Aquaponics, Hydroponics, or Vermiponics?

[Brian]

I knew it wouldn't take too long to start missing the extended growing season in Florida.  I had my aquaponics system set up for a month when my employer decided that they needed me to work in another state.

It's only my third month in Michigan and with temperatures in the 40s during my morning comute, I spend the 30 minute drive trying to figure how to grow vegetables in my basement.I don't think there are many fish that can survive zero degrees for three or four straight weeks.

I took a trip to the hydroponics store this afternoon. I have no interest in growing "medicinal" plants, but the guy was helpful in explaining how to build a hydroponic bubbler system using 5 gallon buckets, an air pump, and a manifold to evenly distribute the air to all buckets. He told me they recently sold the parts to construct an 8 bucket system.  But instead of typical hydroponic nutrients I am trying to figure out how to incoporate worms and make it a vermiponic bubbler system. 

I built a mini-bubbler last spring and it worked well, but I'm ready to kick it up a notch and reduce the costs of the inputs. The biggest expense in hydroponics is the cost of nutrients. I've got plenty of worms and they replenish themselves automatically so I would have the ultimate sustainable system.  And if I use solar power, I wouldn't even need to use electricity except for back up purposes. But in my basement I would need to use a grow light and those things draw a lot of current.

I'm not quite sure how to incoporate the worms and how to feed them without getting the food supply gunked up in my air bubblers.I've read about some people burying the food in PVC pipe and drilling holes in the pipe so worms can get in but food can't get out. 

I'm open to other ideas about incoporating fish into the system, but I can't fit the 210 gallon tank down the stairs to the basement (lol). I could get the 150 gallon stock tank down there, but my wife already vetoed that idea (lol)

[Pablo]

Hi Guys.. i came across your discussion and i thought this video could be useful..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNDwumVaNko&feature=youtu.be

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

That's the same one I posted, its a small aquaponics world isn't it.

greenpvt said:

Hi Guys.. i came across your discussion and i thought this video could be useful..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNDwumVaNko&feature=youtu.be

[Pablo]

Hi Jonathan...

that is correct... i realized it after i  posted and i couldn't figure out how to edit it..

By the way, i will be in NY in few weeks for some days visiting some hydroponics and aquaponics.. i noticed you are there... do you have a system running?

I am heading to Australia to learn more about it then i am heading back to this lands...

let me know and we can share thoughts while being in NY.

Best

Pablo

Jonathan Kadish said:

That's the same one I posted, its a small aquaponics world isn't it.

greenpvt said:

Hi Guys.. i came across your discussion and i thought this video could be useful..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNDwumVaNko&feature=youtu.be

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I am cycling my system now, it is a small 100 liter fish tank and 100 liter grow bed which is a prototype for what i want to put into a school across the street. It may be the only one in Manhattan but I'm not sure. There are folks in the bronx and brooklyn who have systems. The largest is about 45 minutes north of the city called Cabbage Hill Farms. I'd be glad to show you what I've done and learned along my journey.

greenpvt said:

Hi Jonathan...

that is correct... i realized it after i  posted and i couldn't figure out how to edit it..

By the way, i will be in NY in few weeks for some days visiting some hydroponics and aquaponics.. i noticed you are there... do you have a system running?

I am heading to Australia to learn more about it then i am heading back to this lands...

let me know and we can share thoughts while being in NY.

Best

Pablo

Jonathan Kadish said:

That's the same one I posted, its a small aquaponics world isn't it.

greenpvt said:

Hi Guys.. i came across your discussion and i thought this video could be useful..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNDwumVaNko&feature=youtu.be

[TCLynx]

There is the Science Barge in NY

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Oh yeah, that is up in Yonkers now which is just north of the city. It's a quick train ride up there.

[Pablo]

Hi Jonathan and TCLynx, 

I have a list of about 5-7 projects i am visiting in NY, it all depends on the week i will be there.

Few of them are actualy projects in schools, so i am sure it will be very good for your project.

adding the guys you know and the projects i have listed, we could have an aquaponic tour... let me know and perhaps we can get to plan it..

are you working with tilapia? there are some friends in NY that sell the fingerlings.

thanks and best

Jonathan Kadish said:

I am cycling my system now, it is a small 100 liter fish tank and 100 liter grow bed which is a prototype for what i want to put into a school across the street. It may be the only one in Manhattan but I'm not sure. There are folks in the bronx and brooklyn who have systems. The largest is about 45 minutes north of the city called Cabbage Hill Farms. I'd be glad to show you what I've done and learned along my journey.

greenpvt said:

Hi Jonathan...

that is correct... i realized it after i  posted and i couldn't figure out how to edit it..

By the way, i will be in NY in few weeks for some days visiting some hydroponics and aquaponics.. i noticed you are there... do you have a system running?

I am heading to Australia to learn more about it then i am heading back to this lands...

let me know and we can share thoughts while being in NY.

Best

Pablo

Jonathan Kadish said:

That's the same one I posted, its a small aquaponics world isn't it.

greenpvt said:

Hi Guys.. i came across your discussion and i thought this video could be useful..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNDwumVaNko&feature=youtu.be

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I would be interested in visiting some of them too, I cover local stuff when I can at www.aquaponicsnyc.com and also on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aquaponics-NYC/29250348744246. I have a youtube channel too but I haven't made any videos besides what I'm doing. Let me know when your going to be in town and we can plan out the tour.

greenpvt said:

Hi Jonathan and TCLynx, 

I have a list of about 5-7 projects i am visiting in NY, it all depends on the week i will be there.

Few of them are actualy projects in schools, so i am sure it will be very good for your project.

adding the guys you know and the projects i have listed, we could have an aquaponic tour... let me know and perhaps we can get to plan it..

are you working with tilapia? there are some friends in NY that sell the fingerlings.

thanks and best

Jonathan Kadish said:

I am cycling my system now, it is a small 100 liter fish tank and 100 liter grow bed which is a prototype for what i want to put into a school across the street. It may be the only one in Manhattan but I'm not sure. There are folks in the bronx and brooklyn who have systems. The largest is about 45 minutes north of the city called Cabbage Hill Farms. I'd be glad to show you what I've done and learned along my journey.

greenpvt said:

Hi Jonathan...

that is correct... i realized it after i  posted and i couldn't figure out how to edit it..

By the way, i will be in NY in few weeks for some days visiting some hydroponics and aquaponics.. i noticed you are there... do you have a system running?

I am heading to Australia to learn more about it then i am heading back to this lands...

let me know and we can share thoughts while being in NY.

Best

Pablo

Jonathan Kadish said:

That's the same one I posted, its a small aquaponics world isn't it.

greenpvt said:

Hi Guys.. i came across your discussion and i thought this video could be useful..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNDwumVaNko&feature=youtu.be