Aquaponics Digest - Thu 09/23/99




Message   1: Re: floaters & sinkers

             from "Sam Levy" 

Message   2: Fwd. Inquiry

             from S & S Aqua Farm 

Message   3: Re: Fwd. Inquiry

             from 

Message   4: Re: Recirc. Marine Systems

             from dreadlox@cwjamaica.com (michael kent barnett)

Message   5: Re: organic certification Hawaii aquaponics and permaculture

             from "William Brown" 

Message   6: 

             from Butch Ragland 

Message   7: Re: Recirc. Marine Systems

             from "KevinLReed" 

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| Message 1                                                           |

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Subject: Re: floaters & sinkers

From:    "Sam Levy" 

Date:    Thu, 23 Sep 1999 07:47:19 PDT

barry-

the waste products in an aquaculture system come in a lot of shapes, sizes, 

& densities (in the early 90's Dr Shulin Chen from LSU did a fair amount of 

theoretical work on the modeling of aquaculture effluents--i think some of 

it was published in "aquacultural engineering" (publication of the 

"aquacultural engineering society").

although many of the solids sink, it takes very little energy to break them 

up into smaller particles & re-suspend them (ask anyone using a rotating 

drum filter how much solid waste is re-deposited in the culture water).

all possible techniques (sed ponds, filters, vortex devices, settling 

plates, &c) have been used and a careful literature search should turn up 

the advantages & disadvantages of each system.

foam fractionation was added to the list to handle the very fine suspended 

particles & clump off some of the unspecified organic compounds that build 

up in recirculating systems.

in most intensive systems, the solids are handled outside the culture tank 

as they form a major oxygen sink.

tank culture often includes an overflow outlet which serves the double 

purpose of allowing the culture water to leave the tank w/out going over the 

sides should the bottom become plugged & allows the floating waste to exit 

the tank.

sam

"Barry Thomas" 

>

>Sam,

>

>

>Is there a difficulty? I had assumed that most of the solids sank and

>that it was mainly dissolved wastes which were applied to the plants,

>with the sludge at the bottom pumped out for other treatment.

>

>What seperation methods are most used? Settling tanks? Mechanical

>filters?

>

>Is it possible to use the "Vortex" type filters (as used in

>incinerators, sawmills, bagless vacuum cleaners etc.) with water? Anyone

>know of any in use?

>

>Barry

>barrythomas@btinternet.com

>

>

______________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

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| Message 2                                                           |

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Subject: Fwd. Inquiry

From:    S & S Aqua Farm 

Date:    Thu, 23 Sep 1999 09:48:09 -0500

>Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 02:56:35 -0400

>From: Norman Pangilinan 

>Organization: Analog Devices Inc.

>Subject: Inquiry

>

>Hi all!

>       I'm Norman Pangilinan

>       I want to know more about the BIOPONICS System.

>       How to start the system? What are the main problems confronting 

>       those who have started it. Is it really OK to have one 

>       at your backyard/home?

>

>regards,

>Norman

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 3                                                           |

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Subject: Re: Fwd. Inquiry

From:    

Date:    Thu, 23 Sep 1999 11:24:36 + 5 EST



>       How to start the system? What are the main problems confronting 

>       those who have started it. Is it really OK to have one 

>       at your backyard/home?



Hi Norman!

We purchased a system from S&S for our school.  Besides the obvious 

downfalls of any aquaculture system, the S&S systems is basically idiot 

proof.  We have experienced a few problems (trying to cut corners on 

pumps, etc.) but otherwise, add a few gallons of water a day, wash your 

stone every 6 months to a year, and there is no big problem.  The 

biggest problem we have had here at school is evaporation.

I would reccommend this system to anyone who knows the basics of 

aquaculture.  We were confused at first by the pumping of our solids 

(wastes, etc...).  This goes against all the other major theories of 

aquaculture (NEVER break up solids).  However, this system relies on 

exactly that - pump the wastes and grind them into a "slurry", thus 

feeding the plants.  Everyone said it wouldn't work, but they are 

surporised by our success!

Set up is for the most part a two person job (not really heavy, just 

bulky).  Be sure to seal the drains for your beds very carefully and 

cleanly.  Let everything set up really well (anything glued and 

siliconed).  And WHATEVER YOU DO - spend the $300 or so for two of the 

reccommended pumps!!!!  We tried to cut corners - just does not work!

We have raised about 500-700 tilapia to nearly market size (some 

harvested and some still growing) and more basil, lettuce, tomatoes, and 

other things) than we know what to do with.  Everyone is overly 

satisfied with the quality - overly satisfied to the point where they 

always want more.  We do not sell any of our fish or plants - we served 

some at our FFA banquet last year and the basil is a biog hit at our 

local church soup kitchen.  Lettuce flies out the door whenever it is 

harvested and leaves em comming back for more.

In a word - If my wife let me park her car outside, there would be one 

at my home (of course, it is kind of tough since winters are pretty 

severe here in upstate NY)  Hope this helps in your decision!!!!

MIKE

>       How to start the system? What are the main problems confronting 

>       those who have started it. Is it really OK to have one 

>       at your backyard/home?

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| Message 4                                                           |

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Subject: Re: Recirc. Marine Systems

From:    dreadlox@cwjamaica.com (michael kent barnett)

Date:    Thu, 23 Sep 1999 19:23:25 -0700

This wasnt to be a aquaponic system Adriana, just a system recirculating

the water to a particular point of saturation (?) with wastes, and then

replenished. what I need to know is, what are the known levels ( DO,

Nitrate, Phosphate etc.)  within which marine life can tolerate polluted

water?

I would be aerating through high flowthrough and showerheads etc. doing

the usual like dissolved and solid waste removal etc. but what about

removal of Nitrates and Phophates in such a system? I wouldnt like that

say after two days of circulation, although Ive filtered and circulated,

I in effect pump back something that would be so "concentrated" that the

sea would have while to rebalance.

I know that in the ocean, salt water regulates itself by many

means.However, I am not sure how this is done "artificially" when in a

recirc system.

That realy what I need to know. Does anyone know if say those Ocean

World setup, are flowthrough or recirc?

Any help or pointers welcome....mmmh,

Mike

Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta wrote:

> 

> Michael,

>   What plants can you grow in such a saline solution other than sea

> plants?  I would not expect the sea water to have a high enough nutrient

> concentration to provide a good yield of plants if you found some that

> worked.

> 

> Adriana

> 

> > Are you saying that I can run a pipe from the sea to some tanks and just

> > grow in a recirc system? (If so, artemia, food fish, and some crusties

> > might be interesting for me...)

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| Message 5                                                           |

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Subject: Re: organic certification Hawaii aquaponics and permaculture

From:    "William Brown" 

Date:    Thu, 23 Sep 1999 07:17:03 -1000

So Kevin, where are you located?  I overhere in Mt View.

William Brown mahiwai@cmpmail.com

----- Original Message -----

From: KevinLReed 

To: 

Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 1999 6:39 PM

Subject: Re: organic certification Hawaii aquaponics and permaculture

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| Message 7                                                           |

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Subject: Re: Recirc. Marine Systems

From:    "KevinLReed" 

Date:    Thu, 23 Sep 1999 20:40:01 -0700

Sam,

The nutrient supply in the water is the key. Colder water seems to have

higher nutrient levels because of deep ocean up welling of dissolved

minerals.

Warm surface water blocks the upwelling with and inversion layer that stops

nutrients from rising to the surface. Plants of course grow better in warm

areas with good sunlight ... if they have the nutrients ... but most warm

sea water

areas are nutrient poor water.

Still there are some edible sea weeds and some tidal estuary plants that

live well on a combination of salt and fresh water. I am working on some

warm water kelp

so who knows ... I don't see why the same type of systems as many use for

fish/ plants can not also be used in salt water. Salt tolerant organisms and

plants would have to be substituted for fresh water varieties and nutrients

can be added to any kind of water.

Kevin

Check out the

Hawaiian style fish ponds ... they let little fish in then they grow and

can't get out.



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