M Cosmo

Male

Inverness, FL

United States

Profile Information:

How did you find us?
Aquaponics journal
Are you an aquaponic gardener already?
Yes
If so, what type of system? (pick all that apply)
flood and drain media, raft, vertical, I have developed an integrated Aquaponics system with Vertigro Stacks.
How old is your system?
1 - 2 yrs
What type of fish do you grow with? (select all that apply)
Tilapia
How big is your fish tank?
500 gallons including the sump/raft tanks
Please tell us something else about yourself.
I worked at New Alchemy Institute in the late 70s doing Solar Aquaculture and Bioshelter development. I have built several Geodesic Domes as homes in the 80s.

Comment Wall:

  • Sylvia Bernstein

    Hi Michael,

    Wow. You have a mighty impressive background in aquaponics! I actually have a Vertigro stack on my back deck to try out this summer....would love to hear how your experience has been. You are going to want to connect up with Nate Storey in this community who did his masters work on vertical aquaponic systems.

    I hope you find the Aquaponic Gardening community a fun place to continue to explore aquaponics. There is a real blend of experienced and new aquapons in this community, so please don’t hesitate to join in. Always thrilled to have experienced growers join us – please post some photos of your system!

    We have just one rule - keep it cordial (no flaming!).

    Thanks again for joining us, and I look forward to getting to know you.

    Sylvia

    Mar 11, 2010

  • Earl ward

    I have been using vertigro stacks along my driveway aquaponicly for the last year worked well for half the season then I had trouble with the lines clogging. Going to make some changes this year would love to hear your thoughts I have a picture posted of mine

    Mar 15, 2010

  • Nate Storey

    Hi! good to see another vertical guy on here. you should check out my photos of the towers I've built. I'm wondering (hope it's not impolite) where you were able to get the vertigro towers and what they run, costwise. i've seen them online, but nowhere else.
    cheers!
    Nate Storey

    Mar 22, 2010

  • Nate Storey

    Hi Michael, I'll keep in contact with you- i'd be interested in how my towers perform against the vertigro towers- although it's kind of comparing apples and oranges. my towers are specifically designed for culturing leaf crops, lettuces, herbs, and other herbaceous crops that are relatively short lived. i think my towers will shine in this area, while the vertigro towers look like they'd be wonderful for strawberries/high value fruiting, shrubby crops. . . hmmmm. i'm definetly interested in any research materials you may have. keep in touch, i'll be looking for aquaponics practitioners to do some trial runs with this product and to let me know how it works.

    Mar 22, 2010

  • Ron Thompson

    Let me try this post again and spell check this time...

    Hi Michael, I live near you in Lecanto (actually just off 44 in Kensington Estates near Citrus Hills) and am in the planning stages of an A.P. setup. Is there a chance I could visit you and see your setup? I think that would really help me get started.

    Mar 27, 2010

  • David Hart

    Hi Michael, Thanks.

    Apr 9, 2010

  • Sylvia Bernstein

    Michael,

    Woohoo! You are our very first order! Thanks so much for that - your order is going in a frame and on our wall. And I love the comment you made. Pretty funny. The video is still about a week away from being done, but we will get the other items in the mail to you tomorrow.

    Also, nice job on the call tonight - I think you blew them away with your vertical tower set-up. I was proud to have you representing our community.

    Sylvia

    May 27, 2010

  • Growitright Aquaponics

    Hi Michael,
    We were trained at Friendly Aquaponics in Honoka'a, HI. Friendly was a great intensive training, four ten hour days. The course is taught in two parts, half day in the classroom and half day at the farm. After completion of the course, we are now liscenced to build a system with Friendly's patented plans. Friendly was the first Aquaponics Farm to be organic certified in the US and they teach you how to do that too. I highly recomend their training, it was worth every penny. We have also become inspired by Growing Power. Check out Will Allen on you tube or on my links page on facebook. growitright aquqponics.

    Jul 15, 2010

  • Jesse Hull

    Thanks for the welcome, Michael...
    & here's to becoming less vertically challenged. ;]

    ~Cheers.

    Jul 19, 2010

  • Green Acre Aquaponics

    Thanks Cosmo! The tour was awesome and thanks for putting up such a great lunch!

    Jul 25, 2010

  • FriendlyAquaponics

    Thank you. I didn't even realize there was a calender. I shall go find it now, and add our Commercial Training!

    Aug 26, 2010

  • Nate Storey

    hey Michael,

    what's flink and how do you find the links you put up?

    Nate

    Aug 27, 2010

  • Harrison Wayne Griffith

    Thank you for being a friend. I am very new to the aquaponics and am looking for tanks and everything. I can not be much help to anyone yet but I hope my day will come. I am reading everything I can and when I have a problem I will ask for help. If you have any ideas let me know. I am on a very limited budget being on ss so low cost is important. Thanks again God bless and we will talk later. Harrison

    Sep 14, 2010

  • Lucy Tobias

    Where did you buy your tilipia and do you have the all males or mixed? Just looking ahead . . .limited budget here too
    walk in peace
    lucy

    Sep 15, 2010

  • TCLynx

    How are your fish doing after a day of cycling on the new schedule? Heck how are the plants too?

    Is the water starting to clear up at all yet?

    Oct 15, 2010

  • Green Acre Aquaponics

    Cosmo, thank you so much for your kind words and compliments. We too are very greatful for having met you and so much enjoy your company and getting to pick that fabulous brain of yours! And I must say, you possess quite the craftiness and skills yourself. We find your greenhouse and system equally impressive. Looking forward to our next time to hang out and gossip aquaponics! Lol.

    Oct 19, 2010

  • TCLynx

    How is the indexing valve working for you so far?
    I'm very glad to have gotten to handle that pump and see how it worked with the indexing valve. Is it still doing the job well? If so I'll be recommending that pump for similar situations instead of the larger Quiet Ones (the QP 4000 definitely beats out the Danner 7 big time but I think the Danner you are running probably beats the comparable Quiet One, especially in the cost of replacement parts. The QP 4000 is only able to run a gravity modified valve in a very limited set of circumstances.)
    Have you noticed any difference in the clogging or not clogging of the tubes to the vertigrow stacks?
    How bout a picture of the fish tank? Is the water clearing up enough to see the fish?

    Oct 26, 2010

  • TCLynx

    Good Luck with getting the tank height situation worked out.

    Oct 26, 2010

  • Molly Stanek

    Thanks for joining the Sweet Water group, Michael!

    Jan 11, 2011

  • Walter Bernie Kerr

    hope to make some of the visits to systems up and running.

    bernie

    Feb 2, 2011

  • Kimberly and George

    Hi Michael,

    Thanks for the invite.  We are just about to start our system.  We are still collecting some material to build the grow beds and establish the tank system.  Happy to know we have a resource to consult with if there are issues on up start.  We will be happy for you to visit once we are established!  Our aquaponic project was slowed down because we are also in the process of starting a vineyard and winery.  Lots of work to be done and only two of us doing it for now.  Once the vines are in the ground we will be redirecting to the aquaponics and would love your assistance!

    Feb 3, 2011

  • Paul Ellinghuysen

    I would be pleased to be apart of a tour.Most any date works for me.I live over in Hudson off county line road. Paul

    Feb 3, 2011