Good source for Aquaponics information?

Snafu1236

Well-Known Member
Hello all,

As most of you know I am an avid organic soil gardener.

As of late, I have been wanting to try to go even more organic, and have come across a style of growing called Aquaponics.

There seems to be relatively little information, and I cannot seem to find a definitive guide or knowledge base.

Can anyone help steer me in the right direction for more knowledge on Aquaponics?

I am interested in doing a very small aquaponics setup for just one clone and compare it over time to my soil endeavors.
 

ExtremeMetal43

Active Member
fastonline.org i think this dude travis runs it hes the best source for info I went to an aquaponics workshop he held hes been all around the world teaching about it.

ggo to the technology link its all there

btw there is an incredible amount of knowledge on that site just an encyclopedia of info on self sustainability
 

personified

Active Member
Nothing to it really you just need a medium and some fish or fresh water aquatic life that eats and poos. I am using hydroton but rocks and gravel will do. Start with a couple little fish to start the microbes building in the medium plant something and wait for the seed to pop. At that time add more fish slowly a couple at a time a week giving time for the filtration to take affect from the nitrites getting converted to nitrates. You can pee in the water as well to start the microbes.

Here are some videos
Simple explinations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwMEulvJ2Ps&list=PL8DD9940795FB8097&index=1&feature=plpp_video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqS9ZXUPz2k&list=PL8DD9940795FB8097&index=8&feature=plpp_video

Bigger with Will Allen he is basically the poster child for Aquaponics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozvrp_uTH98&list=PL8DD9940795FB8097&index=28&feature=plpp_video

Here is how to make a bell siphon if you decide to go that route. I am just using NFT bell siphons while not hard to set up are problematic at times. I find balancing the water flow is easier and just as affectve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLbOW1e9Ym8&list=PL8DD9940795FB8097&index=2&feature=plpp_video

Here is an example to build from plastic storage I find them on Craigslist for about 100-150 used but any food grade container works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYFM7J_TpTU&feature=related

Basically once the microbes are built just feed the fish. The ratio is a minimum of 2 gallon of medium to 1 gallon of water so 2/1. I have done it with 5 gold fish 2 koi and a algae eater.

When mine was outside I had a 55 gallon plastic container that you see holding water on the side of the highway exits to stop impacts in an accident and (2) 55 gallon drums cut in half.

aquaponics 7-25-10.jpg

Bad side is my dog will not leave the pumps and air stones alone so I moved them inside until I can create a green house.

DSCI0329.jpgDSCI0330.jpg

If you want a closed system so you do not have to buy the food for the fish you can breed and feed black soldier flys from you garbage or even dog poo. The larva eat the dog poo and no poo is used as fertilizer so it is safe source of protein.

The cool thing about soldier flys is that they give off a scent that regular house flys do not like so they actually repel them. Soldier flys only eat as larva and as adults they only want to breed so they are not a nusiance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaoVBlS8iVA


The other alternative is to grow duckweed which is bascally a moss they feed on in the wild. As mentined in one of the first videos. I just feed them fish food which is basically ground up fish so it is emulsion fish fert as well.
 

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Fishnet

Active Member
Well said, Personified. I frequent this site:

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/

I believe backyard aquaponics, Aussie, is the largest and oldest site, try there too. Everything you could ever ask has been asked and answered there. And lots of enthusiasts willing to share.
 

scroglodyte

Well-Known Member
there's an Aussie dude on youtube who is an aquaponics master. one plant may get too much nutrition from the entire tank.........there's a formula. check out that dude.
 
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