Aquaponics Digest - Fri 10/01/99




Message   1: Hello

             from Robert WALKER 

Message   2: Disease Management for Aquaponics farms.

             from Robert WALKER 

Message   3: RE: Disease Management for Aquaponics farms.

             from "Marten Jenkins" 

Message   4: Re:  Aquaponic Tomatoes

             from "Charlie Shultz" 

Message   5: Re:  DE

             from "Charlie Shultz" 

Message   6: RE: DE

             from "Donna Fezler" 

Message   7: Re: DE

             from Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta

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| Message 2                                                           |

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Subject: Disease Management for Aquaponics farms.

From:    Robert WALKER 

Date:    Fri, 01 Oct 1999 16:03:08 +1000

Hello to all out there,

        

        I am looking at starting a Aquaponics farm in Queensland

        Australia, farming notably Redclaw Crayfish and probably

        later Barramundi/Silver Perch.

        But I also wish to add a side salad on the side, and hence

        have a full blown Aquaponics farm.

        However, this requires a detailed plan to gain approval

        and licenses. One of many areas which needs to be covered

        is disease management.

        I was wondering if someone could provide me their Disease

        Management brief as an example to all Aquaponists in the

        commercial world. 

        

        I have already started such a document, but, to what detail

        should one go to in such a document and how far realistically

        should one try to go in order to control a disease outbreak?

        in a form of a document? Is it better to state that you

        have some grounding's and a framework and then wait or hope

        that such a thing does not happen??? What are your thoughts

        in that area???

        Any information would be great,

Robert.

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| Message 3                                                           |

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Subject: RE: Disease Management for Aquaponics farms.

From:    "Marten Jenkins" 

Date:    Fri, 1 Oct 1999 08:30:06 -0400

Check out the pest management guidelines published by ATTRA at

www.attra.gov.

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| Message 4                                                           |

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Subject: Re:  Aquaponic Tomatoes

From:    "Charlie Shultz" 

Date:    Fri, 01 Oct 1999 07:19:48 PDT

Adriana,

>If you had to select 4 varieties

>out of the ones you grew which would they be?

All varieties (12) flourished and produced a bounty of toms.  I guess my 

favorites were SunMaster, Celebrity, Bonita, and Merced.

>Was your spacing 4 feet between plants in all directions?

Our troughs are approximately 4 feet wide, so these plants were placed down 

the middle at 4 foot intervals.

>For how long did the plants produce fruit?

The seeds sprouted Dec 1, transplants were put into net pots on Dec 14 and 

harvest continued from March 3 - April 8.

During the summer months, I think the air temperature here is too hot for 

tomato production.  I've been told that the heat actually will prevent 

pollination or produce sterile pollen.

In addition, we usually experience a Pythium fungus outbreak during our hot 

summer months.  Currently, we are running trial experiments to determine 

chilling effects on Pythium, lettuce and fish production.

We will continue to work with tomatoes, but probably only during our cool 

months.

>Adriana

Charlie

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| Message 5                                                           |

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Subject: Re:  DE

From:    "Charlie Shultz" 

Date:    Fri, 01 Oct 1999 07:25:47 PDT

Dear list:

I've also been told not to use pool-grade DE.  Although a bit more 

expensive, some garden shops (and Walmart at one time) carry a food-grade 

DE.  I've used it in the past for my terrestrial garden with super results.

For those not familiar with Diatomatious Earth, it is comprised of crushed 

diatom "skeletons".  To you and me the DE feels like a powder, but to small 

insects, it can slice them up, they dehydrate, and die.

Charlie

>DE is a dessicant so be careful using it, especially in Arizona.  >I've

>read that it is not advisable to use pool-grade DE for some reason.  >It

>sounded good at the time.

>Adriana

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| Message 6                                                           |

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Subject: RE: DE

From:    "Donna Fezler" 

Date:    Fri, 1 Oct 1999 10:03:28 -0500

I would like to hear the rationale on food grade DE with some real science

attached.  I have heard this in the animal health industry all the time from

farmers selling food grade DE.  Until someone local carried it, I continued

to use the pool store DE and I saw no problems, not even in the sensitive

babies.

The issue may be the difference in handling between food grade and non-food

grade.

Then again, maybe it is just the label.  Anyone?

Donna Fezler

GCR

Jacksonville, IL

http://www.rhealiving.com

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

From: aquaponics

[mailto:aquaponics]On Behalf Of Charlie Shultz

Sent: Friday, October 01, 1999 9:26 AM

To: aquaponics@townsqr.com

Subject: Re: DE

Dear list:

I've also been told not to use pool-grade DE.  Although a bit more

expensive, some garden shops (and Walmart at one time) carry a food-grade

DE.  I've used it in the past for my terrestrial garden with super results.

For those not familiar with Diatomatious Earth, it is comprised of crushed

diatom "skeletons".  To you and me the DE feels like a powder, but to small

insects, it can slice them up, they dehydrate, and die.

Charlie

>DE is a dessicant so be careful using it, especially in Arizona.  >I've

>read that it is not advisable to use pool-grade DE for some reason.  >It

>sounded good at the time.

>Adriana

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| Message 7                                                           |

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Subject: Re: DE

From:    Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta 

Date:    Fri, 01 Oct 1999 13:36:01 -0400

Hi Donna,

I was able to find three references on the issue of the various grades

of Diatomaceous Earth.  Here goes:

1.  From http://www.lis.ab.ca/walton/grain/faqs/ive.html

"There are actually two kinds of DE to be found on the market and only

one of themis suitable for use as an insecticide to use in your stored

grains.  The kind that you DO NOT WANT FOR FOOD USE is the type sold by

swimming pool suppliers as a filetering agent.  It has been subjected to

a heat treatment that dramatically increases it's silicate content and

makes it unsuitable for use with your foodstuffs."

2.  The California Certified Organic Farmers Handbook also specifies

that only non heat-treated DE is allowed, no explanation.

3. Go to

http://www.rampumps.com/news/Y2k/survival_toc.htmhttp://www.rampumps.com/new

s/Y2k/survival_toc.htm

"Diatomaceous earth is approved by the USDA as an animal feed additive,

however I have found out that there are vast differences between various

forms of diatomaceous earth. Some DE products may not be effective in

controlling insects while others may be harmful to humans and pets.  The

most important differences between individual forms of DE is the shape

of the diatom, content of Crystalline Silica, and the purity of Silica

Dioxide.  The World Health Organization cautions that DE with a

crystalline silica content of three percent or higher is dangerouse to

humans (and probably pets and birds as well).  Diatomaceous Earth used

in swimming pool filters has close to a 60% crystalline silica content. 

I know of a product called Organic Solutions (insecticide) which is

approved by both the EPA and USDA and has a crystalline silica content

ranging between 0.36% to 1.12% according to its labels estc.  It is

classified as Amorphous Fresh water Diatomaceous Earth (whatever that

means).  However all literature I read assures it is safe for both

humans and animals and seems to be very effective at killing insects

...If you're interested in reading it too go to the Organic Solutions

website at http://www.BuyOrgs.com."

A lot of the issues related to the different grades of DE seem to be

related to the ingestion of DE.  I assume there may also be concerns in

the handling of it also, wearing dust masks to avoid inhaling it.  To be

on the safe side it appears that the food grade DE should be used.  One

site recommended buying it at feed stores.

Adriana

Donna Fezler wrote:

> 

> I would like to hear the rationale on food grade DE with some real science

attached.



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