[nalu86]

Maybe its time for a little journal about my new hobby.

330 gal IBC tote
Odyssea 4x 54W T5HO and a Diamond plate 2x32W T8
Pump 640gal/h
Fluval 305
40 gal sponge filter
Ikea timers
ebb/flood on timer 30min on 30min off
Hydroton pebbels

Fauna (for now)

13 H Rasboras and 1 lost Tilapia (long story)

Flora:

Basil, Broccoli, Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Carrots, Chives, Berry bushes, Echinacea

275gal IBC tote
HB 6x 32W T8 with good reflectors
Pump: 262gal/h
Sunsun 302 filter
40 gal sponge filter
Ikea Timer
Ebb/ Flood every 3h with 30 min off.
River rock pebbels

Fauna:

Still cycling

Flora:

Mixed lettuce, Kale, Tomatoes, Green beans, Cucumbers, Mint

Tilapia fingerlings in 75gal growout tank

 

[nalu86]

Currently I'm setting up the shelve grow tubs attached to the 75 gal outgrow tank and making sure my bell siphons work properly. Pics of this will follow soon.

 

[DogFish]

Recycling the plastic veggies containers is such a great idea. I'm also using them for sprouting seeds and emersed plant cuttings.

Glad you started a journal, I think this is a natural extension of the planted tank hobby.

 

[nalu86]

Recycling the plastic veggies containers is such a great idea. I'm also using them for sprouting seeds and emersed plant cuttings.

Glad you started a journal, I think this is a natural extension of the planted tank hobby.

My wife told me, finally a useful hobby

 

[nalu86]

I filled the 3 new shelve grow beds with river gravel today, made sure my bell siphons work perfect.
Tomorrow I will hang the lights and start planting seeds and herbs.

I wonder what my electrical bill will be with all those new lights, heaters and pumps... Solar power would be more than welcome.

Tomorrow I will post pics.

 

[DogFish]

Have you thought about using reflector walls around the grow beds?

Right now I'm using white 1/2" Styrofoam sheets I've read they are 85% reflective. Mylar film takes you up to 97%. For some weird reason I don't understand aluminum foil is the same refractivity as white and flat white works better than gloss.

Mylar is not cheap on rolls but, Space Blackets are cheap and they are made of Maylar. My next MOD will be to wrap my panels with a space blanket. In a bigger system like yours you could simply hang them like shower curtains.

 

[DogFish]

I went to find a link on the space blakets and found this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyPF_w7Fsqk

Pretty sweet idea!! I may try that if I can find some at the $1 store. My local dollar does carry space blankets.

I have a few now for emergency. Last winter the heater went out, no heat for two days. I used a spas blanket over there tank to help the tank heater. Worked great, the house got down to 50degrees at night but, the tank water stayed @ 72.

 

[BeachBum2012]

These are awesome! My girl is going to kill me when I show her these.

 

[ChadRamsey]

very impressive set up Tom.

I cant wait to get some fresh tilapa from you :biggrin:

 

[nalu86]

Update pics:

The shelve aquaponic:

Tilapia:

And my new addition to the family: M and F New Zealand White Rabbits.
Hope they give of nice offspring, I love rabbit meat.

 

[DogFish]

What's the growth cycle time on the rabbit crop, from birth to Hasenpfeffer?

 

[nalu86]

What's the growth cycle time on the rabbit crop, from birth to Hasenpfeffer?

They are 100 day rabbits. So from fertilization to plate is 100 days.
Those 2 are 9 weeks old now, another 12 - 16 weeks to go to have offspring.

 

[nalu86]

I did something stupid last week... I added 30 comets from petco.
They all started dieing, and the rasboras in the system getting fungus, turn white and die too. I am stupid that I did that.

I didn't want to put my Tilapia in the system because I want to keep them above 80F to grow faster during the winter.

How do you think this will settle, will the bacteria/virus/fungus die over time or do you think I have to reset. There are still about 10 comets in both tanks and they seem to do good.

 

[DogFish]

I did something stupid last week... I added 30 comets from petco.
They all started dieing, and the rasboras in the system getting fungus, turn white and die too. I am stupid that I did that.

I didn't want to put my Tilapia in the system because I want to keep them above 80F to grow faster during the winter.

How do you think this will settle, will the bacteria/virus/fungus die over time or do you think I have to reset. There are still about 10 comets in both tanks and they seem to do good.

The bacteria will level off on it's own.

I'd have to think it would cost that much to heat one of the IBC tubes for Tilapia. I'd think most like the same cost as heating your aquariums.

 

[nalu86]

The bacteria will level off on it's own.

I'd have to think it would cost that much to heat one of the IBC tubes for Tilapia. I'd think most like the same cost as heating your aquariums.

The tubs are filled with 200gals of water. The water is constantly pumped into the growbeds is a big heatloss. I prob need 2 500W heaters per tub to keep the water temp at 80F. I don't feel like investing in heaters.

The temp in the garage is at night now 70F and during the day 74.

 

[GMYukonon24s]

Nice setup!

 

[StraightAddicted]

Who needs a car in the garage when you have a setup like that!!! One word - Beautiful... Great setup which helps provide for you and your fish. I would like to have the space and money to do this one day. Keep up the great work.

 

[nalu86]

My green beans are flowering And the flowers are being guarded by this little fella.

Updates:

Lettuce starts to grow really fast:

Same for the tomato plants:

 

[nalu86]

Nice setup!

Who needs a car in the garage when you have a setup like that!!! One word - Beautiful... Great setup which helps provide for you and your fish. I would like to have the space and money to do this one day. Keep up the great work.

Thank you!
Car still fits, but its to cold outside and would lose a lot of heat if I open the garage door. The heat of the engine would prob make up for the heat loss, but its nice to have space in the garage.

 

[DogFish]

The tubs are filled with 200gals of water. The water is constantly pumped into the growbeds is a big heatloss. I prob need 2 500W heaters per tub to keep the water temp at 80F. I don't feel like investing in heaters.

The temp in the garage is at night now 70F and during the day 74.

I was thinking if you count up all the heater cost in your tanks. You might actually save some money. Some insulation around the 200gl tanks might solve a lot of heat loss. If you young space blankets around the grow beds you would capture/contain more heat. Heck you might end up needing a fan.

Another option might be Native Catfish in the IBC tubs they will do ok in mid 70degree water. The plus is they are a food source. I have to think warmer water is beneficial to the grow bed plant roots.