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Comment by Jon Parr on February 21, 2012 at 10:51pm

Hello Aquapons. I'm looking for coppernose bluegill. I'd be willing to drive most anywhere to get them, or pay to ship them properly. I'm not looking for a handout. If anyone is interested, and doesn't mind giving up a few (the larger the better), I've got cash and/or live fish to trade; northern bluegill, tilapia, pangasius (iridescent catfish), albino mosquito fish, Sac blackfish, channel cats, redclaws, and (maybe) Sac perch. Shoot me a comment or a message. If you're also looking for coppernose, or any of my current list, maybe I can run a circuit and pick up and deliver for a number of folks in Cali. Thanks.

Comment by Dee Anne LeVan on February 10, 2012 at 2:40pm

Hi California aquapons... I am going to Santa Barbara next week, and would love to find Andy - or any others out there in Santa Barbara who have an aquaponic garden that I could visit. There is a big interest in my community (Grass Valley/Nevada City), but folks need something to actually see working. 

thanks

Comment by Susie Gehri on January 26, 2012 at 9:08am

Hi Jon....Wow, I would love to see what you are doing!  

My real estate too is at a premium.  The 55 gallon water filled drums on their sides go "under" the IBC growbeds, so they shouldn't take up any extra room.  My greenhouse is a very tight fit with growbeds on each side!

Comment by Jon Parr on January 26, 2012 at 7:16am

Susie, great crazy idea you have. I just finished my rocker heater, still need to run the stovepipe. Torn between setting it in cob, using a heat exchanger, or something like the water barrels you described. I like the water barrel idea, but real estate is at a premium in my greenhouse.

I modified the rocket concept into a water heater, since my biggest expense is heating tilapia water. I started with an open-topped metal barrel, set a 90 deg furnace elbow at the bottom cut thru te side and pointing up. Then I placed a triple wall stove pile over the 90, and backfilled it all with mortar and fireclay to secure the triplke wall. Then I placed a closed-top metal barrel on top of the first, and fastened the two together with the snap-ring that came with the open barrel. This makes disassembly a breeze. The top barrel is filled with water, and circulates to the FT's. The barrels and furnace fittings were salvaged and free, works great. Good luck

Comment by Susie Gehri on January 19, 2012 at 10:09pm

Here's my crazy idea for heating greenhouse for AP  with firewood.  After much studying, learned water has a greater thermal mass than stone. So....I'm putting a "Rocket Stove" made of brick instead of 55 gal drums, in greenhouse. Built a Mortar "U" channel just below ground level (so top of it is just at ground level).  Stovepipe will come out of stove and lay inside the U Channel that runs full length of the greenhouse.  The top of the "U" channel will support 55 gallon drums, laying on their sides, filled with water.  Will fire up the stove for a few hours in the afternoon/evening to heat the brick stove, as well as the water in the barrels. The idea is, the heat from the stove pipe will heat the water in the steel drums and that warm water will release heat all night long inside the greenhouse!

Comment by Rik Kretzinger on January 19, 2012 at 9:38pm

Josh --

I'm in Pleasanton and have a bed full cilantro growing outside and the temps have been in the 20's.  Been covered the last two nights.  I've got Koi and Shubunkin.   Plant growth is slow right now, but still growing and will take off as soon as we get a little more heat.  Next winter I will have a heater install to take on the coldest nights and warm the bacteria up some during the coldest times.  I'm using only gravel.

Comment by Josh Eichorn on January 19, 2012 at 9:22pm

Wow!  That's a lot of information!!!  Thanks for sharing.  I'm really impressed.  She is using a clay and I've heard gravel is the way to go for your media.  Is there an accepted "way to go"?  Also, in theory, you could have a worm bin attached to the side that might heat the tank...or paint the tank black on the sun side...?  Unfortunately, I don't think I have room for a greenhouse (or the strength in me to build one right now), but I would think there is a creative way to maintain heat.  I'm totally hooked...

Comment by Steve Olson on January 19, 2012 at 5:38pm

http://backyardaquaponics.com/component/content/article/180.html

Comment by Chris McMahon on January 19, 2012 at 3:53pm

My advice is get a hoop house or a greenhouse. Aquaponics works best when you can control the temperature. The plants and fish need set temperatures and they cannot go too low or you will have losses. I used to live in Castro Valley and I know you can get quite the frost in the mornings. There are several ways to heat the greenhouse. I am working on thermal mass heaters, worm composting inside the greenhouse, solar heat boxes. You can also warm the greenhouses by insulating the side that doesn't get direct sunlight.

Comment by Chi Ma on January 19, 2012 at 2:41pm

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