Aquaponic Gardening

A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Hey there Sacramento folks (present and future):  would love to hear what your aquaponics system is, or if you haven't got it started yet, what you're planning to do.  A bit about mine to start things off:  I've got two small flood-and-drain growbeds and two fish tanks, about 200 gallons total, on a south-facing porch in downtown Sac. You can see a short video of it at   http://youtu.be/WrwNJNP1Rko.  Raising mostly bluegill at the moment, with a few goldfish for good measure.  Started raising black soldier fly larvae this summer to feed the bluegill, but not enough to represent a big part of their diet (yet).  Still got lots of basil growing but about to replace it with lettuce.  Am open to visitors if you ever want to check it out in person.  So--how about yours?  (Susie, I know about yours, but feel free to post it here for others to hear about too).

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Hi Paul and Others

I have my greenhouse built!  Thats as far as we've gotten.  We have totes and hopefully will be starting to cut them up and do the plumbing after the holidays.  I know we'll have LOTS of questions once we start that portion!

Susie...you are further than me. :)  I have the ground posts in for the hoophouse...and that's about it.  I did purchase plans from Friendly Aquaponics in Hawaii that I am planning on using...need my farm to make money this year so that I have the capital to build the system. :)

The hoophouse looked really fun to build.  I hope it goes well for you, its a fun project!

Hi, first time here. I'm going to start aquaponics in my yard too, but am wondering about the greenhouse idea. What do you think is needed in sac? Seems a greenhouse may be too hot in summer time?

I'm going to have lots of other questions I'm sure, just getting my toe in the water right now :)

Hey Paul,  yep, greenhouse without some sort of cooling would certainly be too hot for summer, would more likely need shade cloth if anything.  GH would help lots in winter--extend fish/plant growing season a bit at least; if heated one way or another, could allow year round production.  Maybe some sort of enclosure, if it could be cooled, would also be helpful at keeping out critters in summer.  Dunno.  One of many subjects I still have lots to learn about.  Curious what others say.

Paul Haak said:

Hi, first time here. I'm going to start aquaponics in my yard too, but am wondering about the greenhouse idea. What do you think is needed in sac? Seems a greenhouse may be too hot in summer time?

I'm going to have lots of other questions I'm sure, just getting my toe in the water right now

375 gallon Ibc tote with 4 garden beds
900 gph pump.
Hand feeding morning and night
15 catfish and gold fish about to acquire perch and crawfish
Located in stockton ca

Soon to build a 20'x40 green house system similar to growing power

I have acquired 2 acres and will build aquaponics and sustainable garden beds, bee hives etc

Looking for suggestions and moral support, as well as positive criticism

Thanks for setting the Sacramento group up and for the video of your set-up. I'm on the edge of Sacramento and Carmichael and have only recently started learning about Aquaponics.

I'm head over heels with the idea of this but I haven't started building yet. Maybe it's because I will be directly responsible for the success or failure of life- I don't know but I'm still taking notes and trying to avoid my usual method of learning.

So anyway, I'm planning on a 300 gal rubbermaid tank ebb & flow (which I'm assuming is the same as flood-and-drain) system with six 12" deep grow beds set up with 1" river rock at the base and the, uh, can't think of the name- the expensive clay balls from Germany.

Anyway, I'm still learning and I'll probably start with a smaller set up just to get familiar with it before jumping in with both feet. I have a tendency to go big and, uh, I'm startin to ramble.  Well it's late, I'm fascinated with Aquaponics but I do need sleep.

Thanks again, I look forward to chatting and hopefully meeting as many Aquaponians- is that a word? I may have just coined a new term here. Yeah... so, I should just shut it down now. G'night all.

Jp,  welcome!  Sounds like you're on the right track--start small and build up from there.  Exciting plans you have -- keep us posted!

Paul

Jp said:

Thanks for setting the Sacramento group up and for the video of your set-up. I'm on the edge of Sacramento and Carmichael and have only recently started learning about Aquaponics.

I'm head over heels with the idea of this but I haven't started building yet. Maybe it's because I will be directly responsible for the success or failure of life- I don't know but I'm still taking notes and trying to avoid my usual method of learning.

So anyway, I'm planning on a 300 gal rubbermaid tank ebb & flow (which I'm assuming is the same as flood-and-drain) system with six 12" deep grow beds set up with 1" river rock at the base and the, uh, can't think of the name- the expensive clay balls from Germany.

Anyway, I'm still learning and I'll probably start with a smaller set up just to get familiar with it before jumping in with both feet. I have a tendency to go big and, uh, I'm startin to ramble.  Well it's late, I'm fascinated with Aquaponics but I do need sleep.

Thanks again, I look forward to chatting and hopefully meeting as many Aquaponians- is that a word? I may have just coined a new term here. Yeah... so, I should just shut it down now. G'night all.

G'morning all, thanks Paul- you're right, this is exciting stuff!

JP, sounds like we're neighbors! I'm starting also, just got an ibc tote... thats about as far as I've gotten other than reading the book... hopefully will get all set up this summer and ready for fish / plants by fall.

 

Paul

Paul, excellent, I would love to follow your progress- You have a book? lol I'm looking forward to this whole experience and would love to sit and chat but I have to get over to the Mather V.A. right now! Thanks for introducing yourself neighbor, we'll chat later!

Jp

Wee bit of change with my system:  since I'm not raising any fish that eat duckweed, and because I'm having some doubts as to the nutritional benefits of duckweed anyway, I converted  one mini-growbed to deep water culture.  Instead of floating raft, am using a rigid board (discarded polyethylene cutting board) about 1.5" above the top of the water, a la Glenn Martinez @ Olomana Garden in Hawaii.  Room enough for 5 net pots.  Added 4 kale seedlings and a ground cherry seedling with hydroton in the net pots.  (If you don't know about ground cherries: they're a relative of tomatoes and tomatillos.  Fruit looks like a small tomatillo, but it's sweet.  Fun plant!  You peel back the papery husk like unwrapping a little present, a tart, tasty little treat.  We'll see how it does in AP vs. soil. I've got several growing this year.)

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