Comment

Comment by John Malone on February 6, 2013 at 8:23pm

A couple of photos:

A few of the bell peppers that didn't get ruined by the frost:

Lettuce and Bok Choi:

What are these worms doing?   Found these when digging over the growbed.

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on January 26, 2013 at 2:21pm

Well the rain has topped up my system, now I have to keep an eye on it to take water out! 

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on January 24, 2013 at 3:36pm

The latest photo from the proof of concept demonstration aquaponics unit on the Gila River Indian Community South West of Phoenix with Ed Mendoza and Hiawatha Polacca, Sr. If you would like to know more or arrange for a SMALL tour please contact Ed at tnafaaz@yahoo.com.

Link to photo: http://bit.ly/V0JYDf

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on January 24, 2013 at 3:35pm

@Robert. I understand now. Thank you ;-)

Comment by Robert Rowe on January 24, 2013 at 1:04pm

@Dr George B. Brooks Jr.

My gold fish FT 220 gallons for 23 Fish. Yep, kinda low.

My Tilapia FT initially 700 gallons for 24 Tilapia and 4 Plekies.

My plans going forward don't include fish populations at a level that depletes oxygen.

My approach is conservative, don't get close to limits until it can be done with predictable outcomes.

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on January 23, 2013 at 7:57pm

Based on your description below, the number of fish/ gallon of water would need to be low. Has this been your experience?

Comment by Robert Rowe on January 23, 2013 at 6:44pm

@Bob Campbell

Outside Air Temperature

Comment by Robert Rowe on January 23, 2013 at 5:29pm

@Dr George B. Brooks Jr

I have a small air pump with two 12" air stones which are always running. The only other aeration would be from the water coming back to the FT from the sump which is throttled back normally. My constant flow pump feeds the top of the FT and the water departing the FT is via a stand pipe which also controls the FT water level. I am sure my flow rate is below normal. I don't depend on a high flow rate to pass undesolved solids from the FT: instead, I use a high velocity maintenence pump to remove debris when I deem it necessary. At any rate my water clarity and chemistry is normal.

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on January 23, 2013 at 5:15pm

@Robert. Interesting and thank you for explanation. One question. How does aeration affect the scenario you describe?

Comment by Robert Rowe on January 23, 2013 at 5:01pm

 @Dr George B. Brooks Jr.

My interest in thermal mass as a factor in aquaponic temperature control might be better defended.

If you have a container of water in our environment subject to the change of OAT over time, the temperature of the water will on most days be pretty close to the average temperature over any given period of time. Day to day, with out temperature extremes, the water temperature will fluctuate little.

If we get an extreme temperature aberation, the water temperature will try to follow the extreme, and if the extreme persists over several days the water temperature will in time catch up to the new average temperature.

If the volume of water were to be doubled, the time for the water to reach the new average temperature, would be extended because of the increased mass.

Thermal mass comes into the picture; in my case,the water is contained in the plastic pond liner within a 12" sand wall within a 8" solid cement block wall.

The effect of the sand and cement is to increase the mass of the water plus containment, because of the much increased mass, the water temperature change is slowed appreciably.

My results after the mass increase, is that the surface of the water (top 5" or so) changes at a faster rate than the water at the bottom of the 26" pond. when the OAT drops to dangerous levels, the fish are still happy at the bottom of the pool.

The frost cloth presents a second advantage. The cloth is covering at about 24" above the water resting on the surrounding wall, allowing the the infrared light to heat the air and the upper extant of the water to a depth depending on the length of exposure time. From the view of the water the OAT is much higher than actual. and the water temperature as well as the added mass slowly warm over the afternoon.

During our average weather my AM temperatures might be as follows:

OAT 45 Deg., FT surface 50 Deg. FT bottom 55 Deg

on an isolated cold day it might look like

OAT 35 Deg. FT Surface 42 Deg. FT bottom 54 Deg.

The OAT dropped 10 Deg. but the FT bottom only dropped 1 Deg.

       

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