Desert climate + Hard Water ??

[Pete]

Hi guys,

First time poster, a big howdy to all.  

In my new home, I am tempted to build an aquaponic system for vegetable, ie fishes to support plants. The new house being in California desert near Palm Springs, I am not sure if the climate and water quality are suitable. 

Climate:
Desert climate, very dry except Aug/Sept during the so call monsoon, it gets a bit humid. Detail
Super hot summer July-Sept. day time can reach as high as 125F+ (50C+) and night time around 100F+ (37C+).See its temp today.
Mild winter day time around 80F (26C), night 40F (4C) with occasion

Water:
·Range for pH is 7.3 units to 8.2 units with an average of 7.8 units.
·Range for Hardness (as CaCO³) is 23 milligrams per Liter (mg/L) to 290 mg/L with an average of 120 mg/L.
Detail

My worries:
Water too hard to support growing plants? Summer being so hot, how to keep water within reasonable temp for fishes and plants. 

I want to build a small pond say 6'lx3'wx3'd in my side yard (20ft x 8ft). Above ground but under shade. As for plants, mainly asian vege, lettuce (too hot?) carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers. Nothing exotic.

Thanks for reading and helping.

[Chris McMahon]

I have been square foot gardening for years here. There has only been one freeze in the last five years. So I wouldn't say greenhouse is needed but the wind will mess up your plants. Any kind of protection from the wind will help a lot.

 

[Pete]

Okra would love the heat but wind could be problem as they are tall and have big leaves.

[TCLynx]

Shade structure or shade cloth fence or walls can cut the wind and if you go growing tropicals you could pull frost blanket over it for the expected freezes.

[Pete]

 

This drawing shows all the space that I can experiment with.  Basically side patio of 8'x21' with west being the house and east/north both 6' brick wall.  Only south is not totally enclosed.  May be I should add  shade cloth awning.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chris McMahon]

You may want to take some measurements and see how much light you get in that location. In the winter months vegetables will require full sun eight hours a day.

[Pete]

I worry about the winter months too.  Do lettuce need 8 hours too?

[Chris McMahon]

Yes it does. It does pretty well but it needs the sun.

[Pete]

I may have to add lack of sufficient direct sun to hard water and desert heat as major considerations.

[Chris McMahon]

The water and heat are not really problems for most things. I have had great success.