hi jbarber, your system looks pretty interesting but i think that aluminium is not good for fish and galvanizied is also bad for fish unless they are sealed with epoxy. good luck Big Al
Well, thanks everyone for your feed back and pm's.
I have decided to set up a second system using plastic type tubs. I am going to discontinue the gutter system. I thought about lining the gutters with 6mil plastic but I have had numerous leaking issued even with marine grade caulk and epoxy etc.... I may use pipe in the future on my gutter stand.
Well, I'm keeping the Aluminium gutters as grow beds. It has been 21 days since I started the system and the plants and the fish seem to be doing fine. I am going to get a water testing kit to see where everything is at. When i started the system I put residue from my koi pond filters in the water and the grow beds. Will add some pics later.
I have recieved some feedback, mostly pm's. Some very upset people letting me know metal is not good as a system structure. I will conceed this FACT copper is bad and will say galvanized metal could have some effect "long term" on the fish. (poor minnows in those old galvanized minnow buckets). But nothing is showing me that aluminium gutters are leeching out anything that would harm the fish.
Hope to update soon, I love opinions it is a great learning experience for me. Obviously we all have different opinions about this subject because it can be so creative in its setup. but please don't be so upset because someone is doing something diiferent than the norm. Sometimes opinions not based on fact are just wrong.
Galvanizing is done with Zinc, and despite what others may say about copper, from what I've read, the copper sulfates that are given off by copper plumbing and red brass fittings also present health problems .... that's why they are bad for fish and vegs .... the use of Aluminum cookware (which is much more refined than the metal used in Aluminum gutters), has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, so use your own discretion on whether or not you want that metal residue in the fish and veggies you plan to eat ....... I'd rather take my chances on plastic gutters for the GBs.
Just my 2 centavos ..........
I use the Linux Operating System ...... Free as in beer!
You're never too old to learn something
Aquaponics - food'n'fish at your doorstep
Helena, Montana - Home of the Northernmost Monument to the Confederacy
This winter so far as been a great learning experience and a disapointment for my first first aquaponics system. Our normally mild winters in Georgia have turned into a deep freeze the last month or so.
I had healthy califlower, sugar peas, and brocolli and cabbage. The 24 degree nights eventually killed everything off including 3 catfish in the greenhouse. I had water heaters going and stabalized the temp pretty good at 79 but could not keep up after a while. I have shut my system down for the winter and look forward to the spring\summer. The brim and remaining cat fish are doing fine.