Aquaponics Digest - Sun 12/26/99
Message 1: Re: Irrigation grid, was Re: Aeration
from Raul Vergueiro Martins
Message 2: Re: Expanded clay
from Raul Vergueiro Martins
Message 3: Re: Expanded clay
from Raul Vergueiro Martins
Message 4: Re: speraneo system (biodigester)
from Raul Vergueiro Martins
Message 5: Re: about feeding catfish
from Marc & Marcy
Message 6: Re: speraneo system (biodigester)
from "Jonathan Woods"
Message 7:
from "Chameleon"
Message 8: Re: speraneo system (biodigester)
from "KevinLReed"
Message 9: Re: about feeding catfish/thanks
from Bagelhole1
Message 10: Media
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 11: controlled environment greenhouses
from Michael Haring
Message 12: Spinach
from "Jay Myers"
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| Message 1 |
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Subject: Re: Irrigation grid, was Re: Aeration
From: Raul Vergueiro Martins
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 12:49:18 +1300
S & S Aqua Farm wrote:
> At 02:10 PM 12/25/1999 +1300, Raul Vergueiro Martins wrote:
> >Hello:
> >
> >In Paula and Tom system, there is one only tube discharging water from
> >the fisk tank to one end of the biofilter/culture bench.
> >Coul we use that tube divided into two or more tubes runing in the
> >entire lengh of the bench, provided with some kind of showers or simple
> >holes, to evenly distribute the water along the media?
>
> Actually, we have one pipe transporting the water to the head of the bed,
> but that pipe empties into a ladder-shaped irrigation grid with evenly
> spaced holes that covers the entire surface area of the grow beds.
>
> Paula
> S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
> Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
Hello Paula:
Thanks for your information about irrigation grid.
About using expanded clay instead of pea gravel, have you tried it, or do you
know somebody who does it?
Merry Christmas.
Best regards:
Raul Vergueiro Martins
rvm@sti.com.br
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| Message 2 |
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Subject: Re: Expanded clay
From: Raul Vergueiro Martins
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 13:00:03 +1300
Bagelhole1 wrote:
> In a message dated 12/25/99 4:59:35 PM, rvm@sti.com.br writes:
>
> < gravel in the Speraneo System?
> Would like detailed information about that.
> >>
>
> I'm using expanded clay balls to hold the roots in my vertical (2 liter
> plastic bottles) setup with 3 plants in each bottle, suspended in a series of
> bottles from the top of the greenhouse over the trenches. The fish water is
> pumped up into 1/2" tubing over the bottles where their are openings for the
> water to go thru the bottles and back into the water. After a few months its
> only working pretty good, the plants are a live but don't seem to grow much,
> I get some yellowing of leaves. I may need more nutrients in the water
> (eco-system). I have water hyacinthe and water peppermint, watercress,
> duckweed?, freshwater clams (alive and dead), ramshead snails, and 7 - 2lb
> catfish.
>
> Tom O
> http://bagelhole.org
Hello Tom:
Merry Christmas:
Thanks for your answer.
It seems that you have unbalanced bio-masses. Too much plants, for few fishes.
May be too, that your rooting media/bio-filter is not working correctly.
I think that other friends in the list can help you better than me, as I am a
beginner in aquaponics.
Best regards
Raul Vergueiro Martins
rvm@sti.com.br
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| Message 3 |
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Subject: Re: Expanded clay
From: Raul Vergueiro Martins
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 13:03:48 +1300
Vik Olliver wrote:
> Raul Vergueiro Martins wrote:
> > Would like to know your results about expanded clay in aquaponics.
> > Looking in hearing from you briefly,
>
> OK, briefly.
>
> I've used them in 30x35cm tubs which are 12cm deep. Nutrient solution is
> trickled through a series of 2mm pipes, which end just below the
> surface. A drip-tray below catches the nutrient which is then
> recirculated (images of one tub are on my website in the "Launchpad"
> section).
>
> They are expensive, but do not clog up with algal growth to anything
> like the extent of volcanic chip or vermiculite.
>
> Basil grows particularly well in them.
>
> I reuse them by baking them and blowing away the bits of root. This also
> sterilizes them, and I am experimenting with a solar-powered oven to
> bake them in to reduce costs.
>
> I have used them as a "top layer" on some volcanic chip beds to cut down
> algal growth, and this seems to work. However, I have not tried to
> recycle them from this situation. I might just mix them in to improve
> the quality of my medium.
>
> Vik :v)
> --
> A member of The Olliver Family http://olliver.penguinpowered.com
Hello Vik:
Merry Christmas:
Thanks for returning my mail.
I visited your webpage. Very nice. You are an artist.
Congratulations.
Best regards
Raul Vergueiro Martins
rvm@sti.com.br
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| Message 4 |
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Subject: Re: speraneo system (biodigester)
From: Raul Vergueiro Martins
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 13:12:41 +1300
KevinLReed wrote:
> There are some plans for a very inexpensive biodigestor system ( about $10
> to $50 US) and thought on how to maximize the system impact as directly
> contributing to the food source of the Sperano system with out altering the
> Sperano set up. This just decreases the " input " cost to increase the "
> output cash margin.
> Kevin
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Raul Vergueiro Martins"
> To:
> Sent: Friday, December 24, 1999 2:57 PM
> Subject: Re: speraneo system
>
> >
> >
> > Shyloah wrote:
> >
> > > Hello Raul Martins
> > >
> > > Thanks for the insights
> > >
> > > I don't believe I have figured out what aquaponics system you are
> associated
> > > with
> > >
> > > Again thanks
> > > Lee
> >
> > Hello Lee:
> >
> > Yes, I didn't figure about my system, because I'm setting it now. Hope
> it will
> > ready for operation next March.
> > It is being built as a pilot one, and includes a fish tank, a centrifugal
> waste
> > separator, a biofilter similar to the Speraneo's one, a biodigester, two
> NFT
> > channels, two DFT tubes, and a raft tank sistem.
> > It is beeing built to operate each system as separate units or in
> conjunction,
> > for research purposes.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Raul Vergueiro Martins
> > rvm@sti.com.br
> >
Hello Kevin Reed:
Merry Christmas:
Thanks for your message.
Really, depending on sizes involved, we can build a very cheap anaerobic
digester.
A simple plastic drum, with 100 or 200 L, can do the job, if correctly
installed amd operated.
I believe you can improve the Speraneo system with an anaerobic digester, but,
that does not mean you can avoid the aerobic bio-filter with Nitrobacter and
Nitrossomona, for the nitrates generation, as these bacteria are aerobic.
Best regards
Raul Vergueiro Martins
rvm@sti.com.br
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| Message 5 |
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Subject: Re: about feeding catfish
From: Marc & Marcy
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 09:09:05 -0700
Hi Tom,
We did a small self sustaining pond for a number of years
based on a Colorado State University pamphlet. The point was
a little to no maintenance pond that needed no user
intervention. For the period we did not feed the fish we
lost only the small guys who could not compete but surviving
fish growth was definitely not to potential. It was outdoors
so food input did occur but it was what ever fell, flew or
crawled into it. The catfish did well but did not grow much
past around 6 inches.
In experiments with unfed container/aquarium situations such
as fish in containers to eat mosquitos, goldfish to add a
little flash to a water lilly tub on the back deck, fish in
little aquariums around the house, etc. we found that most
any fish that can eat algae or naturally occurring little
critters will survive and actually find environmental
equilibrium (depending on location) with breeding/brooding
in some cases but cannibalism WILL occur and mosquitos can
be a problem :(
Usually as long as we kept the water unfouled/in-balance and
the temp non-outrageous the fish kept perking along as
little self sustaining food ecosystems would develop.
Typically losses were due to cats, birds, too hot or cold
and yucky water.
Marc
Bagelhole1 wrote:
>
> Thanks Jim and Brian for your kind suggestions. Now it is Dec. 21, the
> catfish are alive and well, subsisting on what they find in the raceway so
> far. It is a mystery to me what they are eating, but I have not been feeding
> them. Slowly, I will add more.
> Best Fishes,
> Tom O
> http://bagelhole.org
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| Message 6 |
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Subject: Re: speraneo system (biodigester)
From: "Jonathan Woods"
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 09:04:39 -0800
Kevin,
Where can I obtain such plans?
--
On Sat, 25 Dec 1999 12:25:19 KevinLReed wrote:
>There are some plans for a very inexpensive biodigestor system ( about $10
>to $50 US) and thought on how to maximize the system impact as directly
>contributing to the food source of the Sperano system with out altering the
>Sperano set up. This just decreases the " input " cost to increase the "
>output cash margin.
>Kevin
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Raul Vergueiro Martins"
>To:
>Sent: Friday, December 24, 1999 2:57 PM
>Subject: Re: speraneo system
>
>
>>
>>
>> Shyloah wrote:
>>
>> > Hello Raul Martins
>> >
>> > Thanks for the insights
>> >
>> > I don't believe I have figured out what aquaponics system you are
>associated
>> > with
>> >
>> > Again thanks
>> > Lee
>>
>> Hello Lee:
>>
>> Yes, I didn't figure about my system, because I'm setting it now. Hope
>it will
>> ready for operation next March.
>> It is being built as a pilot one, and includes a fish tank, a centrifugal
>waste
>> separator, a biofilter similar to the Speraneo's one, a biodigester, two
>NFT
>> channels, two DFT tubes, and a raft tank sistem.
>> It is beeing built to operate each system as separate units or in
>conjunction,
>> for research purposes.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Raul Vergueiro Martins
>> rvm@sti.com.br
>>
>
>
>
***********************************
chickclick.com
http://www.chickclick.com
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http://www.chickmail.com
sign up for your free email.
***********************************
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| Message 7 |
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Subject:
From: "Chameleon"
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 12:07:46 -0700
unsubscribe
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| Message 8 |
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Subject: Re: speraneo system (biodigester)
From: "KevinLReed"
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 10:21:16 -1000
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Aloha,
I must have neglected to add the URL to the cheap biodigestor plans.
Look here they also have other interesting items.=20
http://www.hcm.fpt.vn/inet/~ecofarm/
The way this biodigestor
fits to the Sperano System is in front of it .... The biodigestor is =
used to produce
a smell free slurry that can be used to feed duckweed and this in turn =
can be fed
to the fish. Measure the roots on the duckweed and they will show you =
how much=20
protein the duckweed stores. 2 cm roots on duckweed shows it contains =
protein content
equal to soy bean .... longer roots =3D less protein . There is direct =
correlation between=20
nitrogen fed to duckweed, root length and protein quality. The slurry =
from the biodigestor
is not used for heating or power in developed countries as biogas =
doesn't compete even with
generators with our oil prices. If you have the space to use the =
biodigestor and some sort of
duckweed pond, it will help to provide free high quality food for your =
fish.
Aloha,
Kevin
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Jonathan Woods"
To:
Sent: Sunday, December 26, 1999 7:04 AM
Subject: Re: speraneo system (biodigester)
> Kevin,
>=20
> Where can I obtain such plans?
> --
>=20
> On Sat, 25 Dec 1999 12:25:19 KevinLReed wrote:
> >There are some plans for a very inexpensive biodigestor system ( =
about $10
> >to $50 US) and thoughts on how to maximize the system impact as =
directly
> >contributing to the food source of the Sperano system with out =
altering the
> >Sperano set up. This just decreases the " input " cost to increase =
the "
> >output cash margin.
> >Kevin
------=_NextPart_000_0031_01BF4F8A.F1BC64C0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Aloha,
I must have neglected to add the URL to the =
cheap=20
biodigestor plans.
Look here they also have other interesting =
items.=20
The way this biodigestor
fits to the Sperano System is in front =
of it ....=20
The biodigestor is used to produce
a smell free slurry that can be used to feed =
duckweed=20
and this in turn can be fed
to the fish. Measure the roots on the =
duckweed and they=20
will show you how much
protein the duckweed stores. 2 cm roots on =
duckweed=20
shows it contains protein content
equal to soy bean .... longer roots =3D less =
protein .=20
There is direct correlation between
nitrogen fed to duckweed, root length and protein quality. The slurry from the=20
biodigestor
is not used for heating or power in developed =
countries=20
as biogas doesn't compete even with
generators with our oil prices. If you =
have the=20
space to use the biodigestor and some sort of
duckweed pond, it will help to provide =
free high=20
quality food for your fish.
Aloha,
Kevin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Woods" <garthbrooks@chickmail.com>
To: <aquaponics@townsqr.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 26, 1999 7:04 =
AM
Subject: Re: speraneo system=20
(biodigester)
> Kevin,
>
> Where =
can I=20
obtain such plans?
> --
>
> On Sat, 25 Dec 1999=20
12:25:19 KevinLReed wrote:
> >There are some plans =
for a=20
very inexpensive biodigestor system ( about $10
> >to $50 US) =
and=20
thoughts on how to maximize the system impact as directly
>=20
>contributing to the food source of the Sperano system with out =
altering=20
the
> >Sperano set up. This just decreases the " input " cost =
to=20
increase the "
> >output cash margin.
>=20
>Kevin
------=_NextPart_000_0031_01BF4F8A.F1BC64C0--
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| Message 9 |
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Subject: Re: about feeding catfish/thanks
From: Bagelhole1
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 17:03:42 EST
Thanks Marc for sharing that information, Tom O
In a message dated 12/26/99 5:13:00 PM, marc@aculink.net writes:
<>
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| Message 10 |
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Subject: Media
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 16:11:33 -0600
At 12:49 PM 12/26/1999 +1300, Raul wrote:
> Hello Paula:
>
>Thanks for your information about irrigation grid.
>
>About using expanded clay instead of pea gravel, have you tried it, or do you
>know somebody who does it?
We've not used expanded clay, primarily because pea gravel has worked for us
and is readily available here. I briefly looked back through my files,
though, and came across the following comments that might be helpful.
Paula
-----------------------------
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 10:10:27 -0700
From: Rebecca Nelson
To: aquaponics@townsqr.com
Subject: Re: Light Expanded Clay Aggregate
Hi all,
In answer to Paula's question about Leca stone:
Leca stone is a kiln fired expanded clay pebble and is often used as a
growing medium in hobby hydroponic systems. Its pH is neutral and it is
quite porous with good capillary action. The pebbles are usually about
16mm.
It looks nice in decorative growing systems and algae doesn't seem to
grow on it, making it a clean-looking medium.
The drawback is that is is too expensive for commercial operations. ie:
$40 for a 50 litre bag.
Rebecca Nelson
Nelson / Pade Multimedia, ph 209.742.6869, fax 209.742.4402
http://www.aquaponics.com
Publisher of the Aquaponics Journal, a bi-monthly newsletter
The Encyclopedia of Hydroponic Gardening CD-Rom
All About Aquaculture CD-Rom
Hobby Hydroponics Video
Hydroponics Curriculum
S & S Aqua Farm wrote:
>
> At 12:29 PM 3/27/98 -0800, bard@rof.net wrote:
> >Has anyone used LECA as a growing medium ? I would like to know about
> > any negitive effects that this medium may have. Does it keep the root
> > temperature consistant ? Is it very heavy ?
> >
> I guess we've just lived too long in the Ozarks (or stay too sheltered).
> Hate to admit my ignorance, but could someone at least explain what this
> material is? Is it an often used media in a hydroponics setting?
>
> We're always interested in exploring different potential media for growing
> systems. We use creek gravel, but other locations dictate that different
> media will have to be used.
>
> I'd appreciate any input on this topic of LECA also, and it's properties.
>
> Paula Speraneo
-------------------------------------------
From: MUDDTOO
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 02:36:52 EDT
Subject: Re: expanded clay
To: aquaponics@townsqr.com
I'm sure it'd work good, along with perlite which is very lite. The finer
the media the more you'd need to pre-filter the sediment out to avoid
clogging the bacteria bed and causing dead spots. The reason people buy the
gravel is because you can get a truck load for what you'd pay for a trunk
full of perlite, or for a couple bags of expanded clay. Also be careful with
the expanded clay - some types (like some for orchids) are not stable and may
make it very hard to maintain control of the pH. Both gravel and perlite
won't add anything to nor take away anything from your system.
joel
In a message dated 6/5/99 6:12:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
Princeb2@pacbell.net writes:
<< Does anyone have experience using expanded clay as a growing media for
aquaponics. Similar to what is used for hydroponics. Looking for a lighter
media that will work as well as gravel and still house the bacteria. >>
-------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 10:49:12 -0400 (AST)
To: aquaponics@townsqr.com
From: james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
Subject: Re: expanded clay
Gravel will add Ca, Mg, carbonates and other minerals depending on the
material. This is good. It can serve as a buffer. Jim
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| Message 11 |
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Subject: controlled environment greenhouses
From: Michael Haring
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 13:29:42 -1000
hello, been a while since my last post so i apologize if i am treading up old
ground. I'd like to find out information on using cold water for
environmental control(growth tank, and greenhouse temp. control,
atomizers, etc). I have a site in mind that offers cold water and warm
water plumbed to the site. I would like to develop an environmentally
controlled greenhouse using the water resource. If anyone here has some
thoughts or experience in this, i'd love to hear about it
Mahalo!
O ke kahua mamua, mahope ke kukulu. Michael Haring
1020 Aoloa Pl.104a
Kailua, HI 96734
The site first, and then the building. (808) 263-9662
haring@aloha.net
haring@hawaii.edu
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| Message 12 |
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Subject: Spinach
From: "Jay Myers"
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 20:16:32 -0600
Just have to report - From droping the spinach seed into the pea gravel to
tiny plants with two leaves - 5 days flat ! Lettuce 2 days less that that.
Never have seen anything like this. Fish are happy - plants seem happy -
the greenhouse is a wonderful place to be !!!
Jay
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