| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
burtonridr
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Aug 03, 2007
Posts: 763
|
 Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:59 am Post subject: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
  |
|
I have completed the first small aquaponics system for inside our home to be used year round. It uses only 102 watts per day! Small enough to run on a very small solar system.
And here are a few pics of the one I'm building in my backyard to be used in the spring through fall.
The 300 gallon rain water collector/fish pond
The hole in the ground where the pond will be
On the left a compost pile, on the right a rabbit hutch and pen, we have 3 rabbits.
The blue half barrels to be used for the grow beds sitting in our garden for now... and the attack dog protecting the garden 
_________________
Tired of high gas prices?  Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home
Peak Oil Blog = http://getroasted.wordpress.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
pedalling_faster
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Dec 10, 2005
Posts: 946
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
looks great !
it also points out the aspect of Peak Oil preps - you got to do it while you can still buy the materials "in real time".
_________________
http://www.LASIK-Flap.com/ ~ Health Warning about LASIK Eye Surgery |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
burtonridr
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Aug 03, 2007
Posts: 763
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
| pedalling_faster wrote: | looks great !
it also points out the aspect of Peak Oil preps - you got to do it while you can still buy the materials "in real time". |
Yea and it is easier to recover and learn from mistakes when your life doesnt depend on it 
_________________
Tired of high gas prices? Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home
Peak Oil Blog = http://getroasted.wordpress.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
coyote
News Editor
Joined: Oct 23, 2005
Posts: 1851
Location: East of Eden
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
burton, what is the fish pond liner made of? Is there any chance of it losing integrity at some point?
_________________
"If a path to the better there be, it begins with a full look at the worst." — Thomas Hardy |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
burtonridr
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Aug 03, 2007
Posts: 763
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
| coyote wrote: | | burton, what is the fish pond liner made of? Is there any chance of it losing integrity at some point? |
I'm not sure... I think it has some years left in it
_________________
Tired of high gas prices? Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home
Peak Oil Blog = http://getroasted.wordpress.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WisJim
Expert
Joined: Jan 03, 2005
Posts: 1212
Location: western Wisconsin
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:56 am Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
| burtonridr wrote: | | I have completed the first small aquaponics system for inside our home to be used year round. It uses only 102 watts per day! Small enough to run on a very small solar system. |
Do you mean 102 watt-hours per day, or a continual 102 watts load? I'm assuming you meant 102 watt-hours, or about a 4 1/4 watt continual load. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mos6507
Fusion
![]()
Joined: Aug 03, 2007
Posts: 4590
Location: Boston Suburbs
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
| coyote wrote: | | burton, what is the fish pond liner made of? Is there any chance of it losing integrity at some point? |
My mom keeps buying plastic garden pots, planters, and bins for garden waste and they deteriorate almost overnight from the temperature variations and UV exposure.
_________________
http://doomsteaddiary.blogspot.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
burtonridr
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Aug 03, 2007
Posts: 763
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
| WisJim wrote: | | burtonridr wrote: | | I have completed the first small aquaponics system for inside our home to be used year round. It uses only 102 watts per day! Small enough to run on a very small solar system. |
Do you mean 102 watt-hours per day, or a continual 102 watts load? I'm assuming you meant 102 watt-hours, or about a 4 1/4 watt continual load. |
I'm not sure the difference ...
The pump runs 24/7 and consumes 3.5 watts, the grow bulb is on 8 hours a day and consumes 7.5 watts.
_________________
Tired of high gas prices? Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home
Peak Oil Blog = http://getroasted.wordpress.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
burtonridr
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Aug 03, 2007
Posts: 763
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
| mos6507 wrote: | | coyote wrote: | | burton, what is the fish pond liner made of? Is there any chance of it losing integrity at some point? |
My mom keeps buying plastic garden pots, planters, and bins for garden waste and they deteriorate almost overnight from the temperature variations and UV exposure. |
It is made by rubbermaid
"300 Gallon, Black Stock Tank, 25"H x 69"W x 63.3"L, Durable Structural Foam Plastic, Single Piece Seamless Construction, Engineered To Withstand Cold Weather, High Winds & Ill-Tempered Animals, Rustproof, Dent, Crack & Corrosion-Resistant Even When Frozen Solid, Heavy Duty Reinforced Underside Ribs, Caged Heaters & Float Valve Systems Are Accepted, Drinker's Wide, Tilt-Back Opening Makes It Easy For Hogs, Sheep & Goats To Use, 1.5" Oversized Drain Plug, Use For Small Animal Dipping, Disinfecting & Washing, Duramold Construction For Rugged Farm Tough Applications."
Its got some cracks in the bottom and as you can see in the pic I had to fix a few chunks missing along the rim, but it holds water
_________________
Tired of high gas prices? Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home
Peak Oil Blog = http://getroasted.wordpress.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
smajor
Coal
Joined: Aug 18, 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Kingman, AZ
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
Thanks for the posts Burtonridr. It's always inspiring to see ideas in action. One pair of hands trying to make something work is worth a million wagging tongues.
I'm about to start working on an aquaponics system I'll be housing in a greenhouse made of pallets (free) and scrap lumber (also free). I plan to use plastic film specifically made for greenhouses for the covering. And ferro-cement for the fish tank. Ferro-cement is basically chickenwire covered with a mixture of cement and sand.
I'll be documenting just how much this system costs me as well as it's successes and failures.
I'll be watching your posts for potential problems I need to deal with. You can watch mine for the same |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kpeavey
Expert
Joined: Oct 04, 2004
Posts: 1323
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
in the first pic, looks like you are low on Windex
As far as that fishpond, what do you intend to stock it with? I'm looking for catfish for a 55 gallon drum in the greenhouse. Its a slow moving project.
_________________
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever."
-George Orwell, 1984
______________
Accept the Facts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
strider3700
Fission
Joined: Apr 17, 2005
Posts: 2765
Location: Vancouver Island
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
what grows under a 7.5 watt grow bulb for 8 hours a day? Where did you get it? I have a little dim lamp in the baby bedroom that uses the same power and it would never grow a thing.
_________________
shame on us, doomed from the start
god have mercy on our dirty little hearts |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kpeavey
Expert
Joined: Oct 04, 2004
Posts: 1323
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
| strider3700 wrote: | | I have a little dim lamp in the baby bedroom that uses the same power and it would never grow a thing. |
It takes a few year to grow a baby. Give it time.
_________________
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever."
-George Orwell, 1984
______________
Accept the Facts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
burtonridr
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Aug 03, 2007
Posts: 763
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: Got my first aquaponics system up and running |
|
|
| kpeavey wrote: | in the first pic, looks like you are low on Windex
As far as that fishpond, what do you intend to stock it with? I'm looking for catfish for a 55 gallon drum in the greenhouse. Its a slow moving project. |
{quote="strider3700"]I want tilapia.... but I will probably end up with catfish because they are local, eat just about anything, and hold up to extreme temps.
what grows under a 7.5 watt grow bulb for 8 hours a day? Where did you get it? I have a little dim lamp in the baby bedroom that uses the same power and it would never grow a thing.[/quote]
I dont know what type it is.... I bought it at home depot, it won some award for being the most innovative grow light last year or something like that.
| smajor wrote: | I'm about to start working on an aquaponics system I'll be housing in a greenhouse made of pallets (free) and scrap lumber (also free). I plan to use plastic film specifically made for greenhouses for the covering. And ferro-cement for the fish tank. Ferro-cement is basically chickenwire covered with a mixture of cement and sand.
I'll be documenting just how much this system costs me as well as it's successes and failures.
I'll be watching your posts for potential problems I need to deal with. You can watch mine for the same |
Awesome! Its cool to see more people here considering setting this up, enclosed in a green house and powered by solar power, it is totally a sustainable solution to growing lots of food in a relatively small space. You can utilize much more vertical space, plus plants grow twice as fast and produce far more than traditional gardening in the ground. I'm surprised more people here are not learning to take advantage of these types of systems.
_________________
Tired of high gas prices? Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home
Peak Oil Blog = http://getroasted.wordpress.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
