Comment

Comment by Nicole Kwasneski on May 2, 2014 at 10:53pm

New to aquaponics, but have done a ton of reading

I currently have a ~250 gal IBC FT with 1 GB. I am (hopefully) nearing the point where I can add fish. (I've cycled for ~5 weeks, using ammonia and a "used" filter from my freshwater fishtank as accelerators). I have also added seaweed extract (which is now starting to clear) to allow me to incorporate some plants into the system. Granted, I do not expect alot from this first planting - as it is late in the season. My goal is to get the system stabilized for fall planting.

Question: I have used RO water for filling/topping. (My RO system is a small tube drinking water system - I fill a 5-gal jug and lug it out to the AP system). This takes 15 gals and nearly 2 hours/day (yes, I know I need a whole-house system).

That being said:

Is it normal to require ~15 gal/day to replenish the FT for evaporation? (no leaks - I checked)

If so, I want to try having a prep barrel (~50gal) where I can prep tap water using muratic acid (as indicated in previous inputs on this site). I just want to know if a 6% DAILY adder to the system using this method would be safe (once the system is stabilized)

I plan to add duckweed to the FT once the fish are added, which will hopefully help against evaporation...

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Comment by Kim Romen on May 1, 2014 at 7:57pm

Dr. Brooks, that's wonderful!!

Jim good point!

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on April 30, 2014 at 5:10pm

It is now on the books. The title will change to Aquaponics on June 24th.

Comment by Jim Troyer on April 29, 2014 at 11:17pm

@ Kim

I did that drawing in Paint. 

The pond could go below the grow bed on the left but that tree may become an issue.  I don't like the pond behind the laundry room idea, you're gonna want that to be open to get stuff in/out of the back yard.

Comment by Kim Romen on April 29, 2014 at 11:10pm

thx for talking, Jim.  yes, that's almost exactly it although the coop/run/shed will be twice the size with a place for quail (and grow bed a bit shorter) and i'm not loving the idea to give up more grass area for the darn pond.  would love to have it on the a wall, but since the one wall is taken up with the grape arbor and the other wall is somewhat complicated with the tree and elevation issues, what do u think about the idea of having it along side the house (the side of the house with the arbor) (3 ft x however long it needed to be; would have to be deep) or as near the wall by the arbor as I could get to where I could still access the grapes; neither place perfect.  side of the house is far to go for the piping but would be shaded for the summer.  if we could get it under the tree by the pool without killing my tree in the process of digging we could have it fenced in with the pool fence and that takes care of my fears of my kids falling in. 

it'll be great to have u over to take a look in person. 

wish i could do computer art like that!  did u do that in Word? 

thx for talking!  i'll be glad when this is figured out.  :)

Comment by Jim Troyer on April 29, 2014 at 10:35pm

hi Kim:

After talking on the phone, this sounds like what you want your yard to look like.  Is this what you envisioned?

Comment by Kim Romen on April 28, 2014 at 2:32pm

Jim, the pool would be level with the patio and there would be a retaining wall on the upper part of the pool.  pool will go as far away from the house as we can keep it to save grass area.  with my measurements and hoses and things i have scattered in the backyard for visuals, i have enough back wall for a 50 ft x 3 or 4 ft wall and plenty of space for a good size coop or run.  If i measured correctly I have 72 feet of space along the back wall.  big issue is figuring out where the pond will go, how big it will need to be for that size garden bed, and what i'll feel comfortable with as far as safety for the kids. 

Comment by Chip Satterlund on April 28, 2014 at 10:24am

Sunset - I am interested in 8 cubic feet of the growstones.

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on April 28, 2014 at 9:46am

hey sunset I would be interested in some Ibc's  I have been thinking of expanding my system.

Comment by Jim Troyer on April 28, 2014 at 2:55am

@ Sunset:  I may know of a home for your system, when do you want it removed? PM me please.  Sorry to see you moving, going far?

All the water needs to run back to the pump , so ideally the sump tank needs to be lowest   A lot of systems have the sump and FT on the same level so that may confuse some folk.  Generally the GB is the highest point since you want that to drain well.

@ Arlene:  That pool system is a large undertaking, you will want to check out Pat James in Shreveport pool system. It is a full diving pool and he has kept a pretty good blog here is a link: http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/profiles/blogs/swimming-poo...

The garden pool guy in Mesa just uses the bottom "bowl" of his swimming, which maybe more manageable than using the complete pool.  I know getting fish ot of an 800 gallon tank is tough, not sure it can be done easily in a full pool.  Besides, you really don't need all that much water unless you plan on having a bunch of fish 1 fish per 15 gallons is a good comfortable ratio.  Figure one fish per square foot of grow space, as the fish grow so do the plants in the beginning so don't over stock fish in the beginning.  (I have fish BTW)

@ Kim: I think we should keep your new GB in the 3' x 40' range.  That will give you some room for the coop, etc.  Not quite sure where that retaining wall is going to go.  Are they planning to lower/level out the ground by the patio for the pool and then make a step up parallel to the back fence?

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 38
• 39
• 40
• 41
• 42
• …
• 557
• Next ›
• Page