Comment

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on December 4, 2012 at 7:52pm

We used 50% shade screen this summer. Definitely taking it down now. The plants are not getting enough light.

Comment by John Malone on December 4, 2012 at 6:52pm

Shade

I put up shadecloth over my growbed for the summer and it helped a lot.  Now that the sun is a lot lower in the sky, I'm wondering if I should remove the shade so that the vegies can get enough light.

What do people recommend?   Take the shade down or leave it up?

Comment by Bob Campbell on December 4, 2012 at 4:00pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8olS_u-y3o

Go to about 7 minutes to see the epoxy paint Joey used.

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on December 4, 2012 at 1:52pm

@Bob, I want a 300 gal FT.  I was thinking if I do an IBC tote I can get 300 gallon tank for $150 and save a hundred bucks, not to mention I can use the top as a grow bed (I just need to make it look "nice" as my wife says).  I did buy a hundred gal tank (not rubbermaid but made from same material) from a feed store, I'm going to use that as the sump,

 

Comment by Kent Biswanger on December 4, 2012 at 1:30pm

You guys might find this interesting for fish tank building. Most importantly the water proofing he uses on the plywood bottom. Not sure you would want the glass sides but there are good things to learn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2beOiIgBvUM

Comment by Bob Campbell on December 4, 2012 at 8:30am

@Matt - I think you wouldl have fun building a fiberglass and plywood tank, but I think I would go with a standard Rubbermaid Structural Foam Stock Tank. A 300 gal. tank would cost about $250.00.  These tanks are really tough and easy to clean.  Inserting bulk heads is also easy.  How many gallons are you aiming for?

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on December 3, 2012 at 11:10pm

Thanks for all the input on the liners, I already got the pond liner for the grow bed and it's installed (just need to find enough medium now as my lava rocks didn't fill the grow bed - and I'm not about to throw down money on the hydroton - that stuff is expensive! - ugh).  I think for the fish tank I'm going to try fiberglass and epoxy, probably wont be cheap, but I want something I know will last and not have to worry about a liner ripping, and I think in the future I may want to try building a fish tank for the house which would give me some practice using the fiberglass/epoxy.

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on December 3, 2012 at 3:38pm

FYI: Pics of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) education through aquaponics in South Phoenix Arizona.

December 3, 2012. Sponsored by the Roosevelt School District and under the care of site director John Wann, the Valley View Orchard Learning Center Aquaponics Demonstration in South Phoenix Arizona is part of a larger project dedicated to increasing the general public’s access to the technology and to determine if backyard aquaponics could actually help to feed a family of 2.75 (Average household size in Phoenix) and by how much? It is also an excellent method of teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). As seen in the photos below, it is amazing how much a child can learn from growing plants.
Enjoy:

Receiving harvest instructions: http://bit.ly/R2nRy1

Pulling a tray of basil: http://bit.ly/WET7zz

Pulling a tray: http://bit.ly/QCK3gK

Pulling tray of lettuce: http://bit.ly/VgVjwl

Preparing to weigh and record: http://bit.ly/UkXKiz

Weighing and recording basil: http://bit.ly/SC92Aw

Planting seeds: http://bit.ly/SsWPwK

Building a hoop house: http://bit.ly/Rxk5g4

Comment by Bob Campbell on December 3, 2012 at 11:03am

I agree with John.  I have used 45mil EPDM and the Home Depot liner.  Home Depot liner is easier to work with, less expensive, and I have not had any problems with it. I have had a leak with EPDM and like John said taking down a grow bed is no easy task.

@Matt - I'm wondering what your thoughts are on fiberglass and epoxy.  My next bed will most likely use this system. 

Comment by Robert Rowe on December 3, 2012 at 10:32am

@John and Matt The Price of "Total Pond Skins" approx $100.00 is pretty cheap. I used a material not designed for the purpose and now I have two beds that will cause me a lot of grief if they fail and they are full of media and mature plants.

I got the Total Pond Skin 9' x !3' which cuts into 6 equal size liners for my 4 x 4 media beds which are 14 and 3/4 " high.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 237
• 238
• 239
• 240
• 241
• …
• 558
• Next ›
• Page