DIY hydroponics

[Moontanman]

Lets work out a plan that would allow a person with limited space to grow a significant amount of vegetables and protein for their own consumption. I admit I have some but limited experience in this so those of you who have a better grasp of the idea please contribute. What I would like to be able to do is grow cool weather plants with hydroponics in the winter in a greenhouse and grow fish to fertilize the plants. How big and how much is two of the basic questions we need to answer. I'm sure there are many more questions and answers to be found here.

[Not half, but whole!]

I have no real experience with hydroponics, I have dealt with some bog/marsh plants as well as emergent aquatic plants. You may want to check out Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarium By Diana Walstad. (Not the most common book available in aquarium shops, but available from Amazon.com).It has some great charts and descriptions of specific nutrient needs for plants as well as average amounts of these nutrients in fish wastes and foods. May be a decent start to determine basic plant to fish ratios.

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by Not half, but whole!

I have no real experience with hydroponics, I have dealt with some bog/marsh plants as well as emergent aquatic plants. You may want to check out Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarium By Diana Walstad. (Not the most common book available in aquarium shops, but available from Amazon.com).It has some great charts and descriptions of specific nutrient needs for plants as well as average amounts of these nutrients in fish wastes and foods. May be a decent start to determine basic plant to fish ratios.

It's a great book, a friend of mine has it. While I do a lot of what it discusses I move a little more by what feels right than what any equations say I should do. This might be a fatal flaw in my idea of aquarium keeping. But does it translate to a simple closed hydroponic system?

[Ahmabeliever]

Very simple. 1 kilo of fish will require 0.65 m2 - 30 cm deep porous gravel bed. In this you grow leafy greens and herbs as a ground cover with fruiting veg like peppers toms and cucumbers. Ignore planting recommendations, this will grow profusely in a small space better than most gardens you ever had.

If the garden is above the fish one small continuous flow powerhead pump and an auto siphon completes the working parts. One working part - the pump.

Pumped from the lowest point of your aquarium/pond up into the beds. These are either auto siphon ebb and flow beds, or continuous flow with plumbing to distribute water through the bed.

Aeration is provided by the waters return.

You need to cycle these up or you will have pea soup, a mean and ornery looking algae bloom. Use established (biological) tank water to greatly reduce the risk of this. Keep light off tank when you cycle up helps even more.

Use bacterial start-ups, caution and patience as if it were an aquarium you are cycling, and you will be rewarded.

[Not half, but whole!]

I too tend to work by "gut instinct" and simple observation of my inhabitants.

I think it could give you some ideas on what the stocking levels should be and allow you to not have to dose your system with commercial plant nutrients (or at least minimize the additives needed). As for design it won't do much for you.

My first thought for design would be essentially an inverted system, a sump with the fish and tiered rack system above.
You probably have some ideas, but here's a quick and dirty schematic that pops into my head for a system like you are talking about.


Being in a greenhouse may eliminate the need for lighting, you would still tier the growing trays for water movement though.

[Ahmabeliever]

For an extra effective (clean) aquaponic aquarium use an undergavel filter (plate) in the tank. Pump draws through this then up to the aquaponic bed. (that's what this is called, Aquaponics).

Seasol, or organic liquid seaweed (it HAS TO be organic) can be used to assist young plants as the system starts, it also helps balance micro-nutrients out a bit. One or two applications of 1/20th recommended strength, then you don't need this anymore.

Sometimes a system needs iron. I just let a couple of nails rust (oxidise) in part of the system. Other use a chelated iron product. I cannot recommend at what rate to supplement iron, seaweed is one of the only 'bottles' I own.

[freeztar]

What is DYI? Did you mean DIY?

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by freeztar

What is DYI? Did you mean DIY?

No! I meant Do Yourself In Yes I got that one wrong from the getgo

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by Ahmabeliever

Very simple. 1 kilo of fish will require 0.65 m2 - 30 cm deep porous gravel bed. In this you grow leafy greens and herbs as a ground cover with fruiting veg like peppers toms and cucumbers. Ignore planting recommendations, this will grow profusely in a small space better than most gardens you ever had.

If the garden is above the fish one small continuous flow powerhead pump and an auto siphon completes the working parts. One working part - the pump.

Pumped from the lowest point of your aquarium/pond up into the beds. These are either auto siphon ebb and flow beds, or continuous flow with plumbing to distribute water through the bed.

Aeration is provided by the waters return.

You need to cycle these up or you will have pea soup, a mean and ornery looking algae bloom. Use established (biological) tank water to greatly reduce the risk of this. Keep light off tank when you cycle up helps even more.

Use bacterial start-ups, caution and patience as if it were an aquarium you are cycling, and you will be rewarded.

Has anyone tried putting freshwater clams in the fish tank, a few hundred edible freshwater clams should do the trick. I figure maybe a 2000 gallon tank but I don't know where to go from there.

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Moontanman

No! I meant Do Yourself In Yes I got that one wrong from the getgo

Fixed.