My new system

[Greg Fox Jr]

I started researching AP about 3 years ago and decided that I'd try to make a system my self.  After much trial and error, I've managed to place all the pieces together.  I decided to build the system in a greenhouse.  The harbor freight 10x12 greenhouse was an affordable choice.  I am moderately satisfied with it.  I don't think that the quality of it is up to par, however the price isn't too bad.  If money were no object (I wish!) I'd have built the greenhouse from scratch, however when I looked into the costs of building it out of wood, the harbor freight option seemed best.  So that's what I did!

Once the greenhouse was constructed, I started to work on the growbeds.  I had acquired an International Bulk Storage container from my business.  I constructed the growbeds out of pressure treated plywood and 2x4s with a pond liner.  At first I made the depth of the GBs at 9 inches.  Further research indicated that 12" is the best height for creating layer zones in the beds.  So, I had to strip and rebuild the GBs.  My plan is to have 2 gravel GBs with the third setup for deep water culture.  As for the drain systems, I started and built bell syphons.  Again, further research suggested that a fast flood and slow drain system performs better in one test done in AU by BYAP.  As such I modified the drains to standpipes with drain holes.

Initially, I was considering an index valve to separately control each of the GBs.  I was worried that my 140 gal stock tank/sump tank wouldn't be big enough to handle the full drain from all the beds.  However after testing the system, all is well.  That meant that I could use a standard CHIFT PIST system.  I like this choice the best because it is the simplest.  One pump to run the whole system is the best bet IMHO.  Pump dies?  The fish tanks doesn't drain out.  Sounds good to me.

I had a hard time finding suitable media to place in the grow beds.  By the way:

0.00432900433 x Inches Cubed = Gallons

I determined that I needed about 1.5 cubic yards of material.  Hydroton was WAY TO EXPENSIVE.  I couldn't find river rock or suitable 3/4" gravel.  So I settled on pea gravel.  I don't think this is ideal, but we're gonna try it...

Everything is in the system and water is currently running and washing the gravel.  I couldn't (read didn't want to) wash the gravel.  Shoveling 2 yards of gravel 2 times is enough.

Next steps are cycling the system.  I'm going to plant this week and use a quick cycle product with a fishless cycle additive... I think.  If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.  I've purchased "Microbe-List" from Petco and will give it a shot.  

Thanks for this great site!

[Greg Fox Jr]

Thanks, Mitch.  Still trying to figure out the cycle start up.  Can't wait for the fishes and food!

[Mitch Stegall]

I like your system, nice and neatly designed! Hope all goes well!

[TCLynx]

I don't know what brands sell the pure ammonia (no fragrance, soap or detergents added) or what stores to get them from.  But if you use pure bottled ammonia you want something that is a very clear yellow, not cloudy and that doesn't suds or bubble when shaken.

 

Personally, I use hummonia (bottle some pee and seal it up for a few weeks so the urea content can convert to ammonia to kill most nasties and also be a measurable ammonia when you add it to the system.)  If you use fresh pee, you won't get ammonia readings right away and it will be harder to judge proper dosing.

 

Some people will use urea fertilizer but that also holds the conversion lag time issues before you get to measure the ammonia.  (at least with the pee, the enzymes that do the conversion are already there)

 

Others will sometimes use something like fish emulsion or fish feed or rotting fish parts.  I'm not sure how to recommend dosing these and there are drawbacks to using them like introducing fish diseases or building up solids in the system before it's time.  (decomposing fish feed that hasn't been eaten can be a really bad thing.)

 

Look up fishless cycling.  Basically it is dose ammonia up between 1-2 ppm and wait till it goes away.  Dose again.  Once you get to a point that you can dose ammonia to 1-2 ppm and within 24 hours both ammonia and nitrite are back to 0, you are fishlessly cycled.  Don't let the bacteria die of starvation before you get the fish but make sure to let the ammonia and nitrite drop to near 0 before introducing your new fish.

[Greg Fox Jr]

I have read elsewhere that the cycle times have been reduced by using the bottled bacteria.  It was $16 so I thought I'd give it a shot.  Any suggestions on an ammonia source?

[TCLynx]

You need an ammonia source to fishless cycle, the bacteria will colonize naturally.  The bottled bacteria won't hurt anything but I don't really believe that most of them actually do any good.