8x15 greenhouse build

[Fishy McFisherson]

Hi folks, here are some photos of the progress of our greenhouse build. We went with 8x15 because anything over 120sq' requires a permit within Sacramento city limits, and we wanted to keep our first foray into aquaponics relatively small.

So far We have the 4x4 "foundation" square and level, roughly 50% of the excess dirt from within the foundation has been removed, and when not digging I've been working on stands/cradles for the growing beds.

Once all the earth moving is complete, we'll tamp it down, lay down some weed barrier. and pack the inside of the foundation box with gravel.

[Paul Trudeau]

was going to ask you for source of 120 square foot trigger for permit requirement but then found it myself...

[Fishy McFisherson]

Here it is for anyone else interested.

Sacramento Permit requirements

[Averan]

i've got 2 extra tanks, one in-line before and one after (sump) the fish tank and both have crayfish, mosquito fish and various floating and emergent aquatic plants.

the crayfish will eat any truly aquatic plants like cabomba and anachris, but that's about it.

the calla lily and rush are thriving in the sump!

[Fishy McFisherson]

Good to know, thanks Averian. Pretty much what I was thinking, an extra tank in line between the fish tanks and the sump. My thought was to use a bottom scavenging siphon to suck up any fish waste and uneaten food, then run that into the intermediary tank for the crayfish and the duckweed to feed on.

[Fishy McFisherson]

Nothing too exciting, but we (with help) finished all of the excavating today, and got another tank stand/cradle built.

I'll be moving forward with the duckweed/crayfish tank. I'll post a rough cad drawing of what I have in mind a little later this evening. Very interested in what you guys think.

 

[Paul Trudeau]

Always glad to get progress reports from you, Fishy.

Fishy McFisherson said:

Nothing too exciting, but we (with help) finished all of the excavating today, and got another tank stand/cradle built.

I'll be moving forward with the duckweed/crayfish tank. I'll post a rough cad drawing of what I have in mind a little later this evening. Very interested in what you guys think.

 

[Fishy McFisherson]

Thanks Paul, it truly is nice to have someone nearby as involved in the forum as you are.

Here is a VERY preliminary version of what i have in mind for the crayfish/crawdad tank. I do not have all of the structural supports for the lower trough drawn in yet. Basic construction will be 2x4, plywood & pond liner. More on the plumbing details later.

[Fishy McFisherson]

just a photo of the cleared site, the 2 tank stands completed, and an updated version of the crayfish tank (now looking like it might be Macrobrachium rosenbergii) .

Next step, re-level the perimeter frame, gravel fill then get the framing started.

 

[Fishy McFisherson]

Thanks for stopping by to check out the "system" Paul. I'm hoping now that the weather is nice, pardon me, FANTASTIC,  progress will move along faster. The girls got someone in to clean up the rest of the back yard, and now have a newfound enthusiasm for getting the remainder of the yard and greenhouse finished. I have a good friend who used to work construction who I'm hoping can help me with the framing of the greenhouse in the next few weeks. hope to be cycling the system by the end of May!

 

I cleand up the cad file for the crawdad tank, very minor design changes, but here is the final layout. Ready to start cutting! The drain lines (merged) from the fish tanks will dump into one end of the tank and there will be an overflow to the sump on the opposite end.

 

 

[Kilted AquaNut]

Great work McFisherson.  I was actually pricing out some supplies today too for a Hoop-Style one too.

Hope you guys are enjoying putting it together.  Figure i'll get some buds over when I got everything together and do a BBQ-Slave labour to put up the Hoops and plastic.

Wish I was in your climate, lot warmer then here.  i've been looking into passive heating for Greenhouse, but this one is going to be a test system for Pool-Veggies over summer to see what base temps are vrs later when I put in Thermal warmers.

My cousins out your way neck of the woods btw.  Tanks look great

[Fishy McFisherson]

Thanks AquaNut, we are indeed fortunate to have a long growing season here in Sacramento, but it does get exceptionally hot during the summer. This weekend it was 91 deg F, and it is only April.

[Fishy McFisherson]

Major milestone today. finished the crawdad tank (last of the stands) and got everything mocked up in place. God Bless AutoCAD, everything fits perfectly in the frame. Next step, coat the fish tanks, install pond liner in the crawdad tank, frame the greenhouse structure, then on to plumbing.

Progress, WOO!