Greetings from Missouri!!

[EBE]

Hello Everybody!!

 I  live in Northwest Misssouri about an hour from Kansas City.

I started organic gardening a few years ago with a couple of 4'x4' garden boxes in my back yard growing heirloom vegetables.  I am now interested in aquaponics and would like to try it on a very small scale, preferably on my back deck.  I don't have a greenhouse and can't put it inside so I will be limited to the outdoor growing season.

 

I think that I am wanting to build a flood/drain system using hydroton as a growing medium.  I have seen videos on youtube of systems that are as simple as using rubbermaid tubs, but I want to go all organic and make sure that everything is food safe. 

 

I would love to hear your ideas on inexpensive systems!

 

Thanks,

 

Brian

[TCLynx]

You can get food grade blue barrels and do a barrel ponics system or you might get some food grade IBC totes.

[George]

Greetings

Sounds like a challenge if you intend to shut the system down each fall.  What will you do with the fish at that point?

[EBE]

The fish willl go to a friend with an aquarium in the winter.
 
Geoge said:

Greetings

Sounds like a challenge if you intend to shut the system down each fall.  What will you do with the fish at that point?

[TCLynx]

I know some one with a system in PA where the system goes mostly dormant in winter but isn't necessarily completely shut down.

[Josh Chester]

Hi Brian, I live in St. Joseph. Have you had any luck finding hydration locally? Shopping is terrible on that stuff.

[Josh Chester]

Hydroton. Blasted autocorrect.

[EBE]

Hi Josh.  I  am still in the planning stages but I have a friend that has a commercial aquaponics operation that buys hydroton in bulk.  I know that the shipping is a bear on the stuff. 

Josh Chester said:

Hi Brian, I live in St. Joseph. Have you had any luck finding hydration locally? Shopping is terrible on that stuff.

[Josh Chester]

By any chance would you friends operation be interested in selling some to a guy interested in noncommercial use? Assuming he is semi locale