System design

[Sylvia Bernstein]

What are your thoughts on system design?  Media vs raft.  Deep media beds vs shallow.  Siphons vs timers.  Tell us your thoughts and let's get the conversation rolling

[Sylvia Bernstein]

Darryl, that was my husband you spoke with (glad he was pleasant), and the mistake was actually mine. I wasn't even aware that there was a Liquid Fish product by MaxiCrop - now I know! Just keep what we sent and we will get the seaweed product off to you in the morning.


Darryl Hinson said:

I bought some Maxicrop from the source yoyu suggested....they were pleasant to deal with but they sent me a gallon of liquid fish and I dont believe it's the same thing as seaweed extract......???
I called the guy at the store and he wasnt sure.....
Were gonna work it out tomorrow, hopefully....
Rural America ...I'm glad for the internet but when mistakes are made they are double trouble to figure out.....
have you ever heard of Liquid Fish....other than the Bass O Matic on SNL....(Dan Akroid)

[Darryl Hinson]

OMG!.....as my daughter would say......I would have had some fun with him if I'd known who he was......thanks so much .....I'll be glad to send the gallon back on my nickel, if you wish.....
It's no problem....
Darryl

[TCLynx]

I wonder if the liquid fish might be a good choice for fishless cycling?

[Sylvia Bernstein]

Darryl, had I known it was you on the phone I would have gotten on there and messed with you too!

No worries about the shipping. It was totally our mistake so you are already being inconvenienced by the "real" Maxicrop being late. Use the other stuff on your dirt plants or, as TC said, it may be an interesting source of ammonia for fishless cycling...hmmm....just posted a blog post on that not 10 minutes ago, including some of your thoughts on pee-ponics, TC.

[TCLynx]

Cool

[Darryl Hinson]

Thank you sylvia....I'll wait for the real stuff...no problem....i've got planty to do.....washing gravel is my life right now....and laundry....always laundry....
Darryl

[Homefire]

Jonathan Hanridge said:
"I imagine where I live the CHEAPEST media I could get would be cinder rock. What would be possible drawbacks?"

Jonathan,

Any cement product will cause very alkaline water.

I'm thinking though that Hadite, man made exploded shale, may even be available from the cinder block people since it is often the 'cinder' in block. It is clean, safe and very light. Some even floats on water.

Homefire

[Homefire]

David S. said:
Why are raft systems not very good for long term crops?

You may imagine a raft of 12' tall tomato vines loaded with fruit, pretty heavy. And heavy fruiters are heavy feeders. The more mass you take off a plant the more mass it needs to live well.

Homefire

[TCLynx]

Some long term crops can be grown in Rafts systems. I think part of it is that most raft systems are not really designed for them. Many people like to float and move the rafts around but this doesn't work if the raft has tomatoes tied up to supports in a particular spot. Rafts for large or long term plants would probably be better with larger pots and wider spacing and probably even thicker raft materials to support the additional weight to deal with some of the issues of the plant trying to tip over and such.

It often just winds up more efficient to grow the big greedy plants in the gravel beds and leave the raft space for the easiest things to grow it them.

[Darryl Hinson]

what if i wanted to set up a commercial growing business here in Louisiana.
Louisiana State University has a wide range of publications that are helpful and has an aquaponics dept....maybe not a dept...but they know about aquaculture.....
But what if I wanted to grow green leafys for sale locally and needed an on site consultant.....someone that I could pay to work with me on the mechanics and maybe the economics/intrastructure, etc.....maybe someone who is a sussessful grower in another state....How do I get in touch with someone like that....
Darryl

[Sylvia Bernstein]

I recommend you talk with Nelson and Pade at Aquaponics.com


Darryl Hinson said:

what if i wanted to set up a commercial growing business here in Louisiana.
Louisiana State University has a wide range of publications that are helpful and has an aquaponics dept....maybe not a dept...but they know about aquaculture.....
But what if I wanted to grow green leafys for sale locally and needed an on site consultant.....someone that I could pay to work with me on the mechanics and maybe the economics/intrastructure, etc.....maybe someone who is a sussessful grower in another state....How do I get in touch with someone like that....
Darryl