Hello from Alaska!

[Alaskaponics]

Weather is a big deal here in Alaska. An outside sump is about useless year around. I have two aquaponic setups. One is more a planted aquarium in it I'm growing petunia snow peas, spider lilies, and devils pothos with no problems. This is probable because of the plastic cups I have the plants in!

The pictures I have are related to my main grow: 30 gallon sump with 15 gold fish (all comets about 2 inches) pumping to a biofilter filtering out as much solids as possible! The biofilter flows into 2 NFT channels of 4 inches and has 2 inch cuts every 6 inches for grow spaces. I am growing catnip at the moment as well as petunia, geranium, tomato, cucumber, and snow pea.

Everything is growing great and the only high readings are Nitrates over 50 ppm.

Cheers my fellow aquaponic buddies!

[Alaskaponics]

In the last pic I have already harvested the Catnip (fastest growing) once.

Cheers

[urbanfarmer]

Greetings Earthling, and welcome to the addiction! :mrgreen:

[bbikebbs]

Welcome! And thanks for the pictures!

[JCO]

All I can say is welcome and BRRRRRRrrrrrr, Baby it's cold outside...(from the song of the same name) literally :shock: :o :mrgreen: .

[davidstcldfl]

Hi and welcome... :)
Just thinking about Alaska makes me cold, says the guy living in central FL... :P

[Alaskaponics]

It is cold. Our winter runs from October through April. This is why my system must be pretty much indoors ALL the time. It is small but I think I am probably a lone "wolf" in aquaponics in Alaska; at least a DIY setup.

[Alaskaponics]

My NFT system is working great. Another week and I will harvest the Catnip for the second time. All my cat loving friends love fresh catnip during the winter.

I am using 1 250w Metal halide bulb but will shortly be changing out the lighting system for a 400w Metal Halide bulb and ballast (my plants are stretching too much towards the light). My closet is 3 ft by 5 ft and my light is at the the max efficiency right in the middle. I would have the light closer to the plants except my wife promised her grandmother I would keep a Martha Washington geranium planter in my grow room all winter long. Ugh a soil grow! =)