A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Managing The Temperature?

I have been studying & understand that the worms & bacteria in the grow beds & fish tanks require temperature management. I have yet to find a 'how to' on managing temperature. My climate is western WA. The lowest temp I have seen is 5'. In the summer it can get to 90'. We have had a greenhouse for some years. In the sun the temp can shoot over 100' quite quickly. Are seed warming beds used under the grow beds in winter? Are fans used in the greenhouses to try & keep temps down. I want to try to set up a cost effective system. How do you manage your temperature? Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Robert Rowe on May 10, 2013 at 9:54am

Work with nature and you will minimize your expenses.

In Phoenix, AZ I keep my FT temp at 85 degrees or lower with no more than shade cover and a fan.

In the winter I keep it safely above frost levels with a frost blanket which allows UV in during the day and holds enough heat during the night.

Permalink Reply by Jim Fisk on May 10, 2013 at 12:17pm

There are so many ways Thomas that I will address one or two for now and that is my 275G IBC that is buried to the top in the ground so it helps warm the water in the Winter and cool it in the Summer (wish now it was a 330G). A buffer that plain ole GHs do not enjoy. The other worth mentioning is a 12" vent I built into the entire length of the roof peak of the GH facing N which gets rid of the hottest air and sucks it out when we have a breeze which tend to come out of the S in the Summer here. The advantages of designing and building your own GH. Beyond that the usual things like fans and woodstoves and insulation, etc.. other than my fish room is walled off from the hothouse side so I can keep that room as cool as possible.

Just some of many ways.

Permalink Reply by Leo White Bear on May 10, 2013 at 4:39pm

Temperature in an aquaponic system is GENERALLY regulated by the temperature of the fish tank water. The root zone of plants, are the most important area of the grow bed. If the temps in the GH reach a low of say, 40°, as long as the temp of the water from the FT being discharged into the grow bed is higher, you may be OK, as long as the temps don't dip below freezing. I usually take the ambient air temp around the plants and the temp of the FT water and average between the two. OK. let's say the temp of the ambient air is 40°F, the temp of the FT water is 70°, the grow temp of the root zone average is 55°F. IMHO I feel safe to call this temp 60°F, so plants that thrive in this 60°F temp are OK to grow. You may not successfully sprout tomatoes, but your lettuces, kale, and cole plants should do well.