I do grow this way and I swear I will soon get off my ass and do a grow journal. Basiclally in my opinion one has to use organic potting soil as the medium. Then set the pots in 1 inch of recirculating water from the pond.
There was a dude on the 'city by the name of GeneticEngineer that had a super kickass aquaponic grow complete with a youtube video, but alas, it was not organic. Here's one of his threads: http://forum.grasscity.com/hydroponic-growing/474090-aquaponic-cannabis.html
[quote name='"Air O"'] I do grow this way and I swear I will soon get off my ass and do a grow journal. Basiclally in my opinion one has to use organic potting soil as the medium. Then set the pots in 1 inch of recirculating water from the pond.[/quote] Thats awesome I'm currently starting a commercial project with a 20k gal tank and 5400 sq feet of grow beds. This in my opinion is definitely the future of agriculture.
Yes and no. It is more to setup initaly but my system at least is pretty self sustainableI can even leave for several weeks with no worries. Try that with a traditinal container garden. The only things I worry about when I leave town is my dogs and my house plants.
Most any complex system is always tougher to set up than maintain. I just don't see, or haven't seen, a good small aquaponics grow. It seems what with the dynamics of the paradigm, it needs a lot of physical room to do well. However I await enlightenment noble farmer.
[quote name='"Air O"'] Yes and no. It is more to setup initaly but my system at least is pretty self sustainableI can even leave for several weeks with no worries. Try that with a traditinal container garden. The only things I worry about when I leave town is my dogs and my house plants.[/quote] No pumps or aireation? Power?
[quote name='"StickyFiskers"'] No pumps or aireation? Power?[/quote] Most likely all on timers. Including feed and return pumps. Pretty fancy if it is. I'm waiting for my horticulture classes before I dive any more into aquaponics. Some food DIY builds here in the city though.
Long time ago, this was all the rage. Used to float pots with drill holes (didn't have net pots) and layered them with filler, toped with decent soil, and get this: floated in the guppy tank in styrofoam rings like life preservers. Funny.
Yeah, but this sounds fun Not that its something I will likely ever do, but the idea of a system that you can walk away from for several weeks is pretty awesome - assuming I'm understanding it correctly
This is my impression as well. However this is a small scale paradigm I think we are talking about. It might be real interesting to see this in a large scale farming context, especially with an eye towards permaculture. When I was a kid, we had a couple of acres with a pond on it. If I still had that, I would look into using aquaponics as a viable paradigm for my farm.
[quote name='"WeeDroid"'] This is my impression as well. However this is a small scale paradigm I think we are talking about. It might be real interesting to see this in a large scale farming context, especially with an eye towards permaculture. When I was a kid, we had a couple of acres with a pond on it. If I still had that, I would look into using aquaponics as a viable paradigm for my farm.[/quote] I am still amazed and under read about true aquaponics in a sustainable loop. From what I've read they use EWC in their filters, and if you use a multi-level plateau of ponds you can gravity feed everything.
[quote name='"Green_Manotaur"']True! Has anyone developed a gravity based/no power aquaponics system?[/quote] I've been trying to noodle that very question for about 10years. Who feeds the fish? No poop No food.
Suck-based water and nutrient acquisition? If you suspend the pots above waterline, with the filler at the waterline, it capillary actions/wicks itself right up there. You really don't have to have power, wicks work very well.
