Aquaculture Update: Thriving!
A while back we posted an article about the benefits of Aquaponic Gardening. I'd just like to share a couple photos and a quick update on the systems we built for our greenhouse.
The systems consist of a 325 gallon IBC built on a metal frame. We opened up the top of the container by removing the top 1" of the container. This was then turned upside down and secured to the open side.
As you can see from the above picture, we used 1" pvc as the water delivery mechanism. A small pump pushes the water up a thin rubber hose and into the gravel bed. The gravel acts as a filter and foundation for the plants roots to attach to. The lower portion is filled with about 250 gallons of water and at this point it's simply stocked with minnows while we make sure we can balance water PH levels and other factors.
The system is looking good, the fish are doing well and the plants on top have grown to at least double the size that they are in the pictures. This of course thrilled our little green thumbs to no end and we're looking forward to attempting other plant/fish combinations.
The pump runs intermittently every half hour, and we're working on a system that operates on a small solar panel and 12v battery. It's nice to see our new project taking shape so nicely. It's a bit of a consolation prize after we lost so much of our garden to heavy rain earlier this year. We're looking forward to where this (new to use) addition will take us in the future.
So here's wishing you the best with your projects this summer. Keep on keeping on and be well.
Jonathan Parker is an EMT-Paramedic and Preparedness Instructor with a love for emergency medicine, self-sufficiency and homesteading. His goal is to empower people towards a natural and sustainable lifestyle.
