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micro system for training classes

I have become a training affiliate for Friendly Aquaponics and will teach classes on their micro systems.

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Comment by Michelle Silva on July 1, 2010 at 7:41pm: Chris, thanks for the info. For some reason, I am just seeing this response. I thought I had it set up to go to my email. Anyway, I think I would have preferred using wood, but I was steered away by others and didn't look into it enough. I decided on three raft tanks,I got the cinderblock at a great price(some of it free)and I'm almost done with building them. I shared the interior walls to conserve materials and brick and will harvest from the sides or walk on the wall. Home depot does have the 2" boards, they just didn't have it listed on their site. I still have to set up all the vertical stacks..lots of work to do still! ~Michelle

Comment by Chris Smith on June 24, 2010 at 6:08pm: Michelle, sickens is a wood preservative that I use on top of pressure treated wood then I paint. I paint all surfaces. My first system has been going since Oct 09. Friendly Aquaponics on the other side of the island has had troughs of the same construction running for over three years. I live on an island and everything is expensive here except sun and rain. Be sure to use food grade liners as non food grade can leach chemicals into the water. I gat my foam Lowes. You could try Home Depot or WhiteCap
Chris

Comment by Michelle Silva on June 20, 2010 at 6:03am: We used a theodolyte(sp?) yesterday to make the ground level,but could have also done it simply too with a water level(using a water hose). Yes, it is a bit labor intensive moving the block,more than I thought at first. I have to dig the ground to be level now with our stringed out guides. I am just going to use mortar,the blocks are just stacked two course high. A mason had told me he thought I didn't need even need that, due to even water pressure holding it,and that I could just back fill on the other side to keep the liner down(the liner is wide enough)but going to at least do that, seems risky not to. I'm not planning to fill the blocks though. I don't understand what you mean supplement with "sickens"? What part of the wood did you paint and did you use a marine varnish or anything special?
How long has your system been set up for?
The liner sounds a little pricey at .60 sq ft? I will be using dura skrim 20 mil liner for about .33 sq ft(including shipping) but that was a good deal. What type and mil liner are you using? I think I only have enough block for one trough, but liner for two.maybe I can make the other one out of wood. OK, I will make my rafts smaller, as I would like my children to be involved and would imagine the large ones would be very heavy. Where can I get Dow boards 2" thick. I wastn' planning to use 3/4",I was jsut saying that is all that I'm finding in the local stores. I was thinking of using 1 3/4" thick, as that is what the used in the UVI systems. I didn't go there, but have information on it.

Comment by Chris Smith on June 19, 2010 at 11:31pm: By using space management techniques I am able to increase my weekly yield by approximately 40%. Block needs a lot of labor by skilled people to set so that the top course is level. This requires mortar to glue the blocks together, then they need to be filled with concrete to make them stay together. If you just mortar them they can break loose very easily. If you use treated wood then supplement with sickens before painting You can reduce termite and rotting issues. I live in the tropics where it rains a lot and I don't have any problems. I use vinyl liner that costs $.60 a square foot. Smaller rafts are way easier to handle than larger ones. You want to get Dow blue board. It is 2 inches thick. DON'T use regular Styrofoam sheets!!! I have never heard of foam sheets that are 3/4. That would be way to weak to handle mature plants.

Comment by Michelle Silva on June 18, 2010 at 8:01pm: I like that idea, but I wonder if it would be worth the extra work for me moving them. I'll be trying to provide for 100 people weekly. I bought 150 block for $50, so was a pretty cheap way to go for the first trough, but will need to buy 150 or so more @ 1.15 ea.but think the cost might be about the same. I got 20mil white liner for $400 that will be enough for both troughs (12 x 100' roll)..so each trough will cost approx $300. I was originally about wood, but was concerned about termites and wood rot. What did you use inside the troughs? Did you line them? Why do you cut them down,is it easier to handle? Why wouldn't you just make more holes in them? How thick are the sheets and where do you buy them? I looked online and it looks like the Home Depot and Loew's near us only carry the 3/4" thick.

Comment by Chris Smith on June 18, 2010 at 7:18pm: Aloha Michelle. I buy 4x8 sheets and cut then down to either 2x2 or 2x4. When plants ore young I keep them in a tight spacing in 2x2 rafts with 36 or 61 holes. After about 3 weeks I spread them out to a final grow out spacing on 2x4 rafts.Using this space management produces many more plants than planting at a final grow out spacing from the beginning. I use 2x4 lumber and 1/4 inch ply to form the troughs. This method is way cheaper and easier than using block.Chris

Comment by Michelle Silva on June 18, 2010 at 5:35pm: I just saw the other pics, and they look smaller.

Comment by Michelle Silva on June 18, 2010 at 5:33pm: Are those 4x8 sheets in the beds? If they are, do you find it difficult to lift up the middle ones? I was planning to make 2 "raceways" using concrete blocks and make mine 4' wide and as long as I can go (porbably around 46 or 48'.

Comment by David Hart on June 12, 2010 at 6:02pm: Hi Chris, I like the new photos.Good motivation for me...lol. ' Congrats' on becomming a training affiliate...very cool !