Aquaponics Digest - Sat 01/15/00

Message 1: Re: fish food - tilapia from "Sam Levy" Message 2: Re: Hello! from S & S Aqua Farm Message 3: Re: Rainbow Trout in Aquaponics & trout and lettuce from S & S Aqua Farm Message 4: Introductions from CAVM Message 5: Re: fish food - tilapia from "Mark Brotman" Message 6: Re: Strawberries from S & S Aqua Farm Message 7: Fw: Invitation to Dalian International Seafood Expo, June 14-17, 2000 in Dalian, China from S & S Aqua Farm Message 8: re: Hello! from "D.C., Cathy Dreger" Message 9: Aquaponics Short Course at UVI from "Donald Bailey" Message10: Trout and Lettuce from "Marc Laberge" Message11: Sheep tea, chicken manure tea from Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta Message12: Hope this is better from "Marc Laberge" Message13: Re: Aquaponics Short Course at UVI from Sunpeer Message14: Re: processing from "vpage" Message15: Re: Strawberries from "Jay Myers" Message16: AD...Aquaponics Journal from "Nelson and Pade" Message17: Re: Strawberries from "D.Bennett" .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 1 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: fish food - tilapia From:"Sam Levy" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 01:49:30 PST >From: "D.Bennett" >Subject: fish food - tilapia >Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 20:24:26 -0500>Reply-To: And/or, what's in the pre-mixed, purchased fish feed? _________________________________________________________ commercial tilapia diets will typically be from 25 - 35% protein and 3-6% lipid.in general, protein sources include soybean, fishmeal; oils come from components (added oil wil probably be from vegetable sources); carbohydrates from grains; + vitamin & mineral additions.the feed mill should provide you (certainly upon request) the following information: percent protein percent lipid energy rating (check whether total or metabolizable) vitamin additions mineral supplements they may be willing to give you a list of possible components but not the proportions (these may fluctuate with price and availablility sam .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 2 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: Hello! From:S & S Aqua Farm Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 07:33:52 -0600 At 10:36 AM 01/10/2000 -0800, you wrote: >My name is Doug and I'm the new editor of the hydroponics magazine, The >Growing Edge. I've been lurking in the shadows for the last month or so, >observing the group and learning more every day about this growing >field. And I want to learn more. Welcome to the list, Doug.We're really glad The Growing EDGE and other industry publications are interested in participating in our list....makes us feel more "mainstream".And as a reminder, today is advertising day for those of you who want to let the group know who you are and what you have to offer. > >My question is: Does anyone know of a good, comprehensive printed >overview of aquaponics? I'm looking for a book that would cover the >basics for someone just getting into aquaponics. This list is great and >I look forward to reading it every day. However, I would like a book >that I could turn to whenever I have a basic question (and to recommend >to people who are interested in this field). As far as I know, "THE BOOK" on aquaponics has not been written.But answering basic questions is hopefully one of the things we can do here on this list.The membership is over 350 now -- members from all over the world.With all the different backgrounds and experience levels we have represented, I'd think most any question could be answered here.At least we can hope. Let us know if you find the ultimate source for info. Paula Speraneo S&S Aqua Farm, http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/ .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 3 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: Rainbow Trout in Aquaponics & trout and lettuce From:S & S Aqua Farm Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 07:50:08 -0600 At 11:29 AM 01/13/2000 -0500, Marc Laberge wrote: >Hello to all , > >I was wondering if anyone can tell me if an EC of 2000 ( 1400ppm ) can affect the health of rainbow trout. I am new to aquaponics but not to recirc fish farms. I understand I must bring up the EC to around 2000 in order for my lettuce to do alright, yet I am a little concerned for the trout. Marc, for experience in a system raising rainbow trout, you might want to look at the web site of our friends in Sweden.They've been running their operation a few years now, and probably have the answers to your questions. We've never had to adjust our aquaponics system to grow lettuces or any other greens.They do quite well on their own.I think that hydroponics "rules" say that you need to make nutrient adjustments based on your crop, but we've found that not to be necessary.I think if you work to use your "plant biofilter" to keep your fish water quality in balance, proper plant growth is the end result, for the most part.This, at least, has been our experience. Here's the contact info for the Sweden folks: Stefan Goes Per-Erik Nygard Villavagen 5 Harnosand 871 00 Sweden Rainbow Fish Farm http://www.itv.se/rainbow Paula S&S Aqua Farm, http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/ .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 4 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Introductions From:CAVM Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 08:52:44 EST In a message dated 1/15/2000 7:36:32 AM Central Standard Time, snsaquasys@townsqr.com writes: > And as a reminder, today is advertising day for >those of you who want to let the group know who you are and what you have to >offer. Hello, we are Iowa Protein Inc. We process whole poultry into a high protein and fat feed supplement for pet food and aquaculture.Processed together with soybean meal we produce a 48% protein and 11% fat ingredient.Since the meal is extruded along with the ground poultry it is pathogen free and contains no antibiotic carryover.It stores well and can be either granular or pellet form. The combination is an economical substitute for fish meal in various fish rations.It can be delivered to your door for you to blend into your ration or it can be requested by your feed supplier for his blending on your behalf. Analysis is available upon request.Soy meal may be replaced with other carriers in the extrusion process upon request of sufficient volume. At 75% the cost of fish meal this feed ingredient can greatly reduce the cost of aquaculture in your system.Additional discounts can be negotiated for long term commitments of volume purchases. Cornelius A. Van Milligen, President David Traver, Sales Manager Iowa Protein Inc. IProtein PO Box 328 Norwalk, IA 50211 515-981-5637 .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 5 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: fish food - tilapia From:"Mark Brotman" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 09:15:44 -0500 They are pretty much omnivores.In the wild they'll eat whatever they can get into their mouths, from plant matter (including algae) to fishes smaller than themselves. D.Bennett wrote: > Exactly what do tilapia ordinarily eat? -- Mark J. Brotman Aquaculturist CropKing 5050 Greenwich Rd. Seville, OH44273 Tel: 330/769-2002, Fax: 330/769-2616 Email: mbrotman@cropking.com On the web at http://www.cropking.com .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 6 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: Strawberries From:S & S Aqua Farm Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 08:43:15 -0600 At 07:30 PM 01/14/2000 -0600, Jay wrote: >Just wanted you to know we open for U-pick business saturday morning.Hang >on to your hat.Lots of berries ready, and more coming along.Fish are all >well too. > Jay - how about giving us some more details on this..... when you have the time of course.Sounds like you're going to be busy for a while :>) Paula .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 7 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Fw: Invitation to Dalian International Seafood Expo, June 14-17, 2000 in Dalian, China From:S & S Aqua Farm Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 08:58:37 -0600 I have received a notice of this upcoming event.If anyone is interested, I will send you the details.Please respond to if you want the "full" scoop. Paula S&S Aqua Farm, http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/ .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 8 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: re: Hello! From:"D.C., Cathy Dreger" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 10:56:05 -0500 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002D_01BF5F47.1EAAF3E0 Paula wrote: The membership is over 350 now -- members from all over the = world. =20 We have been lurkers for a month or so, researching here and elsewhere = the development of a closed tilapia/greens system as a business -- = similar to what I'm reading on the list. Planning to get pond and = g'house going in two/three months. I think it might be helpful if listers were to autosig with geographic = location, as Paula does. It would be good to know if someone's raising = tilapia or tomatoes in Minnesota in winter or attempting trout in the = tropics. There certainly are different challenges and costs associated = with location. And we can commiserate with those undergoing = meteorological stresses (especially northern Minnesota). Thanks for considering. DC&Cathy Dreger Rising Fawn, GA atop Lookout Mountain ------=_NextPart_000_002D_01BF5F47.1EAAF3E0

Paula wrote: The membership is over 350 = now --=20 members from all over the world.

We have been lurkers for a month or so, = researching=20 here and elsewhere the development of a closed tilapia/greens = system as a=20 business -- similar to what I'm reading on the list. Planning to get = pond and=20 g'house going in two/three months.

I think it might be helpful if = listers were to=20 autosig with geographic location, as Paula does. It would be good to = know if=20 someone's raising tilapia or tomatoes in Minnesota in winter or = attempting trout=20 in the tropics. There certainly are different challenges and costs = associated=20 with location. And we can commiserate with those undergoing = meteorological=20 stresses (especially northern Minnesota).

Thanks for considering.

DC&Cathy Dreger

Rising Fawn, GA

atop Lookout = Mountain

------=_NextPart_000_002D_01BF5F47.1EAAF3E0-- .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 9 | '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Aquaponics Short Course at UVI From:"Donald Bailey" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 11:47:52 -0400 The University of the Virgin Islands will hold an Aquaponics and Tilapia Aquaculture Short Course June 25 - July 1, 2000. Following is the course announcement.Additional information for the course is available at its web site http://rps.uvi.edu/AES/Aquaculture/UVIShortCourse.html Program - 7-day course that will provide in-depth knowledge of the principles and practical application of the aquaponic and greenwater tank culture systems that have been developed at the University of the Virgin Islands. Participants will be introduced to a variety of system designs that maintain water quality by various solids removal techniques and by hydroponic plant culture (aquaponics), a suspended growth process (greenwater tank culture) or fixed-film nitrification. Fish production instruction will be conducted using both the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and red tilapia. Hydroponic plant production will focus on lettuce, but will also cover many other vegetables as well as culinary and medicinal herbs and ornamental flowers. Instruction - Each day will include a half-day of classroom lecture and a half-day of hands-on field work. Participants will learn the technology through presentation of the theory and practical skill development. Each student will be given a notebook of reference materials. Water quality labs will cover the standard methods of analysis and the use of water quality test kits. Field work will include fish handling, vegetable production and system operation. Facilities - UVI is located in the heart of beautiful St. Croix. The Aquaculture Program operates twelve research-scale systems (six aquaponic and six greenwater) as well as commercial-scale aquaponic and greenwater systems, a greenwater demonstration system with an associated vegetable garden, a fry sex-reversal system, a recirculating system for fingerling rearing and a purge system. The program annually produces about 20,000 lbs. of tilapia and more than 1,000 cases of vegetables. Cost - This course will cost $790 for instruction, course materials, graduation banquet and a sailing trip to Buck Island National Park for a day of snorkeling amid spectacular coral reefs. Daily dorm rooms are $35 (double) or $50 (single) and are available for 8 nights (June 24-July 2). Meals cost $5-10 each at the school cafeteria. Airfare to St. Croix, USVI is not included in the registration fee and should be arranged separately by each individual. Registration - Register by contacting Dr. James Rakocy at the address below. Please provide name, address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address and a brief description of background and experience with tilapia production and/or hydroponics. Enrollment is limited. A $300 deposit, payable to the University of the Virgin Islands, is necessary by June 1, 2000. No refunds will be made for cancellation after June 15. The balance will be due the first day of class. For more information and to register contact Dr. James Rakocy, RR 2, Box 10,000, Kingshill, VI 00850, Phone: 340-692-4020, E-mail: jrakocy@uvi.edu .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 10| '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Trout and Lettuce From:"Marc Laberge" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 12:29:22 -0500 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BF5F54.27039120 Hi Paul, thanks for the reply I think we are talking about the same EC mine our in us / cm a thousand = times smaller than yours. I would love any additional papers of yours = about rainbow trout and lettuce , I eventually will turn to speckled = trout since there is a better market for them up here and there feces = does not break up as much as rainbow trout. To get things started I am = using hydroponic fertilizers but this is temporary ; just to get the = plants started. I am working on the concept of 60g of feed / day per = square meter of growing space, plant roots in a raft system being able = to support enough bacteria to keep system in equilibrium. I was = wondering if any affect on the growth and health of of the fish has ever = been observed. I read in the aquaponics journal an article by Gorden Ceaser about = hydroponics in England in the early 50's using sheep tea...can anyone = tell me if this can be done in an aquaponics system using fish feces. Marc Laberge Mont Tremblant Qu=E9bec, Canada ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BF5F54.27039120

Hi Paul, thanks for the = reply

I think we are talking about the = same EC mine=20 our in us / cm a thousand times smaller than yours. I would love any = additional=20 papers of yours about rainbow trout and lettuce , I eventually will turn = to=20 speckled trout since there is a better market for them up here and there = feces=20 does not break up as much as rainbow trout. To get things started I am = using=20 hydroponic fertilizers but this is temporary ; just to get the plants = started. I=20 am working on the concept of 60g of feed / day per square meter of = growing=20 space, plant roots in a raft system being able to support enough = bacteria to=20 keep system in equilibrium. I was wondering if any affect on the growth = and=20 health of of the fish has ever been observed.

I read in the aquaponics journal an = article by=20 Gorden Ceaser about hydroponics in England in the early 50's using sheep = tea...can anyone tell me if this can be done in an aquaponics system = using fish=20 feces.

Marc Laberge

Mont Tremblant

Québec, Canada

------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BF5F54.27039120-- .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 11| '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Sheep tea, chicken manure tea From:Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 13:54:02 -0500 Marc, Aquaponics is essentially using the nutrients in fish effluentwhich sounds SO much nicer than fish feces, don't you think?) to grow plants which at the same time serve as a biofilter. > I read in the aquaponics journal an article by Gorden Ceaser about > hydroponics in England in the early 50's using sheep tea...can anyone > tell me if this can be done in an aquaponics system using fish feces. Last weekend I attended an open house/demonstration at the North Florida Agricultural Research and Education Center where they demonstrated the use of composted chicken manure tea for hydroponic growing.The challenge in using compost teas is to avoid the fermentation and resulting plugging of emitters.The researchers solved this problem by putting a "tea bag" made of ground cloth filled with pelletized composted hen manure in the top pot of a stack of Verti-Grow pots (see http://www.vertical-gardens.com/).The dripper drips onto the tea bag and the resulting tea filters through the column of pots. The outflow is then re-used to grow lettuces in a run-to-waste system.They were experiencing some plugging of emitters in the second phase, requiring daily checking and clearing. The main difficulty of putting this method into practice is determining and maintaining the appropriate "dose".The extension service has access to extensive monitoring and testing equipment to determine how much to use and when to refill.A side by side comparison with hydroponic nutrients showed that the manure tea system produced plants that wereslightly smaller and didn't have quite the sheen or gloss of those grown with conventional nutrients.However the lettuces were beautiful in both applications and the differences were so slight that probably only an experienced grower would notice them.The method definitely has possibilities for those looking for an "organic" alternative, once you can work out the dosage. I suspect that the sheep manure experiment was less than perfect. Gordon Creaser is my consultant and in the many discussions we had regarding organic alternatives he never mentioned this one. Adriana Gutiérrez Green Cuisine Sarasota, Florida .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 12| '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Hope this is better From:"Marc Laberge" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 15:28:20 -0500 Thank You Paula and Adriana, I hope this is better .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 13| '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: Aquaponics Short Course at UVI From:Sunpeer Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 17:34:34 EST This was a great learning experience last year...I had a fantastic time. The hospitality and location made the event memorable. Best Regards.. Monte .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 14| '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: processing From:"vpage" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 17:05:31 -0700 Hello Joy, As promised I am getting back to you. We are finally organized and have a great show! We will be announcing it pretty soon but the programme is on the Northern Aquaculture web page (http://www.naqua.com/) and soon on the Lethbridge Community College web page (http://www.lethbridgec.ab.ca/). The latter is taking careof registration but I will be organizing the Tradeshow. We are excited about the aquaponic component of the programme as a complement to the land based aquaculture programme. I look forward to meeting you, should you decide to join us. If you require any further information please feel free to contact me. Regards, Victoria Alberta Fish Farmer's Association ----- Original Message ----- From: Joy Pye-MacSwain > Hummmmm with youngest son living in Alberta .._and_ a neat course in > aquaponics >sounds like it has potential.Add me onto your mailing list for > registration and course info.Thanks. > .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 15| '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: Strawberries From:"Jay Myers" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 22:36:26 -0600 I'm not quite sure what you want to know, but I'll tell you anything - after all - it was your info package that got this all started. The U-pick is just for strawberries.They're inside the greenhouse, growing in a vert-i-grow system.House is 108' x 30', and has 217 towers x 40 = 8680 plants, most of which are strawberries.We also have 3 grow beds with pea gravel, and5000 gal fish tank with 3400 little swimmers at 85 degrees F. The grow beds have 4 lettuces, spinach, some parsley,a little basil and marigolds.We had great interest in the lettuces today, and I'm guessing we can sell all we can grow to the berry pickers through May.Then our tourist season is at it's peak, and as most of the restaurant owners are customers of our aerial advertising business, I'm told they will buy all we can grow through August.Then the berries get going again in September, producing fruit by November end. A DAY OFF comes in there somewhere. We only have one house plus some outside now, so making any money will be tough.We probably could stay local with 4-5 houses, but first things first. Anything else you want to know - just ask. Jay -----Original Message----- From: S & S Aqua Farm To: aquaponics@townsqr.com aquaponics@townsqr.com Date: Saturday, January 15, 2000 8:46 AM Subject: Re: Strawberries >At 07:30 PM 01/14/2000 -0600, Jay wrote: >>Just wanted you to know we open for U-pick business saturday morning. Hang >>on to your hat.Lots of berries ready, and more coming along.Fish are all >>well too. >> > >Jay - how about giving us some more details on this..... when you have the >time of course.Sounds like you're going to be busy for a while :>) > >Paula > > .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 16| '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: AD...Aquaponics Journal From:"Nelson and Pade" Date:Sat, 15 Jan 2000 20:52:41 -0800 Hello aquaponicers, Check out the Aquaponics Journal at: http://www.aquaponics.com EDUCATORS, we now have an aquaponics curriculum. You can learn more about it at: http://www.aquaponics.com/pr_a_cur.htm Thanks, Rebecca Nelson nelson@aquaponics.com .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------. | Message 17| '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------' Subject: Re: Strawberries From:"D.Bennett" Date:Sun, 16 Jan 2000 00:29:40 -0500 Do you have any e-pics of the towers?Are they something that's sold comercially?Do you have any web addresses that would show such towers? >in a vert-i-grow system.House is 108' x 30', and has 217 towers x 40 = >8680 plants, most of which are strawberries.We also have 3 grow beds with About how many quarts of strawberries do you expect to harvest off this 8680 plants?How old are the plants now?Have you found certain varieties of strawberries grow better with this method than others?Names please? :-) >pea gravel, and5000 gal fish tank with 3400 little swimmers at 85 degrees So, are all your beds and berry towers, etc. supported by that take of fish?Do you ad any other nutrients to the plants? >We only have one house plus some outside now, so making any money will be >tough Why?I mean, well, are you figuring in the cost of the investment too or what?I don't think I'm making this question very clear. :-( What expenditures prevent making money? Thank you, in advance, for taking time out of your busy schedule to help out a wantta be. :-)