Final Preparations.

[Eric Warwick]

It is getting close to when I'm going to build my first aquaponic system. (I don't even have a uniform design yet) My plan is to have a circular fish tank with a inner circle for fingerlings and an outer circle for the rest. (to resemble a raceway) The species of fish is Oncorhynchus mykiss, rainbow trout. The system will be enough to support 5-7 fish. Before nitrates build up in the system from growth I will have only lettuce crops/herbs. (unless I underestimate nitrates, in which case I will add peppers and/or strawberries to the system) As the system builds nitrates I will add fruiting plants, like the ones mentioned above. However first I need to identify what I will feed the fish, alternatives are encouraged. Even before that determine my supplier, maybe  

FRESHWATER FARMS OF OHIO WWW.FWFARMS.COM prices for fingerlings are   Fingerlings (2-4”) $1.00ea Fingerlings (4-6”)   $2.00ea, fry are $.50 (1/2 for better reading; can't find the cent sign on this keyboard) or, maybe someone closer to my state. (Washington)

Also I need to find out where I'm going to get the gravel. (if less expensive than hydroton) Also eat enough yogurt to get all the net cups I need, backup will be actual net cups. Find out where I'm going to get the lighting, probably my local hydroponic store. Figure out how to cut pvc pipe, though a friend knows how. 

My system design at the moment is a constant flood grow-bed overflowing to a DWC raft and pump water through NFT to the fish tank. (the fish tank has an overflow)

(or the fish tank can be the sump in a design of the fish tank at the bottom with the grow bed at the top, filled with hydroton for weight, overflow to a DWC, overflow from the dwc in the form of sloping nft to the fish tank) 

The fish tank will be made from a material, not wood, that if not fish safe will have a liner. 

Also how I am going to slaughter the fish humanely.  

If anyone finds something else needed to be  discussed bring this to my attention. (ps: no dead fish allowed!)  I forgot how to add diagrams directly to the discussion so the files on the bottom will show them. 

[Harold Sukhbir]

You have a well thought system here. When i started i had way less considerations and knowledge than what's in your post. Go for it! Please keep posting as you go along.

[Kobus Jooste]

My first system was also set up to go from FT to media bed to DWC and it worked beautifully.  Hope yours do the trick for you.

[AJ Grottke]

I think your design looks diverse! I like the way your diagram looks, keep us updated on your progress.  I am setting up a system right now which has similarities to your system design, it has e+f, NFT, and DWC.  One thing i was wondering for both our systems was if there could be a benefit to running timed pump cycles instead of constant flow.  My main thought would be how would the DWC be if it was only pumped for 15min out of every hour.  I know that NFT will be ok, i have tried that before.  I am going to try this anyways, but i was curious to here what others had to say.  ERIC, i do think that timed e+f is better for the grow beds so i am trying to c if DWC would be ok with that as well.  I think it would if you added air stones.  I have made hydroponic DWC system with a storage tote from menards filled with h2o ,net pots in the lid, and  2 air stones.  Same h2o all the time in the tote and they grew great.  This timed flow also adds alot of O2 to your growbeds and your can reduce your pump electrical costs by 3/4.  Can anyone shed light on this topic to help Eric and I see if this timed approach is a viable option?   

 

Also Eric i c you joined the Artificial Lighting group :)  If you want to run through some options for your lighting situation, come start a discussion in the group and the group will help provide you with ideas.

[Eric Warwick]

If you filled the nft with media of some sort you could put on a timer,for nft at least, also I prefer constant flood as I'm going to grow mostly greens and plants compatible with the soil garden. Also gravity will be used in large part,so I will account for the costs with the pump. I'm already growing kale under a grow light, with limited success and I'll make sure I can adjust the lights. I also have experience with making hydro systems, but since fish are at stake; I'm not there some of the time, plus I'm sort of the crazy one and no one will help with it, I want to make sure my nitrates are low not to mention the ammonia. Lots of aeration will bee necessary for the trout. I'll update you people soon. (insert I just woke up emotocon)  

AJ Grottke said:

I think your design looks diverse! I like the way your diagram looks, keep us updated on your progress.  I am setting up a system right now which has similarities to your system design, it has e+f, NFT, and DWC.  One thing i was wondering for both our systems was if there could be a benefit to running timed pump cycles instead of constant flow.  My main thought would be how would the DWC be if it was only pumped for 15min out of every hour.  I know that NFT will be ok, i have tried that before.  I am going to try this anyways, but i was curious to here what others had to say.  ERIC, i do think that timed e+f is better for the grow beds so i am trying to c if DWC would be ok with that as well.  I think it would if you added air stones.  I have made hydroponic DWC system with a storage tote from menards filled with h2o ,net pots in the lid, and  2 air stones.  Same h2o all the time in the tote and they grew great.  This timed flow also adds alot of O2 to your growbeds and your can reduce your pump electrical costs by 3/4.  Can anyone shed light on this topic to help Eric and I see if this timed approach is a viable option?   

 

Also Eric i c you joined the Artificial Lighting group  If you want to run through some options for your lighting situation, come start a discussion in the group and the group will help provide you with ideas.

[Harold Sukhbir]

Hi AJ,

Your idea on timed DWC sounds great. Logically,DWC holds the most amount of nutrient in solution compared to the other components in a mixed system therefore the transit time can be longer for root exposure to more nutrient available in deep water. DWC is the only component in the mixed system where there is little air to water surface interface is reduced greatly and very little agitation taking place.(although agitation here may not provide much influence to growth). Combining this concentration of nutrient in a large body of water with aeration would ensure nutrient availability for a longer time

PS. This is only brainstorming.

AJ Grottke said:

I think your design looks diverse! I like the way your diagram looks, keep us updated on your progress.  I am setting up a system right now which has similarities to your system design, it has e+f, NFT, and DWC.  One thing i was wondering for both our systems was if there could be a benefit to running timed pump cycles instead of constant flow.  My main thought would be how would the DWC be if it was only pumped for 15min out of every hour.  I know that NFT will be ok, i have tried that before.  I am going to try this anyways, but i was curious to here what others had to say.  ERIC, i do think that timed e+f is better for the grow beds so i am trying to c if DWC would be ok with that as well.  I think it would if you added air stones.  I have made hydroponic DWC system with a storage tote from menards filled with h2o ,net pots in the lid, and  2 air stones.  Same h2o all the time in the tote and they grew great.  This timed flow also adds alot of O2 to your growbeds and your can reduce your pump electrical costs by 3/4.  Can anyone shed light on this topic to help Eric and I see if this timed approach is a viable option?   

 

Also Eric i c you joined the Artificial Lighting group  If you want to run through some options for your lighting situation, come start a discussion in the group and the group will help provide you with ideas.

[AJ Grottke]

Thanks for your input Harold, i am adding a small 2'x4' DWC at them end of my 4'x'8 E+F tray and im gona run it on a timed cycle.  We'll c how it goes :)

[Eric Warwick]

I would also like to add to the lists of, I don't know, how big the pvc pipe should be for the plants I'm growing?

What would a system like this cost?

[Harold Sukhbir]

Hi Eric,

If you know what type of plant you'd like to grow you can design a system around that. Determine the size/ratios you'll need for this design(rules of thumb on the main page will help), develop a hardware list which will generate a price list. Grow tubes for NFT are available from home and garden supply stores although it's better to plant fast cycling plants such a lettuce,bok choi, chives etc. in this type of system.

There a lot of variables to consider when designing an AP system per you personal specific design goals..Ideally but not totally necessary,but we should take the time to learn all about AP, the systems, the plants, the fish(from this site), and when we're confident, move to execute what we've learnt, although in my experience i am always learning something new everyday and apply these to an ever expanding AP system.

[Eric Warwick]

I plan to grow some basil, (in warm weather) lettuce crops in cold, maybe peppers and tomatoes, (probably in grow bed though) if I have enough nitrates. Add on to this florescent from my local hydroponic store. I'm going to be using round containers and plastic cups for the net cups. I have perlite to fill them with, or hydroton. Which is more effective for greens? 

Harold Sukhbir said:

Hi Eric,

If you know what type of plant you'd like to grow you can design a system around that. Determine the size/ratios you'll need for this design(rules of thumb on the main page will help), develop a hardware list which will generate a price list. Grow tubes for NFT are available from home and garden supply stores although it's better to plant fast cycling plants such a lettuce,bok choi, chives etc. in this type of system.

There a lot of variables to consider when designing an AP system per you personal specific design goals..Ideally but not totally necessary,but we should take the time to learn all about AP, the systems, the plants, the fish(from this site), and when we're confident, move to execute what we've learnt, although in my experience i am always learning something new everyday and apply these to an ever expanding AP system.

[Harold Sukhbir]

Hi Eric,
I've grown a whole host of plant as the system was newer. Approaching the 6th month I've narrowed it down to tomatoes(beds) and lettuce(trough). The system has matured somewhat enough for growing tomatoes. On the question of media we have a lot of information here; http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/media-1 and  here; http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/categories/media-topics/listFo...

[Eric Warwick]

AJ: I think if you put a constant flow set up from the deep water culture part and put a timed latch (a regular electric timer that hooks up to a locking mechanism; that could be as simple or as complicated as needed) and a gravity powered way to go to the nft you could do an ebb and flow system attachment as needed. Or, you could use a aquaponic indexing valve that TCLynx sells, do I get money for product placement. :) Sorry for a late reply to this discussion, as AJ has probably figured out how to do this, but I think any ideas need to come forward to the aquaponic masters. (or, the leader of aquaponics anonymous) Thank you for all your help so far, I love this community.