Aquaponics Digest - Wed 03/21/01
Message 1: unsubscribe
from ejohnson 'at' graham.main.nc.us (Eugenia L. Johnson)
Message 2: Aquaculture Canada 2001
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 3: Barley straw
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 4: Re: Barley straw
from "Juan C. Bobeda"
Message 5: Re: "fertilizing" tanks
from James Robert Igou
Message 6: Re: Barley straw
from "Adriana Gutierrez"
Message 7: Re: Barley straw
from "Juan C. Bobeda"
Message 8: Re: Barley straw
from fishmanbruce 'at' webtv.net (Bruce Schreiber)
Message 9: Re: Barley straw
from MBR34567 'at' aol.com
Message 10: Re: Barley straw
from "Juan C. Bobeda"
Message 11: Re: Barley straw
from fishmanbruce 'at' webtv.net (Bruce Schreiber)
Message 12: Re: Barley straw
from "Juan C. Bobeda"
Message 13: Re: Barley straw
from dreadlox 'at' cwjamaica.com
Message 14: Re: Barley straw
from "Adriana Gutierrez"
Message 15: insulation of commercial greenhouse
from David Weeks
| Message 1
Subject: unsubscribe
From: ejohnson 'at' graham.main.nc.us (Eugenia L. Johnson)
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 07:37:34 -0500
Unsubscribe
ejohnson 'at' graham.main.nc.us
Will be away for a while.
| Message 2
Subject: Aquaculture Canada 2001
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:08:59 -0600
I have a copy of the full conference schedule for this May, 2001 annual
meeting. Their website is listed below, but if you have any problems
getting information there, I'd be glad to forward what I've received if
you'll contact me at S & S Aqua Farm
I notice a tour of Future Aqua Farms' aquaponics operation is among the
events scheduled.
Paula
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
-----------------------------------------------
AQUACULTURE CANADA 2001
Halifax, Nova Scotia
May 6-9, 2001
18th Annual Meeting of the Aquaculture Association of Canada
Canada's National Forum on the Science, Business and Technology of
Aquaculture
THEME: Moving Forward Through Partnerships
Conference Website: gov.ns.ca/nsaf/aac2001
| Message 3
Subject: Barley straw
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:22:05 -0600
Since so many members have been discussing using barley straw for algae
reduction, I thought I'd post this now to the entire group instead of
responding individually.
One of our members has barley straw that will be available in July(?). If
you're interested, contact "Sulfercreek" direct.
Paula
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
| Message 4
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: "Juan C. Bobeda"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 15:03:05 -0400
Paula,
On page 14 of Hilmur L. Saffel´s book "Big Dollars Growing Gourmet Salad
Greens", he says: "Lettuce seed is very sensitive to all allopathic chemicals
released by common weeds such as nutsedge, foxtail, quackgrass. Also residues
of broccoli, beets, BARLEY, and rye can inhibit growth. So you must make
certain your growing area is not contaminated in any way."
Would barley straw used to control algae affect the growth of lettuce
seedlings or plants?
Does anyone on this list have experience with barley straw and lettuce?
I am asking because he also mentions that watercress and mustard plants also
inhibit lettuce growth, and we are now suffering this inhibition because we
were growing our mustard, watercress and lettuce seedlings in the same tank
and the lettuce simply stopped growing!
Juan C. Bobeda
S & S Aqua Farm wrote:
> Since so many members have been discussing using barley straw for algae
> reduction, I thought I'd post this now to the entire group instead of
> responding individually.
>
> One of our members has barley straw that will be available in July(?). If
> you're interested, contact "Sulfercreek" direct.
>
> Paula
> S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
> Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
| Message 5
Subject: Re: "fertilizing" tanks
From: James Robert Igou
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 14:05:15 -0500 (EST)
I don't know if anyone else has suggested this yet, but before stocking
my fish I initiated biofilter activity with ammonia. This provided the
material necessary for nitrousammonius (sorry I could be spelling that one
wrong) bacterial colonization of the beds. I kept the unstocked beds on
a regularly timed shcedule and tested the water for ammonia and
nitrite levels. Once ammonia levels dropped and nitrite appeared I knew I
had the first part of the bacterial colony developed. Then, as I saw
nitite levels drop I knew nitrobacter (the type of bacteria that converts
nitrite to ntrate) was present. As soon as the initial colonies were
developed and ammonia levels had dropped to a minimal level I stocked my
fish. Fish directly excrete ammonia from their gills as part of their
respiration. Decoposition of excess food and feces also provides
additional nutrients and ammonia (from decomposition, which eventually provides
nitrate). I may not have used the most organic solution to the question of
initial fertilization, but my method allowed me to measure the progress of
biofilter initiation. Lack of properly established beds seems to be one of
the most common forms of failure in bioponics. I never stock without a
well established bacterial colony in my growing beds.
TTFN,
JI
| Message 6
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: "Adriana Gutierrez"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 13:49:47 -0600
Juan,
I used hay in my nutrient tank and it did not have a detrimental
effect on the lettuce. I don't believe it was barley. I also grew
some mustard varieties in the same recirculating system with no
problems. The lettuce might have stopped growing due to temperature?
Adriana
> I am asking because he also mentions that watercress and mustard
plants also
> inhibit lettuce growth, and we are now suffering this inhibition
because we
> were growing our mustard, watercress and lettuce seedlings in the
same tank
> and the lettuce simply stopped growing!
| Message 7
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: "Juan C. Bobeda"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:20:34 -0400
Adriana,
High temperatures could be a reason, our temperatures have never been so
high (43ºC = 110ºF thanks to global warming), but I don't think so since
we've never had this problem before.
Juan
Adriana Gutierrez wrote:
> Juan,
> I used hay in my nutrient tank and it did not have a detrimental
> effect on the lettuce. I don't believe it was barley. I also grew
> some mustard varieties in the same recirculating system with no
> problems. The lettuce might have stopped growing due to temperature?
>
> Adriana
| Message 8
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: fishmanbruce 'at' webtv.net (Bruce Schreiber)
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 15:29:50 -0600 (CST)
Juan And Paula Its been my experience that lettuce will bloom and go to
seed with in a short time after we get hot weather. Because hot weather
accelerates the blooming process and the lettuce compleats its life
cycle quickly.
So if your problem is hot conditions it will be signaled by your
plants sending up bloom stalks.
If this is not happening and the plants are just sitting there you
have either a
Low nutriment delivery problem (low fish load)
Insufficient lighting?,
Something at root level like fungus nat maggots
Insufficient aeration of the root zone etc. If you look at the plants
they will almost always tell you the problem
You must train your mind to see what your eyes send it Bruce
| Message 9
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: MBR34567 'at' aol.com
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:37:47 EST
you must train your mind to see what your eyes send it....ahhhhh yes
grasshopper...I love this group...made my whole day
| Message 10
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: "Juan C. Bobeda"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 18:44:49 -0400
Bruce,
We still aren't into aquaponics only normal hydroponics, and are growing
heat tolerant leaf lettuce with two different problems:
1.- The seeds will germinate OK in 24 to 48 hours, but then the seedlings
will just stay there forever growing VERY slowly. These seedlings are
growing in Deep Flow Tanks with aeration, along with watercress seedlings
and mustard seedlings. Until 3 months ago, we were growing the lettuce alone
and the seedlings had normal growth and reached transplant size in 10 to 14
days. We did and do have root problems that could be fungus gnat related.
The root problems seem to fix themselves after a while so we are not sure of
the reason.
2.- The transplanted lettuce are now stretching and have long stems without
bolting (going to seed), their leaves don't have normal width but are
narrower, the plants look rather stunted and do not grow to normal size.
We do have fungus gnats and we have applied beneficial nematodes that
diminished the numbers of gnats but they are still present, we will now use
BT var. israeliensis to try to get rid of the fungus gnat larvae. After 3
years of growing lettuce, we never had this stretching problem before. As I
already mentioned, this year has been hotter than others but I don't think
this is the main problem.
Juan
Bruce Schreiber wrote:
> Juan And Paula Its been my experience that lettuce will bloom and go to
> seed with in a short time after we get hot weather. Because hot weather
> accelerates the blooming process and the lettuce compleats its life
> cycle quickly.
> So if your problem is hot conditions it will be signaled by your
> plants sending up bloom stalks.
> If this is not happening and the plants are just sitting there you
> have either a
> Low nutriment delivery problem (low fish load)
> Insufficient lighting?,
> Something at root level like fungus nat maggots
> Insufficient aeration of the root zone etc. If you look at the plants
> they will almost always tell you the problem
> You must train your mind to see what your eyes send it Bruce
| Message 11
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: fishmanbruce 'at' webtv.net (Bruce Schreiber)
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 17:53:29 -0600 (CST)
Juan On problem number 1 something is locking up the nitrogen before
it gets to your lettuce .The nitrogen is the one that causes fast lush
growth and if your water cress and mustard are still growing fast its
them. They are heavy feeders and the water cress is naturally adapted
to aquatic conditions so i would think its growing well
Why would you put barley straw in a straight hydroponic system its
just unnecessary and a possible problem. Just because its being
researched doesn't mean that you should try it. Let some one else
perfect its use first. Some times it means you loose a crop if you
experament . If you have an algae problem cover your reservoir tank
and the problem is gone away.
On your problem number 2 you are describing what you will get with a
lower than necessary light situation (leggy plants very classic) Are
these under old lights (fluorescent)or being shaded in some way?
Maybe to early for shade cloth or a tree grew up in front of your green
house if you live in a more tropical zone. do you?
Bruce
| Message 12
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: "Juan C. Bobeda"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 21:12:31 -0400
Bruce,
1.- I am growing these plants in very large volume tanks and we measure the
conductivity frequently, also remember that we are talking about seedlings
less than 2 weeks old, so excessive N take-up by watercress and mustard or
any other plant shouldn't be the problem considering the size of the plants
and the volume of the tanks they are in.
2.- The reason I wanted to try barley is that the plants are floating on the
nutrient solution supported by 1-1/2" styrofoam boards, these boards in
time, soak up water and algae starts growing on the surface which in turn
attracts fungus gnats whose larvae destroy our roots.
The tanks are under both 50% black and 50% white shade cloth, but we measure
the PAR light level with a quantum photosynthetic photon flux meter and in
full sunlight at noon the light level goes over the meter scale. And
besides, it was the middle of summer here when our problems started. Let me
assure you that the amount of light we have here is incredible.
The only thing that could be related to this problem is that we changed the
nutrient formula 2 or 3 times reducing the amount of nitrogen in the final
formula.
Juan
Bruce Schreiber wrote:
> Juan On problem number 1 something is locking up the nitrogen before
> it gets to your lettuce .The nitrogen is the one that causes fast lush
> growth and if your water cress and mustard are still growing fast its
> them. They are heavy feeders and the water cress is naturally adapted
> to aquatic conditions so i would think its growing well
> Why would you put barley straw in a straight hydroponic system its
> just unnecessary and a possible problem. Just because its being
> researched doesn't mean that you should try it. Let some one else
> perfect its use first. Some times it means you loose a crop if you
> experament . If you have an algae problem cover your reservoir tank
> and the problem is gone away.
> On your problem number 2 you are describing what you will get with a
> lower than necessary light situation (leggy plants very classic) Are
> these under old lights (fluorescent)or being shaded in some way?
> Maybe to early for shade cloth or a tree grew up in front of your green
> house if you live in a more tropical zone. do you?
> Bruce
| Message 13
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: dreadlox 'at' cwjamaica.com
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 21:31:29 -0800
IMHO, could it be that the other seeds send out some root inhibiting
enzyme or something that affects the lettuce but not the others..??
I'm no expert but sometimes it isnt the obvious that is the prob..
Mike,
JAMAICA
Juan C. Bobeda wrote:
>
> Bruce,
>
> We still aren't into aquaponics only normal hydroponics, and are growing
> heat tolerant leaf lettuce with two different problems:
>
> 1.- The seeds will germinate OK in 24 to 48 hours, but then the seedlings
> will just stay there forever growing VERY slowly.
| Message 14
Subject: Re: Barley straw
From: "Adriana Gutierrez"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 20:39:52 -0600
You're right , Mike. Juan, nutrients shouldn't be a big issue at the
seedling stage. Questions:
1. Do you use well water?
2. When is the last time you had your water tested?
3. If "yes" to # 1, Have you had drought conditions recently?
One other possibility, in the southern hemisphere you're starting to
get shorter days now that the heat of summer is behind you, and you
probably need to remove the shade cloth.
Adriana
> I'm no expert but sometimes it isnt the obvious that is the prob..
| Message 15
Subject: insulation of commercial greenhouse
From: David Weeks
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 21:55:28 -0800 (PST)
Hi,
Any one have any experience with insuating the north half of a comercial
greenhouse? I am looking at Building a 6 node unit on the S&S line. I'm
considering a 40x74 green house with a peak hight of 15 ft. Insulating the
north half would seem prudent to reduce over heating of the tanks in summer
and to retain heat in the winter.
(we are just east of Denver in Colorado)
Any input will be appreciated
David
Marinatha Farm
'Seek and you will find, Knock, and it will be opened unto you, ask and you
will receive'
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