Questions.

[Raoul duke]

Hey all I am new to aquaponics and have not had to chance to start. I just had a few questions. What is the ideal temperature my greenhouse should maintain? Also when you drop the seeds in how do they germinate and reach the nutrient water if it just hovers below the surface? One last one, how do people incorparate worms in their media type systems? Just throw them in the grow bed or what? Thank you!!

[Jon Parr]

What is the ideal temperature my greenhouse should maintain?
A- answer that by researching your crop, and season, or plant to suit your temps. I try to keep mine in the 80's, and 10-15 degree fluctuations are normal.

Also when you drop the seeds in how do they germinate and reach the nutrient water if it just hovers below the surface?
A- assuming your using a media bed, just drop the seeds in, and do a very light watering from above. Many will fall to the right zone for germination. Some seeds do better this way than others. You can always start in a seed tray, and move the seedlings over when they are bigger. Radishes are about the only thing I directly sow in media, all others I start in trays. Suit yourself.

One last one, how do people incorparate worms in their media type systems? Just throw them in the grow bed or what?
A- yes. I grab a handful or two of worms and castings (which has great bacteria, nutrients, and worm egg capsules), drop them in the bed, and top water to wash it all in.

[Raoul duke]

Wow, thank you so much for your help! I had extreme difficulty finding out this info via google. Is it possible for the greenhouse to get too hot? I am assuming this is why people install vent fans.

Jon Parr said:

What is the ideal temperature my greenhouse should maintain?
A- answer that by researching your crop, and season, or plant to suit your temps. I try to keep mine in the 80's, and 10-15 degree fluctuations are normal.

Also when you drop the seeds in how do they germinate and reach the nutrient water if it just hovers below the surface?
A- assuming your using a media bed, just drop the seeds in, and do a very light watering from above. Many will fall to the right zone for germination. Some seeds do better this way than others. You can always start in a seed tray, and move the seedlings over when they are bigger. Radishes are about the only thing I directly sow in media, all others I start in trays. Suit yourself.

One last one, how do people incorparate worms in their media type systems? Just throw them in the grow bed or what?
A- yes. I grab a handful or two of worms and castings (which has great bacteria, nutrients, and worm egg capsules), drop them in the bed, and top water to wash it all in.

[Vlad Jovanovic]

I can tell you that it is definitely possible for a greenhouse to become too hot. Vents (roof panels) that can open or close are good...so is a large door...

[Jon Parr]

Indeed. I use Automatic vent openers on the ridge, and cool air intake down low, no fans so far. Heat is more dangerous than cool, because it can drive the DO out I the water and kill the fish in a hurry. Early on my journey I had my tilapia tanks hit 105 F on an unexpectedly warm winter day

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Yeah, it's ridiculous how friggin hot things get in there, even when it's cool outside...albeit sunny. Some form of vents are a must...not just for the heat either...

Do you mean those pistons/cylinders filled with oil that expands when a certain temp is reached, thereby pushing the piston and opening the vent? Those seem really cool, but the ones i had available to me here were really crappy quality and came with pretty bad reliability issues...So, once again it was Tesla to the rescue...

[Jon Parr]

Yeah Vlad. Simple heat expansion ram. I wouldn't say mine are any better quality, but I have them swinging a ridge wall vent outward, laterally, so not much load/lift on it. Works like a champ.

[Raoul duke]

Thank you everyone for your help. I have but another question. I am running into some difficultly with plant spacing. So I get I just sprinkle the seeds in the media lightly water then hope for the best? What if the plants are spaced to closely. Will this pose a problem with the root system?

[Jon Parr]

Raoul, root crowding is not usually a problem in Aquaponics for small, quick growers like lettuce and greens, but crowding can cause problems topside for most any plant. So just thin your seedlings to allow comfortable growth for whatever you're growing. I allow most lettuce and greens about 8" or more.

[Mikio McCulloch]

thanks all- sometimes I get answers to questions here i didnt even know i had!

[Pam DeLong]

I know this is an older thread, but with warmer/hotter weather immenent, I thought this video for a redneck air conditioner might be helpful...even inside the house:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITtlxjvLQis

Stay cool!!

[Jeff S]

I've realized that in the winter if I grow cool weather plants I can save a ton on heating the GH and if you are using Tilapia you can keep the water around 65-70 unless you're breeding. The GH can be as low as 50-60 for the plants.

[Jim Fisk]

If running winter crops temps can dive to 20F and not hurt a thing as long as water is circulating. In fact your crops will taste sweeter at low temps due to the antifreeze that they produce for themselves which are sweet.

Of course I raise trout and they are happy to 45F water temps winter and 70F summer. I try to keep GH temps between 35F and 95F, seasonally of course.