This Sustainable House

Posts Tagged ‘aquaponics’

I have recently uploaded a new video on the Deep Water Culture (DWC) bed which is a part of the aquaponics system at TSH. This post outlines exactly how this element functions as a stand alone unit, and a later posts will integrate it within the whole.

Below is the week 3 video of the ongoing TSH Aquaponics Video Series. This week we are just checking on the growth of the plants, as well as checking out the new gravel grow bed.

Last weekend another gravel grow bed was added to the TSH Aquaponics system. As I built the bed I managed to have the foresight to take a few short video clips outlining the construction, and the principles involved. Enjoy!

Week 2′s video blog looks at the ongoing development of the DWC as well as a first view of the new fish tank arrangement.

Enjoy!

As regular readers of this blog are aware, a few months ago I instituted an aquaponics trial at TSH built in a few IBC’s (totes). The trial was about testing aquaponics as a system, as well as learning how to operate it. This initial trial system has been outstandingly successful, not withstanding a few errors along the way.

This video series will trace the aquaponics system over the next 10-12 weeks as I bring onboard a number of new elements such as new grow beds (including deep water culture) and improved fish tank designs. It will also demonstrate the amazing growth potential that aquaponics seems to be displaying no that the weather is warming up.

So without further ado, here is week ones installment.

One of the food production systems that I have been dying to try for many years is the concept of Aquaponics. Aquaponics is quite an advanced system in which we combine the best of aquaculture, growing fish and/or crustaceans, with hydroponics, growing plants in a soil-less culture. The reason that it works so well is that the plants feed on the wastes of the fish, essentially filtering the water before it returns to the fish tank. In fact, it is a touch more complicated than that (involving bacteria converting ammonia to nitrites then nitrates) however that’s the gist of it. The diagram below demonstrates the general principle.

Basic Aquaponics Cycle

The reason that have always wanted to try this system is because I feel that it can offer a lot of opportunities to the small-holder, or even householder, as one can grow a lot of food in a relatively small area. Read the rest of this entry »

A few months ago I wrote a post explaining the strawberry towers that I have decided to use at TSH (see link below). I thought that this was a good time to provide an update.

As was previously noted, I lost a few crowns when the irrigation system failed, but since re-jigging the system I haven’t had any issues. As you can see from the photo’s, the remaining crowns are doing really well.

The one change that I would like to make to the system would be to add a fertiliser ‘injector’ into the system which would make adding liquid fertiliser much easier. At the moment I periodically stand on a ladder to pour a seaweed fertiliser into the tubes. This isn’t the end of the world but it would be easier!

The other option is to perhaps integrate the system with the proposed aquaponics system, but we’ll see how that pans out as the season progresses.

Update (4/12/10) – After a week of almost solid rain another ‘problem’ has become apparent… slugs! Today when harvesting some fruit I noticed some slug damage. I think they are getting to the plants via the mint beneath which has gone beserk, and grown taller than the bottom of the tower. I think the slugs are then just bridging the gap. However there is nowhere for them to hide, so picking them off and eliminating the bridge should do the job nicely.

Photo Updates

Strawberry Tower on 7 November

Strawberry Tower on 20 November 2010