Aquaponics Digest - Thu 03/12/98
Message 1: re: Re: Aquaponics questions/subjects
from jmsutton@atl.bna.boeing.com
Message 2: Introduction
from "dbell"
Message 3: Re: Greenhouse structures
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 4: Re: Greenhouse structures
from Whichwind
Message 5: Re: Greenhouse structures
from Ian Beaver
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Subject: re: Re: Aquaponics questions/subjects
From: jmsutton@atl.bna.boeing.com
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 98 4:10:27 EST
Dear Gordon and Horst,
Thank you both for your suggestion. It makes a lot of sense to me
(plus I'll have left-over worms for taking my son fishing!). I expect
to do just as you suggest.
Regards,
Jim
--------------------------original message------------------------------
Dear Jim,
I fully agree with Gordons suggestion. Actually vermicomposting becomes an
ever increasing system in Vietnam as far as I have learned. A group of
researchers from Colombia and UK are working on projects of ecofarming
doing exactly that.
Regards
Horst
At 12:49 PM 11/03/98 -0600, you wrote:
>Hello Jim,
> Microbial considerations aside, I think rabbit manure is more
valuable
>as a soil amendment than as tilapia feed. It's one of the most sought
>after fertilizers for organic growers. You would be ahead to set up a
>vermicomposting system underneath your rabbit cages, feed the worms to
>the fish, and use the compost in the garden to produce food crops for
>yourself, with residues fed to the rabbits, crayfish, tilapia, and
>worms.
> My 2 cents,
> Gordon
>
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Subject: Introduction
From: "dbell"
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 14:33:26 -0500
I have being watching this list for about three months now. With the =
exception of crystal I have found it an interesting diversion.
About my self I'm a cabinet maker by trade who has experimented with =
hydroponics. About 4 years ago I read an article in the growing edge =
about S&S s operation and became very interested. precomputer days I =
could not find much info on the subject but a lot that I visualized may =
well work.
I have several questions
1- Once a system is up and running can you have various sized tilapia in =
the same tank so that as you harvest the mature fish you have a balance =
in the manure levels.
2- In my reading tilapia seem to need warm water. Does this high temp =
not cause problems with crops like lettuce.
3- semi related, are any of you people on ICQ
4- Opinions wanted I think that 1000 gallon would be easier to operate =
but is 50 to 100 gallon viable because if it is then I could use a lot =
of my hydroponics equipment and try something this summer.
On the subject of crushed brick I thick they would work well. they are =
ph nuteral which is more than I can say for the available pea gravel =
(it's all limestone) in this area. The only disadvantage is that over =
time they break down but with aquaponics I don't see this as a problem. =
This is the medium that I plan to use because in bulk it is the most =
economical in this area.
some were I heard that that mixing animals and plants in a greenhouse =
doesn't work because the urine produces ammonia which the plant can't =
tolerate.
Thanks for listening and hope to hear from some of you soon
Jim
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Subject: Re: Greenhouse structures
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 15:36:00 -0600
At 01:36 PM 3/11/98 EST, you wrote:
>In a message dated 98-03-11 12:08:03 EST, you write:
>
><< For instance, we used
> wood for both our greenhouses, but with the humidity factor in aquaponics,
> would not build the same way again. >>
>
>Hi Paula,
>Could you elaborate on this? I am guessing that maybe too much moisture
>caused some rotting in the wood?
>Cheryl
Actually, yes. The problem is not severe in the spring/summer/fall range
here in the Ozarks, but when we close up tight for the winter months, using
just the heat from the sun, we've had problems. If you were to heat
supplementally as some do, the moisture problem would not be so severe.
We seemed to have a good mix of moist and dry air in the small greenhouse
attached to our home. We heat with wood (extremely dry air in the house),
and the greenhouse moisture was not severe even in full winter. Also, the
small house was built using salvaged materials ("petrified" oak, Tom called
it) from older homes in our town that were sold to make way for our civic
center.
We built our larger greenhouse with the aid of friends who had "experience",
and didn't learn enough on our own to know what steps to take to prevent the
problems we have now. We'll do better next time, whether it be finding a
way to waterproof the wood or using a metal-framed structure.
Paula
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
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Subject: Re: Greenhouse structures
From: Whichwind
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 17:20:47 EST
In a message dated 98-03-12 16:36:24 EST, you write:
<< We'll do better next time, whether it be finding a
way to waterproof the wood or using a metal-framed structure.
>>
Hi Paula,
So would you use a metal framed structure with glass or still with the
plastic?
Cheryl
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Subject: Re: Greenhouse structures
From: Ian Beaver
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 10:24:04 +1300
Hi
On the subject of greenhouse structures, I have been making a five
sided, pentagonal, free standing plastic covered greenhouses, both for
myself and for others. They are framed out of 2"*2" (50mm*50mm) timber,
with all main members being the same length, there being 25 peices to
make one house. These are not huge houses but very practical, for
home/hobby use. The growing area is a five sided pentagon, and adapts
well to a keyhole garden concept, where you walk into the middle of
house and the garden beds are all around. I see no reason why these
units could not be made into a aquaponics unit.
The plastic cover that I use is 250 micron horticultural film, though
these structures can be covered with a wide variety of roll material
including shade cloth or netting. The material simply wraps around the
srtucture in three pieces, and is stapled on.
They are relatively easy to make, and definitely fun, and they look
really great. My green houses are made from timber cut to 2 metre
length, and this works well for 2M roll plastic film. Because the walls
slope outwards, and the roof comes to a high peak, they feel roomy and
are great to grow in. I have one fitted with deep beds and the other
with a mix of beds and hydro.
To make one, it helps to have a wood saw that is capable of cutting
compound angles, ie angles in two directions at the same time. This is
not necesary for the basic frame and walls, but framing the doorway and
any ventilators can be a bit tricky without one.
Anyway, if anyone is interested in this concept, then get in touch. I
was thinking about double skinning one and see no reason why this cannot
be done.
There are a few tricks to making these, but I would be happy to share
these with interested parties. Its a pity that you cant buy them in
kitset form, since they are very practical and asthetically pleasing.
If anyone is interested, then get in touch.
Regards
Ian Beaver
Northland, New Zealand
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