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  1. #1
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    Jul 2013
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    Initial Setup Evaluation and Suggestions?

    I am looking into installing a half-acre aquaponics system. I am considering a DWC setup, though not entirely sure about the amount and power of water pumps required, and PVC would seemingly be a much cheaper setup (I'm not sure if I should worry about water temperature consistency in a climate controlled, yet sunny environment). After reading around, I've also seen conflicting reports about air pumps as well. ....and everywhere else seems to leave it at "it depends."

    So as is, I'm a bit lost, but still optimistic that this could be a boost to my farm's organic herb and leafy vegetable sales.

    I'm on a budget, but not a strict one, and want products that will stand the test of time with minimum maintenance. If there are certain brands to look up or avoid, I would be very interested to know. I'd rather pay twice the amount for a pump that will last 4 times as long, if you get my drift.

    Currently I have (chicken-scratched on a piece of paper) the following items to pick up:

    2 - 10x6x6 Fish Tanks (360 feet cubed) (2693 gallons of water per bed)
    4 - 1,000-hole Plant Beds (unsure of whether to DWC raft or use PVC piping with holes)
    4 - 50G Drums full of pea gravel for filtration
    2 - 6,300 GPH Water Pumps (26 mins on per hour)
    2 - Timers for Water Pumps
    ? - Air Pumps for fish tank?
    ? - Air Stones?
    1,000 - Nile Tilapia fingerlings
    5lb bag - Lettuce Seeds (as a control for future farming)
    5lb bag - Basil Seeds (as a control for future farming)
    Plumbing to connect
    1 - .5 acre Climate Controlled Greenhouse

    If anyone could offer any potential solutions/suggestions to my proposed setup it would be greatly appreciated. I'm also curious what success other people have had with fruiting vegetables, as I'd fear the high nitrate content would deter growth of fruits. I'd assume Jamaican bat guano, or some other organic high-P nutrient could be added to a filtration tank during flowering?

    I'd be curious if anybody could ballpark an estimate for what this setup would cost initially, and how long it would take to turn a profit on such an investment.

    And finally, I'm interested in a possibility of solar or wind power that is capable of powering the entire operation, and a ballpark of what that would cost.

    I don't mean to overwhelm 1 person, if anyone has any insight on anything I've asked, please just say what you know.

    Thanks guys, keep it green!

    James Rawlston
    Organic Mountain Farms
    Owner

  2. #2
    Members
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    Jul 2013
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    2

    Re: Initial Setup Evaluation and Suggestions?

    Required Product Description Price/Unit Cost Tax Total
    6 General Hydroponics Dual Diaphragm Air Pump $63.22 $379.32 $35.09 $414.41
    24 Active Aqua Air Stone Cylinder $10.00 $240 $22.20 $262.20
    2 Reeflo Hammerhead Aquarium Water Pump, 5800GPH $797.55 $1595.10 $147.55 $1742.65
    2 Titan Controls Apollo 2 Timing Controller $78.37 $156.74 $14.50 $171.24
    1,000 Red Nile Tilapia Fingerlings $1.20 $1,200.00 $111.00 $1,311.00
    3 10lb. Bag AquaOrganic Aquaponics Fish Feed $32.95 $98.85 $9.14 $107.99
    1 5lb. Bag Romaine Lettuce Seeds $89.00 $89.00 $8.23 $97.23
    1 5lb. Bag Sweet Basil Seeds $109.99 $109.99 $10.17 $120.16
    2 10x6x4 1” Thick Aluminum Fish Container $5,000 $10,000 $950 $10.950
    2,700ft 4” Schedule 80 PVC Piping $18,900 $1,748.25 20,648.25
    PVC Fittings $2,280 $210.90 $2,490.90
    10 55-gal Drums $40 $400 $37.00 $437.00
    Pea Gravel $95.31 $8.82 $104.13
    pH / Water Quality Measurement Budget $100.00
    Organic trace Nutrient Budget $50.00
    TOTAL $39,007.16

    I made a table of costs associated with the building... I already have the climate control in place and priced it on PVC tubing running on 2" holes, 8" centers, 10 total.... 5 stemming from each aluminum fish tank. If you see anything I'm lacking, then please let me know. From my projections I can recoup costs (including power) in 2.5 years.

  3. #3
    Members
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sweden
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    28

    Re: Initial Setup Evaluation and Suggestions?

    Just a quick thought... Were do you live in the world?
    I guess you have to have year round production and in that case would you need extra lighting and heat the fish tanks during winter?

    Do you need some fans or extra ventilation for your green house? That's a big cost as well.

    How are you going to build it? Hired help and heavy machinery cost a lot of money...

  4. #4
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Orange Park, Florida
    Posts
    1,830

    Re: Initial Setup Evaluation and Suggestions?

    Go to your profile and put in your location...where you live. There may be members close by. Also, telling us what you have done to date is great, but one picture is worth 1,000 words. Post some photo and tell us what we are seeing.
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

  5. #5
    Members
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Fairport Harbor, Ohio
    Posts
    1,073

    Re: Initial Setup Evaluation and Suggestions?

    aluminum fish tanks? aquaplated?

  6. #6
    Members dead_sled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Nebraska
    Posts
    197

    Re: Initial Setup Evaluation and Suggestions?

    With that much money in produce and fish on the line, I would replace the timers with a custom programmable controller to run the timer, monitor water quality parameters, monitor alarm conditions, and relay all alarm/event messages. This would add a little to the budget, but it may save you thousands.
    Less irritating avatar since 02/27/14.

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