Im New To It All... Let Me Explain

[edalmaraz]

I guess I will just begin.  This is the first time I am blogging, the first time I am attempting an aquaponics system, and the first time I am going to try to be (and stay) involved in social media.  I am 27 and have not really been part of the internet social media scene.  In fact, I have had a facebook account for over 8 years and probably used the account a total of 12 hours (hard to believe but it's true).  So I guess there is no better place to start than here, and no other time to start than now.

Over my journey to create an aquaponics system I will document as many details as possible.  I am still in the research phase of my project which I will document and blog about soon (I guess I am also hoping to use this blog to ask questions).  I have, tentatively, planned to start the construction in the beginning of July.  It is probably going to be a 1 to 3 IBC tote system with a separate grow container just for duckweed to feed the fish.  I have already learned quite a bit and my biggest concern is cost, followed by appearance.

Well, this was only an introduction with hopefully many more updates to come.

-E

P.S.

Oh, one last thing.  I don't know why I think its important (maybe full disclosure), but the aquaponicscommunity needs to know that I am NOT doing this to be eco friendly.  It just so happens that aquaponics will be the least labor intensive and most cost effective manner to have a garden and harvest fish for food. I know this sounds like I'm being selfish, and I kind of am.  On the other hand It does not bother me that I am doing something good for nature. The main reason I'm doing this as a way to become a bit more self sufficient and have a smaller grocery bill in the long run. Even though I have this opinion, and you might not agree with it, I still feel that It's quite nice when something is beneficial for all.  So for those of you that dont agree with me, it still benefits nature and lessons my carbon footprint.  Sounds like a win win situation to me! 

P.P.S.

I also drive a Honda Insight which is a gas electric Hybrid and goes 40 mpg. Again for selfish reasons (gas is expensive!).

[TCLynx]

Here is a link about fishless cycling you might find helpful

[edalmaraz]

Thank you for the links.  The more information I can absorb, the better.  I have been watching Murray Hallam - Aquaponics DVDs, which are very good.  I completely agree with not putting in the fish first.  As a matter of fact I plan to cycle the system for a few weeks and then put in a bunch of minnows to see if they survive (of course I will make sure the PH, Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites, etc. are all within tolerable limits before putting them in).  After Im sure the minnows are dong great, and the system is properly cycled, I will introduce tilapia fingerlings.

-E

[TCLynx]

Yep, do a bit of research.

Read the Rules of thumb page

Read the IBC of Aquaponics

Here is my blog about basic media bed system design

Selfish reasons for doing aquaponics are great.  I like aquaponics because I'm a lazy gardener and the automatically watered, automatically fertilized nature of it is great.  I also really enjoy eating meals we grew right here, it's a very feel good thing.  If it also happens to be a very "green" thing to do, well that's not my fault.

As to the commend about getting the fish going first then adding the plants.  Well I kinda gotta disagree there too seeing as that order of things doesn't even include the bio-filter which is more important to the whole functioning than either of the others.  And in most of my systems the "plant side" is actually where the bio-filtration takes place since I do mostly media based aquaponics.  Please make sure you set up your filtration before you actually go putting fish in a tank.

I really hate seeing the posts that go something like this.....

"Ok I got 200 fish yesterday and put them in the kiddie pool.....   So how many weeks should I wait before I set up the grow beds?"

Because usually the person ignores everyone who starts screaming that they need to set up filtration like yesterday and two days later they come on to tell that all their fish died and they think it was because of some sort of contamination of the water or the kiddie pools or something and then decide that aquaponics is bunk because all they do is kill their fish.

So what ever you figure is the main attraction for aquaponics, Please remember that it's a triangle.

There are three important parts

1-fish

2-plants

3-Filtration (both solids and bio-filtration)

And #3 is the most important part.  You can manage for a time without plants or for a time fishless but if the bacteria isn't there nothing will work right.

By the Way, Welcome

[Eric Warwick]

One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us One of us.  Carey I think I should disagree with the aquaculture first side; the plants are the main attraction. So, I'm copying this over to the threadjackers page for future discussion. Anyways I've been researching for a while and recently built a system, and all that research and more is in Sylvia's book so I recommend it as well.http://www.theaquaponicstore.com/Aquaponic-Gardening-A-Step-by-Step...

[edalmaraz]

Thanks for the advice.  I will do as much research as possible.

-E

[Carey Ma]

Whatever your reason, you are welcome here. I suggest reading Sylvia's book before starting. Understand the principles thoroughly and plan well before starting.This might actually take some time. Get you fish going and when things stabilize, add your hydroponics side of your system. The biggest problem most beginners face is rushing into things before the system is ready.

Break a leg and again, welcome to our lil home away from home.

Cheers

[Bob Vento]

Nothing selfish about growing your own vegetables and fish for personal consumption for all of the reasons you sited and more. My wife and I are also in the planning stages of building a system and this site is awesome and so are the people. Very smart suggestions and many have been doing this for years.

My only suggestion would be to do your homework before starting because there are a lot of things that you did not think of. As was in my case and I am grateful to have better information to chose from.

Welcome,
Bob