Aquaponics Digest - Fri 04/20/01
Message 1: Re: The Value of Sludge
from "Adriana Gutierrez"
Message 2: Re: The Value of Sludge
from "TGTX"
Message 3: Re: Pelletized seeds
from LC543119 'at' aol.com
Message 4: Re: Pelletized seeds
from LC543119 'at' aol.com
Message 5: Re: donated lighting
from "Devon Williams"
Message 6: Unlinking Systems
from "Adriana Gutierrez"
Message 7: Re: Unlinking Systems
from kris book
Message 8: Re: Unlinking Systems
from "Adriana Gutierrez"
Message 9: Re: Unlinking Systems
from "TGTX"
| Message 1
Subject: Re: The Value of Sludge
From: "Adriana Gutierrez"
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 04:18:06 -0500
Ted,
Raul Vergueiro Martins has been rather quiet lately on-line as some
health problems are limiting his ability to sit at the computer. If
we listen to our own list member from Brazil, this sludge should be
biodigested to produce an excellent water soluble biofertilizer which
can be used for EITHER soil or hydroponic production. This
biofertilizer is SUPERIOR to unprocessed sludge because of the
microbiological processes that it has undergone. My point is, you
don't need 100 lower-yielding acres of conventional in-ground
production capability; you can increase your hydroponic produ ction
with theis valuable "waste". Obviously there are certain crops which
are not appropriate for hydro production and this is an excellent
fertilizer for them.
> Is this fish sludge a problem? Or is it a resource? Is it something
to
> "throw away"? If you take John Reid's example, you can place that
sludge
> from the 21,000 sq.ft fish farm and spray it on 100 acres of land
for
> conventional dirt crop production. All of you should take that
ratio and
> think about what you might be able to achieve in your back yard or
in your
> "back forty".
Ted, does focusing on algae production reduce your nutrients available
for aquaponic production of lettuces, greens, tomatoes, etc? I assume
that, based on Raul's findings the biodigested algal mass would
produce even higher yields than if it was applied directly and the
logistics of dealing with fibers and other things which clog spraying
equipment would be eliminated.
> Believe me, I can tell you that a steady stream of high protein
> algal biomass sprayed onto a raised bed outdoor garden will result
in a
> phenomenal resource for your homestead food production system. This
is
> awesome.
> Sludge is Gold....
Ca-peach!!!
> Ca-Peach?
Adriana in Birmingham
(still without a greenhouse)
Adriana
| Message 2
Subject: Re: The Value of Sludge
From: "TGTX"
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 05:42:43 -0500
> Ted,
> Raul Vergueiro Martins has been rather quiet lately on-line as some
> health problems are limiting his ability to sit at the computer. If
> we listen to our own list member from Brazil, this sludge should be
> biodigested to produce an excellent water soluble biofertilizer which
> can be used for EITHER soil or hydroponic production. This
> biofertilizer is SUPERIOR to unprocessed sludge because of the
> microbiological processes that it has undergone
Yes, Adriana, that is the route my team will take for our next big project,
a 47,000 sq.ft system, called Phase One. Later, in Phases Two through
perhaps Phase Four, we would hope to expand into it into about 144,000
sq.ft, if all goes well in the first 18 months of Phase One. That's a lot
of valuable sludge potential. We will anaerobically digest the solids, or
at least most of them, and fertigate aquaponically with the liquid
supernatant in parts of the system, and fertigate directly from fish culture
in other parts of the system as required. This is a side loop system or an
indirectly coupled system, or a multiply coupled integrated agriculture
system, depending on which academician or activist you talk to, within a CEA
(Controlled Environment Agriculture) production system. This is not a unique
approach, nor is it a new or novel idea, but one that is fairly uncommonly
or infrequently put to full use, unfortunately. I plan to go about the
business of setting these systems up in the good old USA. Maybe we will get
good enough here in the USA to do this elsewhere, where no one has gone
before....
Tally Ho and All That, What?
Tedster.
| Message 3
Subject: Re: Pelletized seeds
From: LC543119 'at' aol.com
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:12:21 EDT
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Carlos, try RIJK ZWAAN USA 831-484-1920 they can pellatise seed and have
seed available Regards GORDON CREASER
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Carlos, try RIJK ZWAAN USA
831-484-1920 they can pellatise seed and have
seed available Regards GORDON CREASER
--part1_98.13aefc1f.28118fb5_boundary--
| Message 4
Subject: Re: Pelletized seeds
From: LC543119 'at' aol.com
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:12:42 EDT
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Carlos, try RIJK ZWAAN USA 831-484-1920 they can pellatise seed and have
seed available Regards GORDON CREASER
--part1_3b.1381eb6c.28118fca_boundary
Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Carlos, try RIJK ZWAAN USA
831-484-1920 they can pellatise seed and have
seed available Regards GORDON CREASER
--part1_3b.1381eb6c.28118fca_boundary--
| Message 5
Subject: Re: donated lighting
From: "Devon Williams"
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:44:14 -0400
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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Thanks to everyone who responded, I ordered a conversion light yesterday,
and should be good to go by the middle of next week.
Devon
>From: "Inn 'at' Six"
>Reply-To: aquaponics 'at' townsqr.com
>To: aquaponics 'at' townsqr.com
>Subject: Re: donated lighting
>Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 07:32:43 +1000
>
_
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 07:32:43 +1000
To: aquaponics 'at' townsqr.com
From: "Inn 'at' Six"
Subject: Re: donated lighting
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'owdy Devon,
You're on the right track, there is a MH Retro lamp,
that'll work in HPS gear, and lately, a colour-corrected,
blue-enhanced HPS lamp, the Sunmaster range, still fresh
since a rep. was in on Wed and saw the graphs, which look
like they will be fine and dandy for the whole grow/bloom task.
Rob
ps: re the crawfish, get a mortal and pestle, grind madly, then
...<g>
>Hi all,
>
>I was just given a 400W HPS light fixture (including ballast).=A0 I
know that
>HPS only gives off the majority of its light on the red end of the
spectrum
>(best for flowering), but I have read about Metal Halide bulbs that
are
>"conversion" bulbs.=A0 I don't think I'm mistaken on the fact
that there IS a
>conversion bulb out there, but now that I think about it, I'm
thinking it
>might be an HPS conversion bulb that fits into a MH fixture...
>
>Can somebody please help clear this up????
>
>Thanks lots!
>
>Devon
>
>P.s. I've been following the whole EC discussion, and although I can
add
>absolutely nothing to it, the discussion has be great...BUT, how
exactly do
>you smoke crawfish??? ;-)
>_
>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at
http://explorer.msn.com
>
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| Message 6
Subject: Unlinking Systems
From: "Adriana Gutierrez"
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:33:00 -0500
> This is a side loop system or an
> indirectly coupled system, or a multiply coupled integrated
agriculture
> system
Ted, the more I think about it, if sludge is gold, then biofertilizers
derived from sludge are platinum. Over the past 6 months or so I've
been thinking about the benefits of setting up a growing operation
with the nutrient source or fish component "unlinked" from the growing
beds.
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO UNLINK SYSTEMS?
In order to "unlink" an aquaponic system you need to incorporate an
additional step into the process. In this step you separate solids
from the fish tanks and run the solids through a biodigester. By
having a built-in solid separation component in your system you
benefit by avoiding potential sludge build-up in your beds. In most
cases, (except in exquisitely balanced aquaponic systems) this
produces a superior fertilizer than the one produced in the growing
beds with the raw effluent coming in directly from the fish tanks
because of the nature of the biological activity in a properly
designed biodigester.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF UNLINKING SYSTEMS?
There are a number of benefits to unlinking the fish and the plant
systems:
Built-in Solid Separation
------------------------------------
While some growers are able to maintain an exquisite balance, new
aquaponic growers frequently encounter problems with the build-up of
solids in their beds. This leads to a series of problems with plant
health, germination, yield, "dead zones", etc, which in turn impact
the effectiveness of the growing bed as a bio-filter, which in turn
affects the health of the fish. By building a solid separation
component into the system some of these problems are avoided from the
outset.
Superior fertilizer
-------------------
A properly designed biodigester for a hydroponic/aquaponic operation
will have as its primary function the production of a water soluble
biofertilizer. Traditionally, biodigesters have focused on the
production of methane gas and, as a consequence, do not completely
digest the biosolids, resulting in an inferior fertilizer an some
sludge residue. The anaerobic and aerobic processes of a properly
designed biodigester whose primary function is the production of
biofertilizer will produce a superior product over fish effluent which
is routed directly into growing beds, manure compost teas and
conventional hydroponic fertilizers. The end result will be increased
yields and superior flavor.
Protection in case of a system crash
--------------------------------------------------------
It is not unheard of that aquaponic systems crash due to disease
problems or mechanical problems. When the fish side of the operation
is shut down or production is suddenly reduced, this creates an
problem for the plant side since the nutrient supply is immediately
affected. It is also possible for the plant side of an operation to
crash - aphids or pest problems or a freeze or pump breakdown
sometimes require a premature clearing of growing beds to eliminate a
problem. An unscheduled reduction in plant volume will affect the
filtration of the fish effluent and could affect the water quality and
health of the fish. By unlinking the plant and fish sides of the
operation and having a buffer supply of nutrients available, the
operations can be maintained independent of the status of the other
component.
Ability to have production volumes which are independent of one
another
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----
An aquaponic system requires a very fine balance of fish
and plant production volumes to function well . Not only does this
require your
production to be balanced, your DEMAND has to be balanced . It is
very definitely possible that for some crops there is greater demand
at different times. In a resort community, for example, there is
seasonal demand for certain products; in the summer people tend to
eat more salad greens than they do in the winter, etc. In these cases
you would need greater production at that time to supply demand.
Ability to tailor production to the climate or season or market
demands
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Some of us have experienced difficulties growing certain lettuces (or
anything else for that matter) in Florida or Texas in the peak of
summer. However, Tilapia thrive in the sweltering heat. The opposite
is true in the northern climates - greens may grow happily in the
winter in a greenhouse but keeping the temperatures up to the levels
necessary for tilapia production in the winter in Wisconsin is a
costly proposition. By separating production you can optimize
production according to the climate or market demands.
In a cooperative arrangement, or a geographically diversified
operation a grower in Florida could conceivably concentrate on fish
and nutrient production while a grower in the cooler north could focus
his resources on greens.
Seasonality of demand is also an issue, especially in tourist or
resort areas. If the production facilities could be utilized to the
maximum during the slow periods to produce fish and biofertilizers,
then in the busy season production could be directed toward meeting
the need for fresh greens.
Ability to meet large one-time orders
----------------------------------------------
Sometimes a grower has a big one-time order that requires all of his
tanks to be geared for one big delivery. (Walmart likes to do this -
put in huge orders a couple of times a year rather than space them our
throughout the year - it is hell on their suppliers). Having all of
your tanks producing the same age fish would wreak havoc on an
integrated system because your production of nutrients would have huge
swings. If the systems are unlinked this is not an issue.
Ability to produce nutrients in one location and plants in another
----------------------------------------------------------------
Zoning, land availability and logistical constraints may place
restrictions on certain types of agricultural production. Animal
husbandry may be restricted in one area and plant production in
another. In my municipality, land which is zoned for agriculture
CANNOT be used for greenhouse production, but a hen house or other
types of animal husbandry are OK. By unlinking the systems the two
activities can be carried out in separate locations. Likewise, one
grower may have an interest and skills in the areas of aquaculture but
not in the tasks related to plant production or vice-versa. By
unlinking the operations, growers can put their interest, talents and
marketing skills to their best use.
Greater flexibility in source of biofertilizer
-----------------------------------------
There is a great interest in organic nutrients for hydroponic
production. To date, aquaponics have been one of the few reliable
methods of obtaining this nutrient. By using biodigesters, other
forms of animal manures and agricultural wastes can be utilized to
produce biofertilizers. So, if a grower wishes, he or she can use the
biodigested manures from 25 hens to run a 3,000 square foot
greenhouse. The grower is not restricted solely to fish culture for
the production of his biofertilizers. Fish present limitations to
some prospective growers in terms of marketing, handling, regulations,
availability of feed, etc. In these instances chickens, pigs, cattle
or even rabbits could be used to produce the biofertilizer.
Organic certification
---------------------
As the American public has become more aware of concerns regarding
food safety the demand for organic produce has increased dramatically.
Hydroponic and aquaponic production are currently in a tenuous
position, with organic certification strictly dependent upon the
interpretation of the certifying agency. The more you approach some
of the biological processes of soil based production the easier it
should be to educate the certifying agencies about our processes.
Organic certification provides marketing and price advantages to the
grower.
DISADVANTAGES
Equipment - The main disadvantage of unlinking systems is the need for
one additional piece of equipment - the biodigester. In a small
3,000-6,000 square foot greenhouse this would consist of a series of
drums sized, linked and managed in a very specific sequence to
optimize biofertilizer production. This requires some additional
capital expenditure and some space to house the equipment and stored
biofertilizers.
Time - biodigestion takes time. Depending on the climate it can
require 30-60 days, possibly more in a very cool climate. So
biofertilizer needs have to be planned in advance or buffer stocks
need to be maintained.
Feed Constraints - a biodigester incorporates a very delicate sequence
of activities involving natural bioorganisms. These actions can be
disrupted by the presence of antibiotics in animal feed. These
antibiotics are quite common in the US in poultry feed. Therefore the
producer is restricted in his or her choice of feed.
All in all, in my opinion the few disadvantages and small additional
cost are greatly outweighed by the many advantages which are obtained
by unlinking the systems.
| Message 7
Subject: Re: Unlinking Systems
From: kris book
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:36:45 -0600
Adriana,
What a great post, I thank you for the brain opener. Do you know of any
info concerning storage of bio fertilizer. Compost no matter how well
made needs to be turned(oxygenated) regularly so that salt buildup
doesn't ruin it. Also, can you direct me to any photos or drawings of a
bio-filter like you described?
kris
>
> Ted, the more I think about it, if sludge is gold, then
> biofertilizers
> derived from sludge are platinum. Over the past 6 months or so I've
> been thinking about the benefits of setting up a growing operation
> with the nutrient source or fish component "unlinked" from the
> growing
> beds.
| Message 8
Subject: Re: Unlinking Systems
From: "Adriana Gutierrez"
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 11:20:47 -0500
Kris,
Go to Raul Vergueiro Martins' web site at http://www.hydor.eng.br/.
He is currently working on a manual that can be used to set up a
biodigester for smaller operations. Next month's issue of Growing
Edge will have an article on the subject as well.
Adriana
> What a great post, I thank you for the brain opener. Do you know of
any
> info concerning storage of bio fertilizer. Compost no matter how
well
> made needs to be turned(oxygenated) regularly so that salt buildup
> doesn't ruin it. Also, can you direct me to any photos or drawings
of a
> bio-filter like you described?
| Message 9
Subject: Re: Unlinking Systems
From: "TGTX"
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 20:06:37 -0500
> > This is a side loop system or an
> > indirectly coupled system, or a multiply coupled integrated
> agriculture
> > system
> Ted, the more I think about it, if sludge is gold, then biofertilizers
> derived from sludge are platinum. Over the past 6 months or so I've
> been thinking about the benefits of setting up a growing operation
Good post, Mi Amiga.
Not only platinum, but rumor has it that Frieda's "Soyrizo" is
actually.....well....
Bon Appetite!
Tedzoid
|
