Aquaponics Digest - Wed 02/03/99
Message 1: Re: renewable tank water heating
from jilli and lars
Message 2: Re: renewable tank water heating
from "Jorg D. Ostrowski"
Message 3: Re: More Methane Stuff for the Curious
from JoAKilroy
Message 4: Re: Tomato Varieties
from james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
Message 5: Re: More Methane Stuff for the Curious
from PHRL33A@prodigy.com (MS JEAN R SHAFFER)
Message 6: Gravel beds (was Tomato Varieties)
from Gordon Watkins
Message 7: starting out
from "Glennert Riedel"
Message 8: Fresh Water Crays in Aquaponics
from Michael Strates
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| Message 1 |
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Subject: Re: renewable tank water heating
From: jilli and lars
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 11:11:54 -0800
hi gordon -
Gordon Watkins wrote:
>cut>
> Developing an active system becomes a little more complicated because
> tubes with circulating water, air, etc would need to be embedded in the
> pile to capture the heat. Moving or working around these tubes with heavy
> equipment becomes problematic.
>
> Gordon
Although you already stated that an _active_ system would be a
problematic because the heat exchange tubes might get in way when you want to
turn or move the compost pile, I thought i might mention that a _passive_
thermosiphoning system could work well with using compost as a heat source.
(Though you would still have the same problems with the heat exchanger
tubes).
Thermosiphoning works on the principle that hot fluids rise.
Technically, it is more accurate to say that cold fluids sink and displace
the hot fluids above them. Anyway, if your heat collection module (whether it
is solar, gas, or compost based) is located physically lower than your heat
storage container, the material that is heated (water or air) will naturally
(passively) rise into the storage container while the colder fluid in the
storage container will sink into the heat collector to be heated, creating a
cycle or movement that requires no input of energy besides heat. (please
e-mail if you want a simple schematic diagram in jpeg format)...
The nice thing about heat collection from a compost pile is that it
is easy to contruct a thermosiphoning-based system with it. For example, the
easiest location for solar heat absorbers is on a roof, where they won't get
in the way. However, if you want to use thermosiphoning then your heat
storage must be higher than your solar heat absorbers, which means that your
heat storage would have to be, like, on the roof peak or something - somewhat
inconvienient. Using a compost pile as a heat source is much friendlier to
thermosiphoning because it is much easier to locate a compost pile below
grade and have your heat storage at grade (or something like that).
lars fields
.
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| Message 2 |
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Subject: Re: renewable tank water heating
From: "Jorg D. Ostrowski"
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 06:39:37 -0700 (MST)
Lars: I would like to find the minimum size required to provide heat for a
family of 2 or 4, assuming you can keep the compost pile hot. I would also
like to find anyone who has used the composting toilet (indoors) to do the
same thing without compromising the performance too much, if that is
possible. That would be an interesting system since the toilet would sit
in the basement and be able to thermosyphon up to a domestic hot water
tank.The toilet can be used for gardens, hydroponics, and perhaps treating
greywater.
*****************************************************************************
Jorg-Dietram Ostrowski, M. Arch. A.S. (MIT), B. Arch. (Toronto), Ecotect
- in full-time professional practice since 1976 (Straw Bale since 1978),
environmental/architectural design, ecological planning, consulting
on sustainable buildings/communities. Lectures, seminars, workshops.
- 3 residential demonstration projects in Canada, +80,000 visitors
- college campus and office tower recofit under construction
- living a conserver lifestyle & working in a sustainable home and office
ACE, ARE, ACT, ASH-Incs., Phone: (403) 239-1882, Fax: (403) 547-2671
Web Site [under construction]: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~jdo/ecotecture.htm
e-mail:
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| Message 3 |
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Subject: Re: More Methane Stuff for the Curious
From: JoAKilroy
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 10:50:17 EST
In a message dated 2/2/99 3:46:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mstrates@croftj.net writes:
<< I noticed an increased interest on the list in using methane for pond
heating, greenhouse heating, etc.. so, I thought I'd make available all of
the info I have found.
Dave Paxton's Biogas Series (47KB Text) -- very, very old Fidonet posted
series of articles is very concise about making cheap biogas digesters,
etc.. I will e-mail this to anyone for free, as always.
I also still have the pop bottle plans, if anybody still wants them.
>>
I would be interested, please. Email them to KilroyJoa.Aol.com
Thank you
JoAnne
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| Message 4 |
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Subject: Re: Tomato Varieties
From: james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 13:31:20 -0400 (AST)
Gordon, when we did this work we were using a flood and drain gravel system.
We used very large gravel (1 inch), about 8 inches deep over a 3 inche false
bottom. We were paranoid about the gravel clogging with solids because our
previous system with smaller gravel, drain lines and no false bottom clogged
and generated up to 169 ppm of ammonia-nitrogen despite having a clarifier
which removed the bulk of settleable solids. High ammonia resulted from
secondary ammonia production by solids, having too high a ratio of fish to
plants and running the system at a sub-optimal pH for nitrification. These
were the early days. Now much more is known about aquaponic systems and
ratios and pH. But gravel was hard to support. Large-grade sharp-edged
gravel made it difficult for planting (we do not have pea gravel here). And
I think there are size limitations to gravel systems. So we went to a float
system. In our current trial we are using a raft system and the plants are
doing great because we are in our cool season. Yesterday the water
temperature was 74F. Pythium is gone. Our romaine lettuce is prime quality.
And the tomatoes are taking over the system and displaying good fruit set.
Jim R.
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| Message 5 |
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Subject: Re: More Methane Stuff for the Curious
From: PHRL33A@prodigy.com (MS JEAN R SHAFFER)
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 15:28:01, -0500
Dear JoAnne
Please email me Dave Paxton's Biogas Series (47KB Text) -
Jean Shaffer phrl33a@prodigy.com
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| Message 6 |
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Subject: Gravel beds (was Tomato Varieties)
From: Gordon Watkins
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 17:32:00 -0600
Thanks for the clarification Jim. A couple of questions:
How did you support the gravel to provide a false bottom? Did you use
some sort
of mesh? If so what was it made of and how did you prevent it from sagging?
How was
the mesh supported?
You said: "I think there are size limitations to gravel systems." Can you
clarify?
Thanks,
Gordon
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| Message 7 |
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Subject: starting out
From: "Glennert Riedel"
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 19:44:40 PST
Hello everyone,
My name is Glennert Riedel, and I've been reading lots of postings on
this mail-group. I have had contact with Paula and Tom. I think their
aproach is fantastic. Next week I'll start with the construction of a 18
cubic meter concrete tank here in Curacao. Curacao is a Dutch Caribbean
island 90 miles North of Venezuela.
I want to start small and gradually grow as I gain experience. I'm
looking for fish (Tilapia) to start with and also a source for bacteria
for my growing beds.
Can anyone help me ?
Glennert
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| Message 8 |
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Subject: Fresh Water Crays in Aquaponics
From: Michael Strates
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 03:12:17 +1100 (EST)
Hi!
I already have a seperate tank with about 200 Australian yabbies (an
aussie fresh water crayfish) which doesn't connect to my aquaponics
system. I feed the yabbies steak, meat leftovers, insects and worms.
Since I feed them meat, I assume that the water will contain some
important nutrients which my existing aquaponics system might enjoy.. My
question is, can I connect this to my "aquaponics loop"?
--
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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