Aquaponics for Vegans/Anubias Farm

[nalu86]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

Your aquaponic made me think of how to do it in a bigger scale. So that means no shelf and having 2 pumps pumping back and forth. I wonder if it can be done with one pump.

I have a feeling you'll need to add extra ferts or feed more to the fish. Have you checked no3 , po4?

Some people dose extra Iron, epsom salt and seaweed extract.

Bigger scale: I have 2 IBC totes with the top cut off 200 gal tank for fish tank and top part as bedding. Works perfect, but I need more beds for the amount of water.

[nalu86]

Great setup you have and nice growth!! I like how organized it is.

I just added 3 Ikea beds to my 75 gallon Tilapia outgrow tank, will be perfect for growing low veggies as lettuce, spinach, kale,...

I have a whitefly infestation on my broccoli, all the leaves were hanging today, I already tried to treat in the last couple of days with 1/1 oil water in spray bottle and soap and water mix in spray bottle, seems like nothing helps, do you know a better treatment? I don't want to use chemicals.

And Goldfish is just like Tilapia or catfish, the more you feed them the more poop they will produce, the more nutrients for the plants.

[DogFish]

Yes, Goldfish are little Poop factories, and they grow fast. They don't need as much swimming room as Cichlids or Catfish. They aren't too destructive. Of course other than Anubias there aren't many plant choices they work well with.

There are lots of Organic pest spray recipes on Youtube. Most use Organic soap and cooking oil as a base. Some people add hot peppers & garlic. I don't know if they would affect taste of the veggies.

[mistergreen]

diatomaceous earth work pretty well as an organic pest control.

Found this aquaponic vid from Purdue U.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26xpMCXP9bw

[DogFish]

New & Improved! Now 12% more reflective with Mylar.

Thank you N.A.S.A

[JunJunJenn]

Neel oil also works as an all natural pesticide. Its actually in most organic sprays.

[pandacory]

Remove brocoli from tray, dunk in water, let fish eat bugs. Win win.

[pandacory]

Also, increase air circulation to help with pests (think of them like algae in your tank, the more stagnant, the more algae)

Disconnect the grow bed from the tank if you are going to spray with anything. Cycle with pure water for 24hrs, then reconnect.

[DogFish]

UPDATE PICS

The Black Seeded Simpson is doing the best of the lettuce



I'm happy with the tomatoes so far


Very happy about new growth on the Anubias Afzelii (bottom plant new leaf @ 5 o'clock)


The Orandas are maybe 25% larger.

[nalu86]

Thats looking good!

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by nalu86

Thats looking good!....

Thanks! I replied on your journal.

Just repotted the A. round leaf. My little piggies managed to uproot one of the plants. It didn't have as much roots as the other two in the pot.

[chad320]

This is awesome! i had no idea you were a Vegan. I am as well. Go figure, a bunch of plant nerds being Vegan, lol.

[Eldachleich]

I had no idea you were a vegan either....
I am so jealous of this set-up and that little nepenthe there...
My nepenthe continues to grow but I have yet to see a new pitcher. I'm hoping with the arrival of the cooler winter months.
Might also try some methods of increasing the humidity. Maybe that will help.
I dream of your veggies....
I'm getting sick of having to buy them.
My neighbor sprayed for bugs and all my veggies and my large collection of peppers died.
I'm crushed...
Good news in that he felt terrible and is willing to replace them all.. I'm just waiting till spring so that I can redo the soil in the bed... Plus finding all those pepper species is gonna be hard..
Might have some seeds saved...

This is really cool.
About what were you costs in building this?
I have a great love for fancy goldfish and am wondering if something like this would be feasible outdoors...
Ive got about 5 places I could stick one.

[DogFish]

chad320 & Eldachleich - I'm close but not quiet there yet. The "for Vegans" part is for my GF who has been a Vegan for 40+ years(last 5 years a Raw Vegan) and for the fact we won't be eating the Goldfish, as you may know in most Aquaponic systems food crop fish are grown vs. my Orandas.

I eat maybe 95% of the time vegan. I just will not give up my Sushi.
I'll have a few eggs and the occasional turkey club sandwich . My choices are strictly health based and not political.

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by Eldachleich

....
I am so jealous of this set-up and that little nepenthe there...I have a great love for fancy goldfish and am wondering if something like this would be feasible outdoors...
Ive got about 5 places I could stick one.

I like the nepenthe, grow is vey slow so maybe it needs more humidity? I have two new leaves that start making pitchers.

In my opinion this set up would be better outside or best in a greenhouse. The outside wouldn't work in Chicago Land and I don't have a greenhouse.

There are dozens of ways to do this outside. Spend some time on youtube. I saw one nice pond with raised grow beds from Austraila that was really done well and rather inexpensive.