Hello From Lake Erie(ish?)

[Emmett]

Morning everyone! My name is Emmett, I'm a total newbie here. I was setting up a hydroponics system and then read a bit on aquaponics and realized it was easier and better so here I am.

I have two systems I want to set up. The first one is smaller and will be where I'm learnding the ins and outs of aquaponics. It is located in a small (7' tall 2' wide 3' deep) moisture resistant cabinet off my kitchen. Due to the space limitations, this will be only a 10 gallon system. Light is from a High Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide lights for 24 hour growth. I'd like to grow things like lettuce and a small tomato plant. We have some crazier things we'd like to try, like a small watermelon vine but that's for later.

It would be neat to put an edible fish in this system but I don't know what size tank a tilapia needs and don't know where I can get any so I'll be using guppies unless someone has a better suggestion. (coy?) I was going to use goldfish because I've heard they work well with aquaponics but then I heard they can be problematic.

The flood and drain system is going to be based on this guy's system that I'll be putting together. As for the FT, It's a 10 gal aquarium and. . . I don't know yet. The tank will have to pump into the GB and then drain back in. Other than that I'm open to suggestions.

The second system would be larger and in a greenhouse outside but still not huge. I'm thinking 100 gallons max. For that system I definitely want to use an edible fish. The greenhouse is attached to the house on the southern exposure and will be approx. 6' wide 4' deep and 12-15' tall. I know you're thinking "What kind of dimensions are those?" I have the GBs planned out so that they are stacked vertically up the wall and there will be a ladder to access them. I'm kinda the king of weird spaces. I'll probably make the tank out of concrete with some pond liner paint that I saw in the FAQ.

First I gotta build them though. I have a lot of the pieces parts for the small system and I have the glass for the greenhouse.

[JCO]

Welcome to the show....pull up an easy chair, relax and stay awhile. New voices are always a welcome addition to our family..! Whatever questions you have on you mind, this is the place to get the answers

[davidstcldfl]

Hi Emmett....

I used gold fish to cycle my system.....I've had good luck with them. They were just the cheap feeder ones. I lost a few, the first time I adjusted the PH too fast.
They will get big eventually....so will koi. I'm not really sure how fast they will grow. Always heard the size of the tank plays into that too....(?) Mine are about 4 times bigger then when I bought them. They are in a 160 gal tank.
Tilapia grow too fast...which is a good problem, when your raising them.

Good luck, which everway you go. Looking forward to some pictures...

[Ironfish]

Hi Emmett,

Welcome. You are about 2 hrs away from me. Sounds like you are going to be very busy this summer.

Ironfish

[Emmett]

Thanks all. I always get too wrapped up in a project to remember to take pictures. I'll have to try and remember this time.

[davidstcldfl]

Stick your camera in your tool bag.....just keep it away from the PVC cement and primer, the cans 'always' seem to, only leak on good stuff...

[Emmett]

I've been toying around with the idea of getting a time lapse camera so I could just sit it in a corner and let it go. Then everyone could see how fast I work!

[davidstcldfl]

Actually, that would be pretty cool.....

I was 'that kid' in school that always wanted the teachers to run the old film projectors 'backwards' .......I always laughed when they did.

Kids now a days....with special effects, U-tube vids, photo shop and all that stuff..... would probably just roll their eyes, if you did that now.

Good Lord...am I getting old...?

[JCO]

If we all posted pictures of ourselves, I'm sure you would realize we are all getting old..... Say, how about a new topic....FACE IT..! Each member could post an up to the minute photo of their self and then edit that post each year and put an up-to-date photo beside the one from the previous year..."Photo Time Line" record keeping. Participation not required naturally, but encouraged...otherwise...you'd not be one of the guys or gals as the case may be.

"WHAT SAY YOU MERRY MEN OF SHERWOOD (DIY Aquaponics)YEA or NEA?"

[davidstcldfl]

The 'truth' hurts !....