Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T07:32:39ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOphttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2796912138?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/group/tclynx/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=2wzy0briq6v99&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMosquito fishtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-09:4778851:Topic:5621732014-05-09T14:59:20.912ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>I started seeing mosquito larva in the troughs, so I thought it was time to get some mosquito larva eating fish. I found a guy in St. Augustine that had some, I called him and arranged to pick up 100 Mosquito Fish (<span>Gambusia sp. aff. Affinis).</span></p>
<p>I picked them up last Monday, took them home and after floating the transport bag for about an hour to adjust the temps, I opened the bag and let them all into the first trough, thinking they would shortly populate the entire…</p>
<p>I started seeing mosquito larva in the troughs, so I thought it was time to get some mosquito larva eating fish. I found a guy in St. Augustine that had some, I called him and arranged to pick up 100 Mosquito Fish (<span>Gambusia sp. aff. Affinis).</span></p>
<p>I picked them up last Monday, took them home and after floating the transport bag for about an hour to adjust the temps, I opened the bag and let them all into the first trough, thinking they would shortly populate the entire system. This first trough is where I run the water out of the fish tank, and there is an opening of about 6 square inches where the water spills into the trough. </p>
<p>All of the troughs are covered with rafts, with about 1.5" inches of open water at the end of each raft. I got out to the troughs in the morning, only to find that 44 fish had jumped out of the trough at the end, and apparently out of the opening where the tank water entered the system In the following days, the rest of the fish jumped out, all apparently jumping out at the end of the rafts, as they were either on the ground next the to troughs, or actually laying on top of the rafts. I think there may be 10 fish left in the system, although I really can't find any.</p>
<p>I don't know any way to more completely cover the troughs., except rebuild the troughs to perfectly cover each trough with rafts, but I had never thought it necessary to build for a perfect fit. </p>
<p>Are there other fish that would eat the mosquito larva with out also attacking the plant roots. I have read some where that Tetras might be a solution.</p>
<p>Anybody have any thoughts?</p>
<p>I know guppies like to feed on mosquito larva..... will they stay in the troughs?</p>
<p></p> Aquaponics In a Nutshelltag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-05-23:4778851:Topic:4785982013-05-23T23:46:56.971ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1731141947/aquaponics-in-a-nutshell-by-the-aquaponics-nutcase/widget/video.html" width="640"></iframe>
</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1731141947/aquaponics-in-a-nutshell-by-the-aquaponics-nutcase?ref=live" target="_blank">Aquaponics In a Nutshell</a></p>
<div class="short_blurb"><p class="big_type">People have asked me to write a book about aquaponics. I need funding if I am going to take…</p>
</div>
<p><iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1731141947/aquaponics-in-a-nutshell-by-the-aquaponics-nutcase/widget/video.html" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1731141947/aquaponics-in-a-nutshell-by-the-aquaponics-nutcase?ref=live" target="_blank">Aquaponics In a Nutshell</a></p>
<div class="short_blurb"><p class="big_type">People have asked me to write a book about aquaponics. I need funding if I am going to take enough time off of work to do it.</p>
</div>
<div class="full-description"><p>Please pardon my poor video skills (perhaps if this project goes well my next one will have to include hiring some one to do the videos.) I'm Aleece B. Landis and I'm addicted to Aquaponics. I'm perhaps better known as TCLynx online and I've been quite active over the past several years on several online aquaponics sites. I got into aquaponics on a backyard scale back in 2007 and have ample backyard aquaponics experience to go along with my technical skills so in the past couple years I have gone on to start teaching plumbing and system design/layout skills for home scale aquaponics. Last year I bought a farm and we moved the aquaponics last summer. In the book I hope to produce I will be explaining how these different types of systems work and why and how you can do it for yourself.</p>
<div class="template asset"><img alt="Here is an example of the rail bed rigs listed in the rewards. I have these two plumbed together for my quarantine fish tank." src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/000/602/666/fad0f8b4885451c0b96ddc21da7326d2_large.jpg?1368961809"/>Here is an example of the rail bed rigs listed in the rewards. I have these two plumbed together for my quarantine fish tank.
</div>
<br />
<div class="template asset"><img alt="For backyard growing I think Media beds are generally the way to go. I explain why in the book." src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/000/602/667/228fd91d18587763c39c4f7dec143190_large.jpg?1368962025"/>For backyard growing I think Media beds are generally the way to go. I explain why in the book.
</div>
<p>I've had people urge me to write a book about aquaponics in the past but I could never afford to take enough time off from work to write it. So now that Kickstarter is available, Perhaps I can make it happen. "Aquaponics In a Nutshell by the Aquaponic Nutcase TCLynx" is to be a basic aquaponics quick reference manual for those who want to grow food in their own backyard (basement, balcony, greenhouse etc) to help feed themselves and family. This book is meant to be as basic, short and succinct as possible while still providing information about all types of aquaponics that people are likely to want to try for home food production.</p>
<div class="template asset"><img alt="Even though I think media beds are the Bomb, I also utilize other growing methods and speak to the pros and cons of the different methods and where one might find them most approrpiate." src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/000/602/668/0e69440cfd565b643aa5007efe737a5f_large.jpg?1368962129"/>Even though I think media beds are the Bomb, I also utilize other growing methods and speak to the pros and cons of the different methods and where one might find them most approrpiate.
</div>
<p> I believe aquaponics should be inclusive and just because some method doesn't work well for me doesn't mean it can't work elsewhere. I will try to highlight the pros and cons of different methods and explain why or where they may be appropriate and where they would not. I will try to share ways of looking at things that will allow readers to evaluate different aquaponic system designs and methods for their own specific situations. </p>
<div class="template asset"><img alt="I find rafts useful for certain crops because I am growing to sell produce." src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/000/602/669/9175af67993a5c6cff35fc280d91fa7f_large.jpg?1368962232"/>I find rafts useful for certain crops because I am growing to sell produce.
</div>
<div class="template asset"><img alt="Towers have benefits for very tight space food production or to allow you to take the tower to market." src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/000/602/670/235abfb8468fc8297d6e823b87f0561f_large.jpg?1368962323"/>Towers have benefits for very tight space food production or to allow you to take the tower to market.
</div>
<p>And of course I will cover Aquaponic Plumbing from very simple to somewhat complex.</p>
<p>This will fit the bill of a quick reference guide for basic backyard/home aquaponics so those people who hate to read books but want to find all the information quickly can do so. I will still include the details and stories to explain the whys for those people willing to read more of a book but I will make this book as easy as possible to look up quickly needed information.</p>
<p>As I said, I'm very active writing about aquaponics and helping people so the truth is, most of the actual writing for the book is already done. If funded, I plan to concentrate on compiling all my writings through the end of June. July will be for organizing them into a logical and useful book and filling in any gaps. August will be for editing the project. And I hope to have formatting and any necessary production finished by the end of September. I did leave some breathing room on my November expected delivery date so if I can deliver during October, I will.</p>
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<h3 class="dotty"><span>Risks and challenges</span></h3>
<p>The primary challenge to my completing this project so far has been that I have to make a living and haven't been able to take enough time to put it all together. With some backing I should be able to put the time necessary into completing the project. The research is already done, I've been doing aquaponics for years now and helping others as well. I've already written most of what will go into the book and other offered publications, what will actually take the most time is compiling, organizing, and editing all the materials I've already produced and putting them all into an organized and usable format.</p>
<p></p> TCLynx Bought the Farmtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-04-11:4778851:Topic:3188002012-04-11T00:43:50.858ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>Here are is a picture of a proposed site for the Tower system.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AP-location-Medium.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AP-location-Medium.jpg"/></a></p>
<p>Here are is a picture of a proposed site for the Tower system.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AP-location-Medium.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AP-location-Medium.jpg"/></a></p> Once-a-year sale on our favorite Stock Tanktag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-10-12:4778851:Topic:2311092011-10-12T15:12:55.875ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<div class="discussion"><div class="description"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p><b>For any RMST aficionados (like me)...</b></p>
<p>The 100-gallon Stock Tank, an excellent depth and volume for a Flood/Drain media bed, is on sale at the venerable Tractor Supply Company, all locations. In-store only, meaning no online-ordering.</p>
<p>I will grab a couple this weekend, if y'all don't buy 'em out before I get paid.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I recommend them very highly. Rick</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="discussion"><div class="description"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p><b>For any RMST aficionados (like me)...</b></p>
<p>The 100-gallon Stock Tank, an excellent depth and volume for a Flood/Drain media bed, is on sale at the venerable Tractor Supply Company, all locations. In-store only, meaning no online-ordering.</p>
<p>I will grab a couple this weekend, if y'all don't buy 'em out before I get paid.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I recommend them very highly. Rick</p>
</div>
</div>
</div> 2011 Catfish group ordertag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-11:4778851:Topic:425042011-02-11T15:41:53.957ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>I'm getting ready to get an order of catfish to quarantine. Since my systems can handle the minimum order and the 300 gallon system will be able to handle quarantine of a fairly large number of small fish I am offering to get a larger order than I need so I can share out to others once they have been isolated for for 3-6 weeks.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now for stocking catfish, I wouldn't really push them on anyone with much smaller than a 300 gallon fish tank and I've also heard of situations where…</p>
<p>I'm getting ready to get an order of catfish to quarantine. Since my systems can handle the minimum order and the 300 gallon system will be able to handle quarantine of a fairly large number of small fish I am offering to get a larger order than I need so I can share out to others once they have been isolated for for 3-6 weeks.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now for stocking catfish, I wouldn't really push them on anyone with much smaller than a 300 gallon fish tank and I've also heard of situations where very small numbers of channel catfish can become aggressive to each other especially if there is already a big guy in the tank and smaller fish get added, the big guy may chase the others to the point that they jump out of the tank.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In a 300 gallon tank with 300-600 gallons of media beds, 30 fish is a reasonable number if you like to grow catfish big (how big will depend on the amount of media beds.) I have grown more in a 300 gallon tank before but as they got big it really seemed over crowded to me and without some form of backup aeration they wouldn't have survived long with a power out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, I'm gonna start collecting orders but probably won't actually get the fish till early March (I don't want to freeze the new fish if I can help it.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Please let me know how many you would like, figure they will be available last week of March or first Week of April for those who don't feel too much need for quarantine or Later in April (as schedules allow) or even May. For the service of getting the fish, quarantining and providing them in small numbers, I'll charge $1 per fish just to keep the numbers easy. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you get them from the farm, they cost less but you have to get a hold of them when they happen to have fish available, they won't go into the pond for a small order. You also have to talk them into bagging the fish for you, they don't like to do that with catfish anymore apparently. The minimum order for the smaller fingerlings was 100 fish last I knew or 50 of the larger ones.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, let me know either here or by message how many catfish you want. (I think aggression may be less if there are at least 15-20 fish in a tank but I haven't really gotten to experiment with that too much.)</p> Water tesing Videostag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-10:4778851:Topic:420682011-02-10T20:33:35.694ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>So the other day I edited up a couple videos about water testing. I got a note from the FIL that the audio was way too low and that even with earphones and volume cranked all the way, volume was still too low. Granted, he can't hear very well anymore but.... the audio is a bit low. So, I'm currently re-doing the videos with a new narration track that will hopefully be louder with less background noise.</p>
<p>Will have them up here shortly I hope.…</p>
<p></p>
<p>So the other day I edited up a couple videos about water testing. I got a note from the FIL that the audio was way too low and that even with earphones and volume cranked all the way, volume was still too low. Granted, he can't hear very well anymore but.... the audio is a bit low. So, I'm currently re-doing the videos with a new narration track that will hopefully be louder with less background noise.</p>
<p>Will have them up here shortly I hope.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/aquaponic-lynx-llc/aquaponics-in-detail/water-testing" target="_blank">Water testing videos</a></p>
<p>They are still only on my site as I haven't had the time to upload them to YouTube yet so I can't yet embed them here or at least I haven't figured out how.</p> Cute Duck Videotag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-05:4778851:Topic:381472011-02-05T20:24:49.000ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="385" width="480"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ZRxFUtHK7Nw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed allowfullscreen="false" allowscriptaccess="never" height="385" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ZRxFUtHK7Nw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" wmode="opaque"></embed> </object>
<br></br><br></br>And of course I've go the Duck TV going</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/aquaponic-lynx-live-garden-cameras/duck-tv" target="_blank">http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/duck-tv</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Give me a bit and I can get a faster loading video up onto my site if youtube is too slow for…</p>
<p><object height="385" width="480" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ZRxFUtHK7Nw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed wmode="opaque" height="385" width="480" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ZRxFUtHK7Nw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> </object>
<br/><br/>And of course I've go the Duck TV going</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/aquaponic-lynx-live-garden-cameras/duck-tv" target="_blank">http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/duck-tv</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Give me a bit and I can get a faster loading video up onto my site if youtube is too slow for you.</p> Aquaponic ediblestag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-02:4778851:Topic:374592011-02-02T03:55:07.000ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>Tonight for dinner I sauteed up some young beet plants (had to do some thinning) and added some sunflower shoots and pea shoots into the mix. This was tasty and would make a great addition to all sorts of dishes or meals. Talk about a great way to up one's intake of veggies. We did some sauteed greens added to soup the other day. The spinach was to die for!</p>
<p>I've found that the shoots of pea plants and sunflowers when added to a stirfry can give the impression of eating rice…</p>
<p>Tonight for dinner I sauteed up some young beet plants (had to do some thinning) and added some sunflower shoots and pea shoots into the mix. This was tasty and would make a great addition to all sorts of dishes or meals. Talk about a great way to up one's intake of veggies. We did some sauteed greens added to soup the other day. The spinach was to die for!</p>
<p>I've found that the shoots of pea plants and sunflowers when added to a stirfry can give the impression of eating rice noodles so this would be a great way to cut carbs and get more veggies. The sunflower shoots or sprouts are wonderful snack food.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I guess I'm gonna need to write a blog post about growing shoots.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've been reading Michael Pollan's book, "In Defense of Food" and it is definitely making me want to eat more whole foods.</p> TCLynx Electronics Aquaponics projectstag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-02:4778851:Topic:374562011-02-02T03:22:58.000ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>Here is a link to the picaxe forum thread where I discuss adding a temperature sensor controlled relay to my already working repeat cycle timer for my 300 gallon system.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17350" target="_blank">TCLynx temperature sensor timer project</a></p>
<p>Here is a link to the picaxe forum thread where I discuss adding a temperature sensor controlled relay to my already working repeat cycle timer for my 300 gallon system.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17350" target="_blank">TCLynx temperature sensor timer project</a></p> TCLynx 300 gallon expansion workshoptag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2010-12-11:4778851:Topic:281462010-12-11T23:32:23.000ZRick Ophttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RickOp
<p>Thank you everyone for coming and helping to fill the new grow beds.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>All three grow beds filled in a matter of a couple hours with plenty of time for tours and questions (though I know everyone will have more questions now that they have driven home and thought of twelve other things they meant to ask.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Seeing as I didn't manage to take any pictures while everyone was here. I'll post some shots of the completed project but please feel free to post pictures…</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for coming and helping to fill the new grow beds.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>All three grow beds filled in a matter of a couple hours with plenty of time for tours and questions (though I know everyone will have more questions now that they have driven home and thought of twelve other things they meant to ask.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Seeing as I didn't manage to take any pictures while everyone was here. I'll post some shots of the completed project but please feel free to post pictures from the work in progress.</p>
<p> </p>
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