Aquaponic Gardening

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Raft/Deep Water Culture Growers

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Raft/Deep Water Culture Growers

A group dedicated to raft growers. A place to share tips, tricks, and general info.

Website: http://coastviewaquaponics.com
Members: 378
Latest Activity: Dec 8, 2022

Discussion Forum

A short time lapse of a "different" application of DWC

Started by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. Jul 2, 2017. 0 Replies

Just an FYI. Here is the link to the youtube vid: http://bit.ly/2sLEAgABelow is a still of the system.…Continue

Floating Raft above Aquarium

Started by Courtney. Last reply by kimlee kingston Jan 4, 2015. 2 Replies

Hi everyone! I had some issues with setting up a grow bed's plumbing and it got me to thinking, in the interim, can I just set up a raft directly onto the fish tank? If it were any other kind of…Continue

polypropylene for "tray-ponics"-type "rafts"

Started by Paul Trudeau. Last reply by Joni Solis Nov 14, 2014. 37 Replies

Glenn Martinez has described a nice small raft system where he uses 24 inch x 36 inch x 8 inch-deep plastic masonry mixing tubs (trays) (available at Home Depot) as plant troughs.  Instead of…Continue

Stll in business- Coastview Aquaponics

Started by Michael Gough. Last reply by Michael Gough Aug 20, 2014. 3 Replies

Aloha all,Just joined today. 2 years ago had taken a tour of Coastview Aquaponics operation. Going back to the big island IN 4 WEEKS to see what damage our Puna property sustained from the…Continue

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Comment by Dave Lindstedt on April 18, 2012 at 6:00pm

I cut my 4 x 8 sheets of blue board into 4 2 x4 pieces.  This makes ror easy removal when needed. Each 4 ft x 2 ft section is  drilled for 33,  2 inch holes.  The holes are in 5 rows 3 rows of 7 holes with 2 rows of 6 holes off set in between the 7 hole rows. For a grand total of 132 plants per 4 x 8 grow trouth.  I plant only black seed leaf lettuce and no head lettuce.  For climbing plants I attach 1 inch by 2 inch  4 foot long to each side of the grow trough whicj I span with another 1 inch x 2in a little bit longer than 4 ft.  I the  hang a curtain of plastic "chicken wire" from this frame.  I try and keep all 33 plants all the same on one 4ft x 2ft section. This way I can have up to 4 different types of plants in one 4 x 8 grow trough.  

Comment by wes on April 18, 2012 at 7:43am

Hey Christian if you are looking for a great type of liner here is one spot to try, this is the same liner material that the Friendlys use in Hawaii and at Green Acres Organics use for all there troughs.

DuraSkrim 20

http://buyplasticnow.com/Products/String-Reinforced-Plastic/Dura-Sk...

Comment by Christian De La Nuez on April 18, 2012 at 6:52am

What spacing are you guys using for lets say specialty lettuce? and basil? I had my mind set on 28 lettuce per every 4x8 sheet and my buddy told me that I was under cutting it way too much. He suggested 48-56 per 4x8 sheet. Not sure how big the lettuce can grow in 2" net cups with 48 per sheet.

Comment by Nigel Clement on April 17, 2012 at 11:09pm

Christian I'm currently constructing a system running 12 x 40' troughs to obtain a large volume you would probably want to go with a large number of troughs.

Comment by Max In Missouri on April 17, 2012 at 10:32pm

Mahalo Giorgio, do you put anything inside of those pontoons? Such as foam material, like those kids pool float tubes etc.. or does the air inside of PVC remain sealed? Thanks

in reply to 

Aloha !

Here are a couple more pics to give you better idea.

The GM Raft System

This design is fricking awesome...I'm growing lettuce almost  2x faster than regular foam rafts and cause the only part of the raft that touches water is the 2" pontoon there is lots of aeration underneath the root system (WITHOUT) the need of air stones, valves, siphoning or any other device.

Is very simple concept that works great, I'm sure whoever tries it will love it and is less than 1/2 the cost of the foam rafts and  about 75% less work without the mess and once you get one going you can make a bunch at a time.

I used 3 screw at the ends and 4 on the sides, make sure to use stainless

Comment by Christian De La Nuez on April 17, 2012 at 9:06pm

Kate, thanks for the tips. I appreciate things from a different point of view. I'm also looking for liners, if anyone knows of where to find them at a good price let me know. Thanks

Comment by Kate Mink on April 17, 2012 at 4:47pm

Well, you're ultimately limited by square area - not width. Almost every commercial grower uses more, narrower troughs.

Hey, 2" Dow blue board costs almost $50 a sheet here, what with shipping! $16 sounds great. It does need to be 2" thick, though, or it will break. You don't handle it much, but you do have to handle it some.

I've also seen a system that uses rigid plastic directly over "pontoons" made of PVC pipe. no foam. Seems to work and if you use a white plastic you don't have to paintit, as you do the blueboard.

As to speed, I suggest you build your system in modules - and start with 1 tank driving a few troughs. (I have a 1000 gallon tank running 2 40' troughs; i run low fish density because it's so much more stable.) Anyway, get ONE module up and running, and you will learn many, many things that will make it easier and faster to expand from there. I can pretty much guarantee you'll save yourself some painful and costly mistakes if you do this.

Comment by Christian De La Nuez on April 17, 2012 at 4:11pm

Just talked to a new friend who has been doing aquaponics for a while. He suggests that I go down to 4' wide. I don't know how profitable that will be for me. I understand that the wider  the trough is, the harder it is to maintain the veggies in the middle but I also need to make money. Capital for this venture is high and I need to start producing large amounts right away to meet my local demand. 

Anyone know the price of the 4x8 polystyrene sheets. I heard those are the best sheets to use. Again, looking for something durable and cost effective. Just got a quote of $16.00 per sheet, maybe someone knows of where to get them at a better price.

As always, thanks to everyone for the help.

Comment by Chris Smith on April 17, 2012 at 10:02am

Christian, keep in mind that 16' wide troughs will make it difficult to access the rafts in the middle without shuffling things around. Friendly built 2 troughs that are 8' wide and do not like them because of the difficulty in working them.

Wide troughs are better for monocropping where you put seedlings in at one end and remove mature plants at the opposite end. All the plants in a wide trough need to grow at the same rate for it to work properly. If you added some plants with a shorter grow out you will be trying to fish them out of the middle of the big troughs.

The only cost effective fish supply at the scale you propose is to start your own hatchery. Tilapia bred very easily in warm water. The blue tilapia in my systems grow at about 1/2 the rate that me white hybrid tilapia.

Comment by Christian De La Nuez on April 17, 2012 at 9:07am

We decided to try DWC for profit in a 1 1/2 acre agriculture lot that we have. We are building the greenhouse and putting in a 6000+ gallon tilapia grow out tank that will feed (2) 80'L x 16'W lettuce/produce troughs. Any tips or suggestions are greatly appreciated. 

*Also, if anyone knows where I can get a good deal on blue tilapia to properly stock my tank, please let me know. Looking for a good, cost-effective source.

Thanks

 

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