Comment

Comment by John Malone on October 21, 2013 at 4:02pm

Don't waste your money on pH Down or similar aquarium products.  1) They're way too expensive for what they do. 2) There's some concern about the chemicals that are in them and their suitability for produce and fish that are to be consumed.

Grab a couple of gallons of muriatic acid (pool acid) from your favourite hardware store and use that.  Carefully!

Comment by Randy Mann on October 21, 2013 at 2:15pm

Thanks for the info guys...will be procuring the wigglers soon. Think I have to call cycled on the tank at school!  We will see if the numbers hold up through the week.  Have 0ppm amonnia---0ppm nitrite----between 40-80 ppm nitrate...one I am having issues with is the ph.  I am hoping that will go lower after I stop doing 25% water changes...if not may go the ph down route....slowly.  What do you think?

Comment by John Malone on October 21, 2013 at 11:57am

I bought a small box of red wigglers at a local nursery.  They aren't cheap, so if you know someone who can give you a handful or two that's all you need.  I put half a box in each of my grow beds and they wriggled themselves out of sight pretty quickly.   The only time I get to see my little slimy friends is when I pull plants at the end of their season.   Usually there's several squirming around in the roots.

They'll do what comes naturally (breeding, that is) and your AP system will be better for their presence.   

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on October 21, 2013 at 10:08am

I believe the majority of us use red wigglers. I probably put in about a hundred and I have two grow beds. I also grow the worms too to make worm tea and to get kick butt potting soil

Comment by Randy Mann on October 20, 2013 at 9:42pm

Hello All...anyone use red wigglers in their grow beds? How many would you put in a bed?

Comment by Robert Rowe on October 19, 2013 at 3:50pm

I had a visit today from a gentleman named Paul Thieme from Minnisota. he got my number off the forum and we compared our aquaponics systems. He is interested in others of you he might visit while he is in town.

he is at pthieme@ups.com if you are interested or 218-770-3567 mobil.

Comment by Jim Troyer on October 19, 2013 at 11:49am

@ Pat

Most AP systems fly below the radar. 

The Game and Fish "natzis" are turning a blind eye because of a lack of resources.  The tree huggers who gravitate toward civic "leadership" are going to have a tough time weighing their control of our existence verses their sustainability issues.

If we are good stewards they will leave us alone.

Comment by Pat James on October 18, 2013 at 3:37pm

@Sheri.. a 'typical' acre lot? Even here in crude-ass louisiana, most city lots are 1/5 an acre or so. I have a very large one at 2/3 acre mainly because my neighborhood is well over 50 yrs old.

That being said the idiots in charge here are super restrictive about what you can and cannot do with your own property. They seem to have some high and mighty ideas of what a person should do or have. By that I mean I wanted to build a building big enough for both storage and house a shop. The "plueatocrats" think I should make that building match my house... which is impossible based on the age.

But they are maintaining their civil jobs by pushing their positions to the max.  Changing the city council would not help. Once a non-elected bureaucracy is established, it is almost impossible to control.

I am finding myself simply keeping my AP system a secret. At least from the authorities.

Comment by Jim Troyer on October 18, 2013 at 1:55pm

The kids are definitely getting the aquaponics message.  I had 2 kids come to buy fish this week for school projects.  The folks are kinda thinking it's a joke. Won't they be surprised...

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on October 16, 2013 at 7:57am

Excellent information, Dr. George!!

Matt, this is exactly what this meeting is about. This isn't a Chandler meeting - it's about changing the way all cities think about urban farming and home food production. Gilbert, for example, has very open ordinances, but in the detail of the code the distance pens have to sit from neighbors is more than half a typical acre lot.

This meeting will teach people what to do, brainstorm ideas, and put action into place. I strongly encourage all who are able to come to the meeting, and then help to replicate the process so we can build strength and educate people.

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