Aquaponics Digest - Tue 11/30/99
Message 1: Re: Reference on herbs disease
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 2: Re: Tanks different size cause problems
from Jim Sealy Jr
Message 3: Re: Tanks different size cause problems
from "JAY MYERS"
Message 4: Re: Tanks different size cause problems
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 5: Re: Tanks different size cause problems
from "JAY MYERS"
Message 6: Toys
from Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta
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Subject: Re: Reference on herbs disease
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:04:14 -0600
At 10:13 PM 11/15/1999 +0000, Claude wrote:
>Maybe a little out of aquaponic but I'll ask anyway because some herbs like
>basil are grown hydroponically.
>
>Could you tell me where to find good reference on herbs disease and insect.
Claude, I was doing a spot check of the archive files I'm sending to Jim
Sealy and didn't see any specific answer to your post.
While not specific to herbs, I did find many herb entries in "The Organic
Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control", Ellis and
Bradley, by Rodale Garden Books. My copy is from 1992 and there may well be
an updated version (ISBN 0-87596-124-X).
This particular guide outlines general growing conditions, signs of disease,
nutrient problems, common insect problems and corrective measures; and has
lots of good photos to illustrate. Although it's not the most detailed, I
find it a good reference for analysis of many problems, and have used it
often. I especially appreciate the photo section. I have a very difficult
time deciphering written descriptions of various problems, and photos of
what the damage actually LOOKS like is a great help to me.
I just went back to the bookshelf to pick up the other two books I use most
often and find all three of my favorites are from Rodale Press. I'm sure
others have their "most frequently used" also, but I'll list the others I use.
Rodale's Color Handbook of Garden Insects by Anna Carr (ISBN 0-87857-460-3)
and The Encyclopedia of Natural Insect & Disease Control, ed. by Roger B.
Yepsen, Jr. (ISBN 0-87857-488-3). I know there have been times when I've
used all three to diagnose a suspected problem. A quick look through
http://www.rodalestore.com did not reveal any of the above titles, but their
updated insect/disease guides may cover the same materials; I just don't know.
As an aside, I can't recall an "aquaponics specific" insect or disease
problem, and generally have used standard gardening guides for diagnosing
suspect conditions. I'd be interested if anyone else has discovered a
problem that's not common with either soil-based (indoor or outdoor) or
hydroponic growing.
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: Tanks different size cause problems
From: Jim Sealy Jr
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:13:08 -0600
Jay,
Sounds like you need to add a very simple fail-safe fix: Have a large
overflow line from your beds to your fish tank. That way, the worst that
could happen would be your pump running continuously. This will also
eliminate problems caused by a stuck water level switch. I use a timer,
and the overflow so the fill pump fills the beds to overflowing for 5
minutes then shut off. Same timer turns on the drain pump which shuts
off automatically when the bed's dry.
Jim
JAY MYERS wrote:
>
> Paula
>
> System set & test run, but our tank is 14.5 Ft diameter, so our float
> switch never gets low enough to shut the pump off. The grow beds get wet,
> drain, and the return pump kicks on and all keeps running. Problem is with
> 30 gal bed drain sump, and the return pump flow being restricted by the
> drilled cap, the sump overflows and I guess would continue to do so until
> the fish tank level would get low enough to shut down the pump, but then
> there would not be enough water in the system to raise the fish tank to
> re-start the pump. So..... was thinking about putting the fish tank pump
> on a timer to run say 1 minute out of 10, or 2, or whatever. Could you
> tell me about the percentage of time your pump runs ?
>
> Do your grow beds get wet all the way to the top ? Mine seem to wet only
> near the bottom, and then drain. I'm adjusting the holes in the cross
> pipes to give more even flow, which may help, and to be fair - I've only
> been able to run for short periods of time due to the above.
>
> I'm close - just the tweaking to do !
>
> Thanks
>
> Jay Myers
> Panama City, Fl.
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Subject: Re: Tanks different size cause problems
From: "JAY MYERS"
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:36:36 -0700
Thanks Jim-
I re-watched the S&S video and caught a couple of points I missed earlier
too. Have to restrict the bed drains, which will give me water storage in
the beds themselves. I'm also going to level the bed watering system.
Now they sit on the pea gravel, which is sloped slightly. This will help
with the distribution problem. Probably will add a timer too - need one
anyway to hydro-feed the lettuce rack I'm building suspended over the fish
tank. I think I can get about 900 plants in it. Plan to feed half with
fish water, and the other half with standard hydroponic solution to see
which grows better.
My beds are lower than the water level in my tank, but maybe I can do
something along these lines.
> Jay,
> Sounds like you need to add a very simple fail-safe fix: Have a large
> overflow line from your beds to your fish tank. That way, the worst that
> could happen would be your pump running continuously. This will also
> eliminate problems caused by a stuck water level switch. I use a timer,
> and the overflow so the fill pump fills the beds to overflowing for 5
> minutes then shut off. Same timer turns on the drain pump which shuts
> off automatically when the bed's dry.
> Jim
.
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Subject: Re: Tanks different size cause problems
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:56:09 -0600
At 07:36 AM 11/30/1999 -0700, you wrote:
>Thanks Jim-
>
>I re-watched the S&S video and caught a couple of points I missed earlier
>too. Have to restrict the bed drains, which will give me water storage in
>the beds themselves.
This should help, Jay. We had the same problem when we started with
continuous running. If you drill 4-7 holes in an end cap and cap each drain
line, you should be able to contain enough water to balance out, even with
your larger tank. You can also shorten the tether on your outgoing pump to
decrease the time pumping.
I'm also going to level the bed watering system.
>Now they sit on the pea gravel, which is sloped slightly. This will help
>with the distribution problem.
I've used scrap pieces of 1-1/2" PVC for this. Just a 2" piece on all four
corners and a couple down the sides of the grid should hold it, and you will
get improved distribution that way.
Probably will add a timer too - need one
>anyway to hydro-feed the lettuce rack I'm building suspended over the fish
>tank. I think I can get about 900 plants in it. Plan to feed half with
>fish water, and the other half with standard hydroponic solution to see
>which grows better.
I'd be interested in what kind of results you get. I've heard that several
people were trying this type of side-by-side, but not seen any results posted.
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 5 |
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Subject: Re: Tanks different size cause problems
From: "JAY MYERS"
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 08:43:03 -0700
> I'd be interested in what kind of results you get. I've heard that
several
> people were trying this type of side-by-side, but not seen any results
posted.
>
> Paula
It will be a while, but I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks
Jay
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Subject: Toys
From: Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 17:16:44 -0500
Have you always wanted a little computer to take to the greenhouse? A
laptop, Palm Pilot, etc??? Something you can track
nutrient/environmental data, orders, customer information, to-do lists,
etc?
Staples is clearing its inventory of the Zaurus organizer which has
spreadsheet and word processor capabilities along with PC connectivity.
Excel and MS Word compatible. All for a cost of $49 for something that
used to cost several hundred dollars. Since it has been discontinued it
will be orphan technology but it comes complete with software, cables,
etc. I thought it was worth the try over the two-week return period.
So far the start-up instructions have been very straightforward and easy
to use.
If you're interested you need to move quickly. They were advertised in
our Sunday paper but had no units in stock. They got ten in at our
store on Monday and I bought the last one today (Tuesday). People who
already own them were getting them for gifts for their friends.
Adriana
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