Aquaponics in Japan - Feedback on design for Community Group?

[Japan Aquaponics - アクアポニックス 日本]

Hi there everyone,

Recently we have been working with a small community group that was seriously affected by last year's earthquake here in Japan. We have been talking about helping them to build a backyard-sized aquaponics system into their community garden to provide an activity for both children and elderly people.

Some of these individuals are still facing mental and emotional difficulties after last year's events and so the hope is that a community garden will be therapeutic, as well as providing a great activity for everyone, and finally they can either eat their own produce or run a small market garden or something like that.

We are trying to put the system together as simply as possible so there is nothing fancy or clever here. It would be great if you could take a look at the plans that we have posted and let me know your thoughts and/or suggestions. Anything would be most welcome.

http://www.japan-aquaponics.com/ANZCCJ-Tohoku

Here is a screen grab of the design, but please check out the link for the accompanying details of the design and tell me what you think.

Thank you,

Aragon

[TCLynx]

If the SLO is designed such that the top of the T (be sure to have a grate around it as well to keep fish out) is low enough in the fish tank that if the bottom screen of the SLO pipe gets clogged, then you do kinda have a built in "overflow" to take care of that contingency but if the actual pipe coming out of the fish tank gets clogged some how, an additional overflow could protect the system from a pump running dry overflow situation.  Just be sure to make the overflow pipe big enough too since it might not help enough if it isn't big enough to handle the full flow.

[Japan Aquaponics - アクアポニックス 日本]

Thanks TCLynx,

Looking at the stocking density and water heights, I MAY be able to get away with having the top. of the SLO low enough to act as the overflow itself as you suggest... would be a close thing though, so may add in the overflow in any case - 2" or 3" plumbing should be sufficient I calculate, and I can easily get the parts for those dimensions.

[Japan Aquaponics - アクアポニックス 日本]

Here is an update on the layout (overflow not added yet):

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Farming is typically back breaking work because there is so much bending over so one thing that I think is great about Aquaponics is that we can consider ergonomics when designing the system. Bringing the growing area closer to waste level could be a new possibility too - Just a thought..

[Japan Aquaponics - アクアポニックス 日本]

Thanks Jonathan,

It is a valid point and I think that perhaps my scales are not so good in this picture... I was trying to do it in microsoft excel!

I think that I can amend the design to increase the height of the fish tank and this the height of the first grow bed to make it easier for use.  The second grow bed is at a good height for wheelchair users and children.  My only concern for raising the fish tanks were the number of earthquakes that we regularly get.  I was concerned about raising them up - but I should be more creative and work out a way to do it safely and cost effectively.

Also, it is worth noting that elderly Japanese people can be rather smaller than you might imagine.... this area is a farming area and so hand on my heart, some of these older ladies in particular... their bodies are constantly almost at 90 degree from the waist due to planting rice and s forth for so many years.  On average we would be looking at a height of less than 5' for many users.  This is an example.... her body is permanently like this... and this is extremely common:

Notwithstanding this Jonathan... I can, and should, make some improvements in the design to accommodate your suggestion, so thank you for that.  Back to excel then!

[Connie Christians]

I got tears looking at this photo. I, too, am interested in using designs modified for accessibility. Horticulture therapy is wonderful. I've worked with elderly, children and mentally challenged individuals in gardening- what rewarding work.

Our team is working on specific engineering to bear a more affordable, self sustaining environment- re: light and heat. And it seems like many minds are converging on the same type of hybrid system design that simplifies solids distribution and optimizes production.

I very much like your designs and respect your work.

[Japan Aquaponics - アクアポニックス 日本]

Hi Connie,

Thank you for your kind comments.  My grandmother-in-law is similar to the lady above... but before you shed too many tears it is worth noting that the is one of the hardiest, toughest (mentally and physically) and nicest ladies I have met.  They really don't make them like they did in the old days!

I also agree that hybrid is the way to go if you have the choice.  If the growing media costs were to come down it could make this method even more viable - although depending on crops grown it could make longer term financial sense if higher value produce could be grown in the grow beds.

I think that the next few years will see a lot of innovation.  My design is very simple and is simply built along the lines that many others have tested and given good advice on.  I am not trying to reinvent the wheel - but am glad that others are trying to make it go faster / better etc!

[Connie Christians]

Nice commentary about your mother in law. Reminds me of both my grandmothers: Beautiful and tough.

I agree that higher value produce would be best. We're looking into berry (bushes, not strawberry) production.

What kind of media are you using in your design? I'm researching a possible US manufacturer of Hydroton or maybe something else that's similar.

I totally understand not wanting to reinvent the wheel- I say it all the time! I would like to make my contribution along the way though.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I bought Viastone (similar to Hydroton) through the home depot website (not available in stores) The company is in Georgia but they have no contact info and no made in info on the bag. I kinda suspect it was Chinese but at least I would like to think it was from Georgia. It is about $40 for 50 Liters so cheaper than Hydroton. You can see it in my videos on my "AquaponicsNYC" youtube channel.

Connie Christians said:

Nice commentary about your mother in law. Reminds me of both my grandmothers: Beautiful and tough.

I agree that higher value produce would be best. We're looking into berry (bushes, not strawberry) production.

What kind of media are you using in your design? I'm researching a possible US manufacturer of Hydroton or maybe something else that's similar.

I totally understand not wanting to reinvent the wheel- I say it all the time! I would like to make my contribution along the way though.

[Connie Christians]

Thanks Jonathan. I will look at this one.

I'm not interested in a Chinese product though, as it wouldn't match up with my BP.

I am already looking in Georgia and Florida- the red clay soils there are great for pottery. Makes me wonder if there is a struggling company there wanting to diversify into making an aquaponics product for the US.

[Averan]

You fixed the one issue I saw in the first design, with the sump below ground. The new design looks great, just like my hybrid system. The one thing I might add is a barrel or tub after the rafts to contain the pump separately. This would make it a little easier to access for maintenance and allow you to install a float valve to automatically add water to the system when it gets too low.

With this design, you could also add some nft pipes overhead running back towards the fish tank to expand growing capacity.

Here's my hybrid nft system: http://aquaponicscommunity.com/group/Combination/forum/topics/my-hy...

[Averan]

Another thought, since we're developing very very similar hybrid systems....:D

If you have the first bed on a siphon, you might want to divert some of the pump flow back into the DWT just to maintain water circulation.  Add a venturi to that line and it'll blow a bunch of air in with it.

I can't wait to show you my latest 3D model of my hybrid system!  The differences between mine and yours are that I'm using NFT pipes overhead to return the water to the fish tank from the end of the DWT and I have cement blocks and wood palettes under my tank and beds to get a little more height/drop to make sure the siphon is effective.  The first bed can be either f&d or constant flood.