Aquaponic Gardening

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 I am wanting to solicit opinions about what kind of water to use in an aquaponics system and also how to go about getting that water. Also, it seems that I have to fill the water back up an awful lot, is that normal?

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so will Rick...

Sheri Schmeckpeper said:

I'd never thought about the feed adding to the minerals, but that makes perfect sense. I tried chelated iron once and it had no effect, other than to turn the water a pretty color. But that was before our PH was under control. It sounds like quite a challenge to decrease iron, but options are available. It will be very interesting to hear what Rick's ultimate solution will be.

Sherri,

Terri Mikkola did an analysis on a study ( Nutrient Cycle and Sludge Production During Different Stages of Red Tilapia Growth in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (Gholamreza Rafiee & Che Roos Saad) that she was kind enough to post  over on this thread...http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/chelated-iron-dosing-is...


These are the numbers estimated that red tilapia could capture from the commercial fish food used in the study, the rest goes out into the system...on average, 11.46% Fe, 13.43%Zn, 6.81% Mn, 3.55% Cu, 26.81% Ca, 20.29% Mg, 32.53% N, 7.16% K, and 15.98% P of input feed during a culture period(from 20–200 g).

This is what they found in the sludge that settled over the hydroponic troughs. That the sludge water could capture average rate of 23.93% Fe, 86.05% Mn, 46.17%ZN, 21.49% Cu, 15.71% Ca, 88.87% Mg, 5.55% N, 5.85% K, and 17.90% P of input feed in each experimental unit.  (This was lifted/paraphrased directly from that study).

If you know your fish feed numbers, (and source water) and have Talapia then you could use this as an (general) indication of what your dealing with. (Should you ever want/need to, or if you ever get bored enough :) without necessarilly have to shell out the big bucks for all those different test kits, or god forbid...test sensors...

Sheri Schmeckpeper said:

I'd never thought about the feed adding to the minerals, but that makes perfect sense. I tried chelated iron once and it had no effect, other than to turn the water a pretty color. But that was before our PH was under control. It sounds like quite a challenge to decrease iron, but options are available. It will be very interesting to hear what Rick's ultimate solution will be.

Well, as I balance my time between income-producing work, trying to build & run a mini-farm, house remodels, AP & AP rebuilds, taxes, soil gardening, an occasional 4-wheel excursion, and life in general, I think I'll be happy knowing my fish are growing and the plants are happy. But I'm saving this info for future reference because some day...some day...I'll have time! And other people are out there with the same problems. It's great to share the information. 

Rick, good luck on your project. You have some of the best minds here working on it with you! (Myself not included.)

Yes, time seems to be the one commodity we never have enough of (usually followed closely by money) 

:)  And when there's one, there tends not to be the other!

 That is very interesting about the minerals left over from the fish food. I did not realize that myself. I am going to look more into that.

thanks.  wish I'd payed closer attention to HS chemistry.  What's amazing is that I can't really find a definitive answer.  

Sheri Schmeckpeper said:

 

Rick, good luck on your project. You have some of the best minds here working on it with you! (Myself not included.)

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