Here is the aquaponics system we have running. First of all notice the hummingbird feeder above the reservoir? Since hummingbirds excrete when they eat, we get a free dose of fertilizer every few minutes! Simple things like this draw energy towards your system by working with nature. There are multiple salad greens, tomatoes, and strawberries in it right now. It is made from two large diameter pipes with holes drilled in them. We set baskets into the holes with hydroton pellets. The tubes are slightly tilted so the water runs from one to the other than back into the reservoir. This can be done with an indefinite amount of tubes.
As you can see the root systems have become quite well developed.
We have had a great deal of success with this modest setup. At one point our greens were producing more than enough salad for the two of us to have a huge salad every day!
Our fish are small at this time but getting bigger fast. We are feeding them with food made on site from our insect cultures and fresh greens. Another thing we have done is set out buckets and allow insects to breed in them (yes even mosquitoes). We then dump that water into the reservoir before the larvae mature and provide a free meal to the fish. Again, things are much easier if you work with nature. The reservoir has been mostly filled by rain water which adds additional nitrogen and prevents the need for more inputs. There is a small airstone in the bottom of the reservoir which keeps the water agitated and prevents sludge from building up.
Any particulates are sucked into this tiny canister filter which is the workhorse of the operation. It uses very little energy and keeps the bacteria quite happy:
Thanks for reading! We intend to post an article soon about aquaculture including aquaponics systems. Stay tuned!
As you can see the root systems have become quite well developed.
We have had a great deal of success with this modest setup. At one point our greens were producing more than enough salad for the two of us to have a huge salad every day!
Our fish are small at this time but getting bigger fast. We are feeding them with food made on site from our insect cultures and fresh greens. Another thing we have done is set out buckets and allow insects to breed in them (yes even mosquitoes). We then dump that water into the reservoir before the larvae mature and provide a free meal to the fish. Again, things are much easier if you work with nature. The reservoir has been mostly filled by rain water which adds additional nitrogen and prevents the need for more inputs. There is a small airstone in the bottom of the reservoir which keeps the water agitated and prevents sludge from building up.
Any particulates are sucked into this tiny canister filter which is the workhorse of the operation. It uses very little energy and keeps the bacteria quite happy:
Thanks for reading! We intend to post an article soon about aquaculture including aquaponics systems. Stay tuned!
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