Aquaponics for Vegans/Anubias Farm

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by bluestems

....Do you know what the life expectancy is for the tomatoes and peppers? I assume you can harvest the salad a few times before replanting.
....

This is the 2nd growth for this lettuce.



Not really sure on the life span of the Tomatoes. I hope to be able to transplant these outside. I'm sure that will include a radical pruning. I think you could do this in 5gl for herbs. Maybe with a floating Cocoa mat?

[bluestems]

Nice! So you're transplanting the tomatoes outside... is that because of having to pollinate or for more space?

I purchased a hydroponics 5g system that comes with 5 pots and growing medium for the seeds. It doesn't ship until March. Can't wait! I'm excited to give this a go! If all goes well, I may look at doing something larger. Our growing season is so short here in Seattle that this could have more potential. I look forward to seeing how yours does.

[driftwoodhunter]

That Butter Crisp is making my mouth water!

Your ability to explore, experiment, and create is always a joy to see - your threads never fail to entertain and educate!

Since I live in a single wide mobile home, space is hard to come by (I take it all up with books and aquariums - lol) but I've wanted to do an inside garden for years - for salad greens. I won't be delving into hydroponics, but I do have one last bit of space left. I may finally start a rack of lettuces...the Butter Crisp won me over.

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by bluestems

Nice! So you're transplanting the tomatoes outside... is that because of having to pollinate or for more space?
....

Space and I'll shut it down and move everything outside. Veggies in the garden, fish & aquatic plants to a pond. Think vacation for the plants & shrimp. I did that last year with a Whiskey Barrel pond and I had good results. If will also reduce my energy costs, reduce run time on the lights/pump. Also, allow me more outdoor time.

[HD Blazingwolf]

ahh this is sweet.
ur making me want to grow some stuff out of a ten gallon im about have spare
that being said, i may consider a pond this summer for ultra projectness!!!

darn you and ur cool ideas!!

[DogFish]

driftwoodhunter HD Blazingwolf - You might consider a less involved method that can be done on smaller scale. This is a video about the Floating method. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3imrVkIUhg

On a small scale I think herbs would do the best. If you could design a way to float a sheet of compressed coco coir, you could grow sprouts. Lettuce does need a bit more light, but it is possible.

[h4n]

That's a great video man.
I'm going make one now haha!

Thanks!

-Sent from my Samsung Note, a "Phablet"

[nalu86]

Yeah, space, and electrical bill (saved me $30+ this month). I moved everything outside.
250 sump (pond) 275 gal fish tank and 4x75 gallon 12" deep grow beds.
Its still under construction, trying to figure out the auto siphons.

I'm learning about 2 new ways of growing veggies right now: growing in mulch and wicked beds. growing in mulch seems so easy. A friend of mine does it and he has beautiful lettuce, sprouts, Kale,... and much more growing, nights here were below freezing for 2 weeks now. He said in the morning it looks dead, but from the moment the leaves defrost, it is nice and lush again.

Here is a video about mulch gardening: Back to Eden

[DogFish]

Only in America would we spend 1/2 million $$$ on a Tub Grinder and back hoe to make mulch.

Good video, I've been composting and organic gardening for 27 years. I completely agree with you, this is the right way to grow plants be it in the garden or in the aquarium.

On my system I'm starting to feel that one might not be able to reach optimum fish and plant requirements in an Ebb/Flow system. I'm think constant flow might be more appropriate.

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by h4n

That's a great video man.
I'm going make one now haha!

Thanks!

..

I think a floating system could be done pretty easily.

[h4n]

Originally Posted by DogFish

I think a floating system could be done pretty easily.

Yup.

They got another video using a gray container and a oxiclean container growing the same way!!!

I'm definitely going make one.

-Sent from my Samsung Note, a "Phablet"

[Chrome]

When you get Tomato blooms, just make sure you shake the heck out of the plant. That is all that is needed to get good pollination. They use a "tomato shaker" in all the green houses down here in FL. Its basically just a vibrating stick that knocks the pollen loose.

I've had good success in the past with 10 gallon floating system "Deep water culture, airstone in the water" for lettuce. Not so great of success with with floating "Kratky method" No pumps, no air, no electric. It worked, but growth was slow, and harvest was also small.

With all the crap and garbage put into commercial foods today, I think everyone should be looking at various ways to produce their own foods. Aquaponics is awesome. Just keep it organic as possible.

[DogFish]

Thanks for the info on the tomatoes. I used a artist paint brush to pollinate. I specifically didn't touch a few flowers that did produce fruit so your comment makes sense.

I did a deep water bucket for tomatoes last summer outdoors it worked well.

[kris_schroder]

if you switch it over to a continuous flow method (rather than an ebb/flow method) how will you control the amount of water so that plants in the grow bed neither float away nor get root rot?

[DogFish]

Spray bar 1" under the grow stone would be my 1st adjustment. I'd also lower remove the stand pipe.

This would allow a creating increased suffice area for filtration. I would add gold fish. I also remove the anubias.