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samtheman
05-01-2011, 05:32 PM
Getting my feet wet in Aquaponics, still learning little by little. I have a 360 gallon tank with 3 growbeds of 100 gallons each. At the moment I have tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, corn, cilantro, strawberries, onions, eggplant, lettuce and watermelon. The tank is fully cycled and I have tilapias on the tank, although I need some more I think. I am using a little of Maxicrop until my system matures, the ph is 7.2 and using lava rock that a friend gave me for free. The growbeds are IBC tanks that I got it for free through my job.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics/100_4331.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics/100_4328.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics/100_4329.jpg

urbanfarmer
05-01-2011, 08:56 PM
VERY NICE!!! I just came from Orlando today. Maybe I shoulda dropped by!!! :lol:

samtheman
05-02-2011, 07:46 AM
It would have been nice to see you, next time give me a shout. I only have about 6 (around 6") blue tilapias and about 9 fingerlings on the big tank. I think I need more fish to create the nutrients the plant needs. I may have to call around to get more tilapias.

stucco
05-02-2011, 11:46 AM
The system is lookin good dewd! I have tilapia and 10” catfish if you are interested.

samtheman
05-02-2011, 12:03 PM
Stucco,
I might be interested, I will send you an inbox when I get home tonight.

samtheman
05-04-2011, 07:06 PM
The tomatoes are doing very well I have to say :
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Greenhouse%20may%205/100_4354.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Greenhouse%20may%205/100_4355.jpg
The corn and the eggplant are doing great also:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Greenhouse%20may%205/100_4358.jpg

The green bell peepers seem to be doing well, but the hot peppers the leaves are somewhat yellow and are not responding too good....Like I said, I am still learning :)

urbanfarmer
05-04-2011, 08:16 PM
Iron deficiency or root damage from transplant?

IS THAT CORN???? I have 1 corn plant in mine, and it's looking great. Mine is much farther along than yours!!! :twisted:

samtheman
05-05-2011, 04:23 AM
Iron deficiency or root damage from transplant?

IS THAT CORN???? I have 1 corn plant in mine, and it's looking great. Mine is much farther along than yours!!! :twisted:

It might be root damage, I transplanted the hot pepper plant at the same time I did the green bell peppers but the hot peppers have not grown a inch yet.
I am using Maxicrop to supplement the iron deficiency for the plants but not sure How much to add....per day? per week? Will it hurt if I put too much?

The ones on the back are corns, they are about 22 days old, but mine will taste better than yours....LOL :lol:

davidstcldfl
05-05-2011, 04:35 AM
Lookin' nice Samtheman.... :-)

samtheman
05-05-2011, 04:51 AM
Thanks David,
by the way I started reading the book you recomended to me (Gardening in FL month by month). It has alot of good info.

urbanfarmer
05-05-2011, 08:46 AM
I doubt yours will taste better! Mine will be POPCORN and is a strain selected for it's popcorn quality!!! MWAHAHAHA :twisted:

samtheman
05-10-2011, 03:28 PM
I have an intruder on one of the corn plants:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Greenhouse%20may10%20bugs/100_4370.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Greenhouse%20may10%20bugs/100_4369.jpg

Can I spray something on the leaves to keep the bug away from my corn plant? :evil:

urbanfarmer
05-10-2011, 04:08 PM
Ya know, my corn has that on it. It doesn't bother me none. I figure, since nature shares with me, I should share with nature. Unless you have a real problem, I would NOT recommend pesticides of any kind. Personally, I would rather lose my whole crop than use any pesticide, but that's a personal choice and I am not dependent on my garden for any meals either. If you really want to wage war, get a spray bottle that shoots a fine stream to knock them off and away thereby unleashing the fury that is samtheman!!! ROAR LOUDLY WHILE DOING THIS. <-- the last part is KEY

What you need to do is bring in the beneficial insects. Any predatory organisms can keep the pests in check or annihilate them entirely.

P.S. I would be more worried about that mosquito in the first picture, he's going to eat YOU, seems silly worrying about the corn at a time like that :lol:

samtheman
05-10-2011, 04:51 PM
When you say about beneficial insects, do you mean like Ladybugs?

davidstcldfl
05-10-2011, 07:21 PM
Thanks David,
by the way I started reading the book you recomended to me (Gardening in FL month by month). It has alot of good info.
Just saw your post Sam....glad you like the book. :D

urbanfarmer
05-10-2011, 09:06 PM
When you say about beneficial insects, do you mean like Ladybugs?
Yes, or even lizards, frogs, etc.

samtheman
05-11-2011, 03:47 AM
A hydroponics store near my house sell Ladybugs, I'll give it a try

keith_r
05-11-2011, 05:25 AM
release the ladybugs in the evening, after you've watered the plants.. they'll be thirsty before they will want to eat..
if there are good bugs around like aphids, they'll start mating and laying eggs within a couple days.. be patient,, it takes a little while

samtheman
05-11-2011, 05:37 AM
thanks for the info Keith.....

urbanfarmer
05-11-2011, 12:37 PM
They usually sell ladybugs in very large quantities. Google around, but there are ways you can store them in the freezer I believe, without harming them. That way you can use more later on rather than release them all at once because they will migrate away (although you should hope some stick around).

keith_r
05-12-2011, 05:36 AM
not the freezer, but the refrigerator.. they'll live for a couple weeks.. the smallest batches i've seen online were 1000 to 1500... i think the home depot was 1500
i released maybe a couple hundred in the basement, the rest went into the dirt garden area a couple weeks after i released the first batch, i just wanted to wait to see if they would do ok (it's been pretty chilly here)
but anyways, yeah, don't release them all at once

samtheman
05-12-2011, 07:10 AM
Thanks Keith,

The hydroponics store near my house sells them in batch of 1500 for $12.00. I will give it a try

urbanfarmer
05-12-2011, 11:43 AM
not the freezer, but the refrigerator.. they'll live for a couple weeks.. the smallest batches i've seen online were 1000 to 1500... i think the home depot was 1500
i released maybe a couple hundred in the basement, the rest went into the dirt garden area a couple weeks after i released the first batch, i just wanted to wait to see if they would do ok (it's been pretty chilly here)
but anyways, yeah, don't release them all at once
I'm not an entomologist... but, I did read a guide SOMEWHERE that stated the freezer and that you could get 6-8 months out of them. More research on the topic needs to be done I guess... I know an entomologist through the MG program; so, I might ask her, but I think we can find an answer without her...


Any animal will freeze if it's held at a low enough temperature for a long enough time. However, insect hemolymph ("blood") contains a natural anti-freeze, trehalose sugar, that depresses the freezing point of the insect. Insects that pass the winter exposed to cold temperatures have an extra amount of trehalose, so their anti-freeze is more effective. (I happen to know this because I'm an entomologist.) Also, some lady beetles aggregate in large numbers to pass the winter in a state of hibernation. Conserved metabolic heat from the mass of lady beetles raises their temperature slightly, helping to protect them from freezing.

Just a thought! :lol: If you don't find anything, I will just ask her next time I see her.

keith_r
05-12-2011, 12:38 PM
i was just going by what i read on the "instruction" card that came with mine,, it stated that they would die in the freezer, but live for 2-3 weeks in the fridge..

samtheman
05-13-2011, 04:05 AM
Thanks Urban,

I called the store and they keep them in stock in the refrigerator, they want $12.00 for 1500 of those suckers....that's not bad at all

keith_r
05-13-2011, 05:27 AM
nope, not bad at all.. i think it was about 15 from home depot (delivered) for 1500 - they don't carry them in the stores around here

samtheman
05-24-2011, 02:50 PM
My system is taking over:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics%205_%2024_11/100_4387.jpg

tomatoes look great:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics%205_%2024_11/100_4391.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics%205_%2024_11/100_4390.jpg

Eggplants:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics%205_%2024_11/100_4388.jpg

Corn:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics%205_%2024_11/100_4389.jpg

tilapia fingerlings:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Aquaponics%205_%2024_11/100_4393.jpg

The only plants I am still strugeling are the pepper plants, they turn yellow, the leaves fall, and the plants die. Maybe I should try a different variety of peppers

urbanfarmer
05-24-2011, 03:18 PM
REALLY? In my experience peppers have really taken to aquaponics. I have tried regular cayenne, thai hot, bhut jolokia, bell peppers just to name a few.

Maybe the root system isn't getting established well enough? Are the roots in a lot of leftover soil or anything? Some peppers do worse with less oxygen. Thai hot peppers seem the most resilient to those conditions in my experience. What kind are they?

samtheman
05-24-2011, 06:01 PM
I had red and green bell peppers and I lost all 4 plants, maybe I damaged the root system when I transplanted them. I though it was Iron deficiency so I started adding iron supplement to the system but it did nothing to the pepper plants. Now that my system is more stable, I am going to give it another try to the peppers.

cedarswamp
05-24-2011, 06:43 PM
Are they blue tilapia? I thought they would be darker.

samtheman
05-25-2011, 04:01 AM
Are they blue tilapia? I thought they would be darker.


They were giving to me as blue tilapia but I am not an expert. I have 2 IBC tanks split in two, I have 8 adult blue tilapias on one of the Tanks that I have gotten from Stucco back in october, one ready to eat in the sump and about 30 fingerlings on the other IBC tank to protect them from the big ones.

stucco
05-25-2011, 04:34 AM
they look just like mine :)

the ones that you picked up from me came from TCLynx via morningstar.
all of my other ones came from the ditch by my house which is full of them again... odd consitering the winter we just had.

samtheman
05-25-2011, 04:41 AM
they look just like mine :)

the ones that you picked up from me came from TCLynx via morningstar.
all of my other ones came from the ditch by my house which is full of them again... odd consitering the winter we just had.


The ones I got from you back in October are ready to eat :mrgreen:
But I have to wait till my fingerlings grow some more so I won't mess up the balance in my system.

cedarswamp
05-25-2011, 04:05 PM
Are they blue tilapia? I thought they would be darker.


They were giving to me as blue tilapia but I am not an expert. I have 2 IBC tanks split in two, I have 8 adult blue tilapias on one of the Tanks that I have gotten from Stucco back in october, one ready to eat in the sump and about 30 fingerlings on the other IBC tank to protect them from the big ones.


I wasn't doubting you as I know bupkis about tilapia, I just assumed they would be a shade of blue. :shock:

samtheman
05-26-2011, 03:41 AM
I know what you mean...I don't even know why they call it blue tilapia, I don't see any blue on it..lol

samtheman
06-15-2011, 02:16 PM
Watermelon on the menu!!!

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/June%2015%202011/100_4430.jpg


The tomatoes are still doing good, but it looks like the hot weather in Florida (high 90s) is slowing down the growth:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/June%2015%202011/100_4431.jpg

samtheman
06-16-2011, 04:02 PM
Let the game begin! Red Wiggler Worms
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/June%2015%202011/100_4439.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/June%2015%202011/100_4438.jpg

rfeiller
06-16-2011, 09:54 PM
if you have dead skin on your hands, pick up a handfull of just red wigglers hold them in your hands for a few minutes. when you open your hands your skin will be soft. i haven't been able to get any women, and god knows some of them need it, to try it! :lol: :lol: :lol:

samtheman
06-17-2011, 02:48 AM
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

rfeiller
06-17-2011, 07:39 AM
where did your red wigglers come from?

samtheman
06-17-2011, 08:08 AM
They came from "Uncle Jim's Worm Farm" through Amazon.com

SLJ
06-17-2011, 09:59 AM
if you have dead skin on your hands, pick up a handfull of just red wigglers hold them in your hands for a few minutes. when you open your hands your skin will be soft. i haven't been able to get any women, and god knows some of them need it, to try it! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I love my worms ... will have to give that a try! 8-)

Sonia

rfeiller
06-17-2011, 10:56 AM
Being in construction my hands would get beat up so I would do that. My daughters and wife would smear all types of toxic chemicals on their skin, but not red wigglers.
Sorry samtheman didn't mean to hijack your thread. You system is neat and orderly. Good looking plants.

rfeiller
06-17-2011, 10:53 PM
out of curiosity did you count the worms?

samtheman
06-18-2011, 07:21 AM
out of curiosity did you count the worms?


LOL...not really there are supposed to be 1000 of them per box

kneedeepinwater
06-18-2011, 08:05 AM
That would be rough, counting 1000 worms. Your plants look great, especially the corn. Are you using a sump?

rfeiller
06-18-2011, 08:47 AM
the reason i asked is that the only complaint i have read was on being shorted through amazon

samtheman
06-18-2011, 09:08 AM
That would be rough, counting 1000 worms. Your plants look great, especially the corn. Are you using a sump?



Yes, I am using a 100 gallon sump with 3 one hundred gallon growbeds 12" high and two 180 gallon tanks where I have the fishes.

utahgal
06-19-2011, 04:45 PM
[quote="samtheman"]Let the game begin! Red Wiggler Worms

Hi samtheman

This may sound like a really stupid question, but my system and I are still "uncycled". (aka waiting mode) From what I have read, some ppl put the worms directly into the grow beds, while others put them in a container either under or around their system. I am familiar with the use of the castings and tea. What is the purpose of putting directly in the GB? Is there enough for them to eat in the GBs? or do you still supplement them? Doesn't it make a mess of the FT? I really would like to understand the correlation between the worms as used in the AP system.

Thanks
Cindy

samtheman
06-19-2011, 07:22 PM
Worms in aquaponics are often called the secret weapon, they help you keep control of the solids build up in your growbeds. As long as the conditions are right they will survive a long time in your aquaponics system.

keith_r
06-20-2011, 06:16 AM
+1 sam
worms assist in breaking down solids in your growbeds.. they will survive and reproduce, it's recommended to use composing worms, usually called "red wigglers"..
they breath through their skin, so they are fine with flood and drain or constant flood.. if they get into the fishtank, they'll live until the fish eat them

rfeiller
06-20-2011, 07:07 AM
they can last indifinitly if the water is well oxygenated.

utahgal
06-20-2011, 06:21 PM
OK guys, thanks. Was gonna try an outside raised worm bed inground but not sure they would be able to survive the winter. Would love to have them in the GB though. I raised them in the house in a steralite container a few years ago. Will have to look into this as soon as the system cycles and stablizes.

Appreciate the info.

Cindy

bsfman
08-31-2011, 01:11 PM
REALLY? In my experience peppers have really taken to aquaponics. I have tried regular cayenne, thai hot, bhut jolokia, bell peppers just to name a few.


Have you eaten any of the bhut jolokia peppers yet? Supposedly the hottest in the world - over a million scoville units! They are like 4 times hotter than red savina habaneros! I had some bhut jolokia seeds i was going to plant but they got lost (or my wife tossed them out).

rfeiller
08-31-2011, 02:08 PM
I have six good size plants and a lot of seeds. You can purchase TRUE Bhut Jolokias seeds from New Mexico State University. A lot of seeds and plants are not jolokias or have been cross pollinated. Its another web scam. International Chile Institute, is the organization associated with NM state university
No I don't eat them! I loose the tough guys after they try the Caribbean reds. :mrgreen:

samtheman
10-02-2011, 07:43 PM
IT does not get any better than these!!!

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/Tilapia/100_4751.jpg :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

samtheman
02-23-2014, 05:54 PM
Well, let's see how this year works for me. I had a big issue with caterpillars last year. Stray cats getting into my greenhouse and aphids in my pepper plants...lol
These are "Aji Dulce" pepper plants from the Island and Oregano
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/aquaponics%202014/20140223_082925.jpg

Jalapeño pepper
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/aquaponics%202014/20140223_082624.jpg

Tomato, Eggplant, and pepper varieties
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/aquaponics%202014/20140223_082340.jpg

Cucumbers, tomato, cilantro
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x295/elisamuels/aquaponics%202014/20140223_082416.jpg

rfeiller
02-24-2014, 12:53 PM
Many of my veggies do great in aquaponics including tomatoes with the addition of minerals, but all of the peppers from bell too jolokias and the entire squash family do much better for me in potting soil or commercial planter's mix
However, I was surprised to have the five Yacon plants, which are a root crop do twice as good as the five Yacon planted in containers! The ones in my system, which include a lot of red wiggler worms, was in a fast draining media by Pro-mix, connected to a drip system. All of the leafy plants excel in aquaponics.
Nice set-up