

I am considering planting Texas Ebony Trees in the area of my Fish Pond. I love the trees and have quite a few in my tree nursery, but am curious as to whether the annual flower drop would be a benefit or a hazard to my fish. 

[Chris George]

I found a post online regarding Texas Ebony trees and their hazards to dogs (a rambuncious puppy who liked the seeds), the answer was they are not poisonous.   So not a hazard, but probably not a nutritional source either.

I have Texas Mountain Laurel (bushes, the ones with the grape soda scented flowers) and apparently their seeds 'are' poisonous.

[David Schwinghamer]

I believe the same thing Robert, why does aquaponics have to be an eye sore. I'm currently planning an ap waterfall in my backyard.

[Bob Campbell]

I have found the black smart pots to be perfect.

They blend in well when placed in the streams.  They come in various sizes, and they last a long time.

I have used 'Floor Sweep' in the past as my media.But pumice is now my preference.  There are two types of Floor Sweep.  I always made sure it was the kind made of silica.  Vermiculite may also be a good alternative but I've never used it for this purpose.

At first before the plants begin to grow they may look a little out of place, but it does not take long before the foliage has covered the pot.  I started using them because I wanted the ability to rearrange the plants around my pond. 

[Chris George]

I also use Smart Pots, I like the ones with handles on the side, if they are too tall you can fold the handles over.  In my wildlife pond I filled my SmartPot with Fuller's Earth, which is 99 cents a bag (5lb I think) at Walmart....sold as the cheapest form of kitty litter.  Ingredient list is 'Fuller's Earth'.  When I researched what pond owners used as potting medium, Fuller's Earth came up as a choice, so voila!  It works great for potted water plants.  It's a little dusty to work with, but after you wet it, it's fine.  'Floor Sweep' as I understand it is 'zeolite', but I've never found a bag of it that actually lists what it 'is'....so I haven't purchased any. 

[Bob Campbell]

Yeah they seem to be going to something other than silica.  I've never used the other stuff either,

So I guess as long as Fuller's Earth doesn't melt away and it wicks water you are OK.

Here's what I found

Fuller's Earth is a naturally occurring sedimentary clay composed mainly of alumina, silica, iron oxides, lime, magnesia, and water, in extremely variable proportions.

Chris George said:

I also use Smart Pots, I like the ones with handles on the side, if they are too tall you can fold the handles over.  In my wildlife pond I filled my SmartPot with Fuller's Earth, which is 99 cents a bag (5lb I think) at Walmart....sold as the cheapest form of kitty litter.  Ingredient list is 'Fuller's Earth'.  When I researched what pond owners used as potting medium, Fuller's Earth came up as a choice, so voila!  It works great for potted water plants.  It's a little dusty to work with, but after you wet it, it's fine.  'Floor Sweep' as I understand it is 'zeolite', but I've never found a bag of it that actually lists what it 'is'....so I haven't purchased any. 

[Chris George]

I wanted to try the Fuller's Earth in a natural 'pond' setting to experiment with it....to look at, and work with, it's kitty litter all around, and super dusty.....if I ever considered it for AP I'd be sure to have a settling tank down-flow from it, to settle it out prior to return to the fish tank.

[Sean-Michael Gettys]

this is a great idea. This is the way I'd wanted to do it eventually, especially over at a local non profit I help with, but I thought I'd start with the cheapest easiest method I could, and move forward after I get the hang of it. Are you growing edibles with your pond water as well? Or just the ornamentals? I was thinking of a combined approach

[Chris George]

Just ornamentals in the wildlife pond....no, I take that back, I am growing duckweed successfully in the upper basin (that forms the waterfall feature).