Aquaponics Digest - Wed 08/18/99
Message 1: unsubscribe
from TGarnick
Message 2: RE: small family set up
from Jones Nick A PSNS
Message 3: RE: small family set up
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 4: Re: small family set up
from POLLYDD
Message 5: Alternative Aqua Assn.
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 6: Re: seizure auction?
from Debra Russell
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Subject: RE: small family set up
From: Jones Nick A PSNS
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 07:28:34 -0700
I too am just getting things together, low/no-budget. I
"scrounged" over the last several months and have two 300 gal round plastic
municipal waste (dumpster) receptacles (they were steam cleaned by the city
before we picked them up). Free was too good to pass up.
They had minor damage which was easily repaired with pipe
plugs in the larger holes (borrowed 1/2 inch pipe tap, 1/2 inch pvc pipe
plugs with teflon tape sealer), and melted scrap plastic for the small
holes. A soldering gun outfitted with a piece of #12 copper wire for the tip
was used to melt the scrap to be used in the repair (use lots of
ventillation, and do this kind of repair outside). A small crack, starting
at the upper lip and running down the side was stopped by drilling a 3/8
inch hole at the very end of the crack. This stress relieves the point
stress area at the end of the crack, and spreads the stress around the edges
of the hole, hopefully preventing further growth of the crack. The crack did
not radiate/grow to below the intended water line to begin with, so that
made this repair acceptable.
A stainless steel, 10 gallon, cone bottomed tank was found
at a scrap yard, for only $5.
St Vincent dePaul and Salvation Army stores are wonderful
places to shop. I have three water bed heaters, to be used a seedling
starting heat mats, with controls, for about $3 each, found at St Vincent's.
It is my intention/plan to use rain gutter for NFT troughs.
At $3.29 per 10 foot length it seems the right way to go. Standard NFT trays
with lids/covers would cost several times this amount. It really ticks me
off to see the price difference between the two, but then again I am totally
inexperienced with this "system", so I may find out the hard way why people
spend so much for the standard trays.
I believe that the KEY is to have a plan, then take your
time shopping/looking/scrounging. Don't be afraid to ask friends and
neighbors, there is a warehouse/wealth of information and help out there.
But, at some point you have to make the decision to get things going. A
person can spend their lifetime just in planning.
I did buy something new...(sorry) A marine bilge pump @$18
from a hardware store, not a marine supply store. Its rated capacity is 450
gal/hour, and it will lift a 3/4 inch water column several feet. I have
been testing it 24 hours/day, 7 days/week now for just over two weeks and it
hasn't failed yet. However, I do not believe a person should use this as a
primary pump without an additional one as a backup, and an automatic way to
transfer to the backup in case of primary failure. AUTOMATIC, I know how
fast things can get away, and how quickly things can die. You can't sit
there 24/7 watching, you have a life.
We are home-schooling two of our daughters and we decided on
an aquaponics science project for this year. If anyone is doing the same and
have comments, please send them along. We do need to find out how to do all
of the water tests on a budget and have the girls, and us, learn how to
perform these tests properly and accurately. Ammonia test kits for aquariums
should work but not sure about the other "essential?" tests (nitrite,
nitrate, dissolved solids, oxygen???). I have not investigated this yet so
the aquarium test kits may do all/part of these tests.
My two cents worth....Nick A. Jones W7AA
njones@hctc.com
jonesn@psns.navy.mil
-----Original Message-----
From: Debra Russell [mailto:De8ra@netscape.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 5:29 PM
To: aquaponics@townsqr.com
Subject: small family set up
If one is interested in starting a family aquaponic system.
Using inexpensive
materials how low of an investment do you think one can get
away with?
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Subject: RE: small family set up
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 11:24:49 -0500
At 09:39 PM 08/17/1999 -0400, Ron wrote:
In the spring a lot of
>people throw away the frames and pumps and such to those pools and all you
>need to add is a new liner. I dumpster dove 3 such pools this May. Cost of
>new liner $45 each. Check farm auctions for stock tanks , these usually hold
>150 - 180 gallons , very good for young fingerling tanks.
Just recalled some conversation previously on liners and their properties.
Here it is again FYI. Paula
---------------------------------
From: KLOTTTRUE
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 12:41:51 EST
To: aquaponics@townsqr.com
Subject: Re: Pool turning into Reality
Hello, I would like to know if it is possible to line a fish tank with 6 mil
greenhouse poly, either doubled or tripled, also is it toxic to fish? Also
does anyone know if there is a market for tilapia in Georgia? What size and
shape would you recommend for someone just starting out? One last question,
are above ground swimming pool liners toxic to fish? I am 46 years old and I
have recently been disabled, I am too young to just quit, I am trying to find
a way to be productive and supplement my income. I have always been fascinated
with fish and with greenhouses and I'm exploring the possibilities of
aquaponics. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Ken at Lott's landing.
------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 14:48:36 -0400 (AST)
To: aquaponics@townsqr.com
From: james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
Subject: Re: Pool turning into Reality
>Hello, I would like to know if it is possible to line a fish tank with 6 mil
>greenhouse poly, either doubled or tripled, also is it toxic to fish?
It is better to use 20 or 30 mil low or high density polyethylene liners.
These are black liners that will last 15 or more years. The plasticizers in
vinyl pool liners are initially toxic to fish. The liners must be aged a
week or two preferrably with some bad water, high in organic content. Then
dump this water and the tanks should be O.K. Vinyl is a pain though.
Nutsedge can grow through it producing small holes and big leaks. After it
ages it will shrink and crack upon drying.
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From: KLOTTTRUE
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 20:44:10 EST
To: aquaponics@townsqr.com
Subject: Re: Pool turning into Reality
I know it would be better to use 20 or 30 mil,but I'm one of those do it
yourselfers,who tries to keep cost to a minimum until I see if it is going to
work for me.Would it be possible to use the 6 mil poly greenhouse plastic on a
trial basis,even if it is just for a year or two? Does anyone know if its
toxic.Thanks Ken
---------------------------------------------------------
From: "Ronald W. Brooks"
To:
Subject: RE: Pool turning into Reality
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 11:07:21 -0500
it should work just fine. as long as you make sure that it is non treated
as some of the newer plastics are coated to reduce condensation and reduce
algae and mildew.
I have used 6 mil to make bogs inside and out and get a couple of years life
out of them
-------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 12:29:01 -0400 (AST)
To: aquaponics@townsqr.com
From: james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
Subject: Re: Pool turning into Reality
>Thanks for the reply,I checked with the salesman where I bought it today,he
>said it was O.K.,but I like to ask someone with experience.He also sells 45
>mil rubber pond liners,any thoughts on that? Thanks Ken
>
>
Tilapia will eat rubber (hypalon) liners and create leaks at the folds.
Incidentally, tilapia also enjoy eating motor oil when your sump pump leaks.
There's potential here for cleaning up oil spills. Jim R.
-------------------------------------------------------
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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| Message 4 |
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Subject: Re: small family set up
From: POLLYDD
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 15:46:16 EDT
Paula,
Did you get my post about the Alternative Aquaculture Association? I
thought your readership would be interested. Aug 18th Thx Polly -
pollydd
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| Message 5 |
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Subject: Alternative Aqua Assn.
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 18:25:34 -0500
At 03:46 PM 08/18/1999 EDT, PollyD wrote:
>Paula,
> Did you get my post about the Alternative Aquaculture Association? I
>thought your readership would be interested. Aug 18th Thx Polly -
>pollydd
Polly, thought I remembered seeing it, but can't locate it in my files. Can
you repost?
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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| Message 6 |
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Subject: Re: seizure auction?
From: Debra Russell
Date: 18 Aug 99 17:21:18 PDT
Has anyone investagated autions from drug seizures for hydroponic supplys=
=2E I
would think that would be a good place to pick up top of the line equipme=
nt =
cheap since a lot of marijania is now grown this way. Any thoughts? De=
bra =
Jones Nick A PSNS wrote:
I too am just getting things together, low/no-budget. I
"scrounged" over the last several months and have two 300 gal round plast=
ic
municipal waste (dumpster) receptacles (they were steam cleaned by the ci=
ty
before we picked them up). Free was too good to pass up.
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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