Aquaponics

Fixing and making things, what tools to get and what skills to learn, ...
Post Reply
Noob
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2013 2:00 pm

Post by Noob »

Has anyone here ever tried aquaponics? For those that don't know it's a cross between aquafarming and hydroponics. Basically you raise fish to eat and grow plants. The fish feed off the droppings from the plants, and in return the fish poo fertilizes the plants. That's the basics. It's a little more complicated than that, but in general that's how it works. So you get meat and plants at the same time. It seems that it's really big in Australia, but relatively new in the last decade or so here in the US.


C-Dawg
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:15 am

Post by C-Dawg »

I'm intrigued by the subject and have read a decent amount about it. I met with a guy who teaches classes on it locally about starting a commercial aquaponics set up (I came to the conclusion that its probably a very poor investment vehicle).
I haven't done a real set up of my own as I plan on putting my house on the market soon and don't want to add anything else that will need to be moved.
It seems to make the most sense in places where land and/or fresh water is scarce as that is what it is using efficiently. So - if you had a small amount of property but still wanted to try to grow a decent amount of your own food - it might be a good set up.


User avatar
jennypenny
Posts: 6851
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:20 pm

Post by jennypenny »

Cool 11-minute video from faircompanies.com about a smaller aquaponics system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBspR2p0YYM
They show a small apartment-sized setup near the end.


Phayen
Posts: 94
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:25 pm

Post by Phayen »

Jenny, this is pretty amazing. I've been looking into small scale farming / sustainability mostly cause I like fresh produce, but don't want to pay for organic. I've looked into aquaponics, and like Noob mentioned, most setups are from Australia. I think conceptually this should be easy to build / maintain. Obviously mine wouldn't be automated, but still something I'm looking into building once we settle down.


Spartan_Warrior
Posts: 1659
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:24 am

Post by Spartan_Warrior »

I have heard of this before and I must say I'm more interested after seeing that video. However, I do wonder about what that guy must have spent to set up that automated greenhouse. His system also wasn't raising edible fish, which would be important to me. I'll have to look into this more. The thought of some home-raised tilapia along with organic veggies sounds pretty appealing.


m741
Posts: 1187
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:31 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Post by m741 »

The greenhouse was $700 and I'd guess the whole setup was probably $1500. I think it would take a long time to pay for itself. But, it's a cool hobby and I'm willing to bet with some ingenuity you could construct that setup for $500-$1000.
Something about automated Arduino/electronic grow systems seems awesome to me. I really want to experiment with it - once I have a house/yard.


Noob
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2013 2:00 pm

Post by Noob »

I have a larger yard. Just a little over an acre. So the previous owners had a small garden. I'm planning on putting my greenhouse there. Might have to think about location though. Although I'm pretty quick with jerry rigging things up so one of these systems wouldn't be too hard or expensive if done right. The most expensive part should be the fish. Well I mean other than the greenhouse. I'm not really wanting to do this for profit so much as do this for myself. I think in the US if you even tried to sell anything out of your own system that the authorities would come down on you fairly quick. I just watched a documentary on these little girls that were fined for selling lemonade in their front yard. Things are getting really fine toothed at home and you have to be careful. But for yourself.. this is an excellent idea.
Also to note.. you could just put up a pole barn, install some solar panels and put lights inside to do a 24/7 grow house.


Spartan_Warrior
Posts: 1659
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:24 am

Post by Spartan_Warrior »

Found this video on a basic, small system. I still find it a little lacking in enough detail for me to implement based on it but it's interesting:
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-bui ... s-system-4
I've also requested this book via interlibrary loan:
http://www.amazon.com/Aquaponic-Gardeni ... roduct_top
It seems to have mostly solid reviews (although there are a few critics). I'll report back.


C-Dawg
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:15 am

Post by C-Dawg »

Thought I'd post some links that I sent myself when I was looking into this (both for personal use and as a potential business to run post semi-FI) in case anyone is interested.
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/Travi ... Manual.pdf

http://www.aces.edu/dept/fisheries/educ ... system.pdf

http://www.freshwaterinstitute.org/site ... uide_0.pdf
Business Plans

http://api.ning.com/files/Ac56Ltyeqobnt ... rfarms.pdf
http://aquaponicscommunity.com/group/coastview
http://api.ning.com/files/v3fPjAL4yNQiq ... icsInc.pdf
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48151485/Aqua ... iness-Plan
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/urbanag/ ... s_plan.pdf
Forum with links

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/to ... 4#comments
Sylvia's 10 things to consider before taking the plunge into Commercial Aquaponics:

http://theaquaponicsource.com/2010/10/1 ... quaponics/

Backyard Aquaponics information page which is a complete gold mine of information:

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/infor ... links.html

A specific report off of that list which includes a massive amount of data including a cost/benifit analysis:

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/Travi ... Report.pdf


Noob
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2013 2:00 pm

Post by Noob »

@SpartanWarrior.. It's a really simple design. The only parts I am having trouble finding information on are about planting the actual plants. There's a special formula of like coconut shells and something else to plant your stuff in, but the right mixture, and what depth to put them at above the water is the question.
@JohnGalt.. Great name by the way. I'll be digging through your resources over the next few days. Thanks.


Spartan_Warrior
Posts: 1659
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:24 am

Post by Spartan_Warrior »

Yeah, I'm also going to dig into this. Thanks for the links John Galt. I found a great PDF at the Backyard Aquaponics forums about using IBC containers for the set up (which I believe is what's shown in the video I posted), but the containers seem to be a little north of $100 on craigslist, which is kinda expensive IMO. I'm looking for other options, especially for just starting out. Maybe one of these links will help. Should provide some good reading for an extra-long lunch break at work. :)
@Noob: Would you mind sharing a little more about your set up? Like, materials, cost, how you're putting it together, etc. Sadly I'm still working on my DIY/craftsmen skills and I'm still at the stage where this stuff needs to be spoonfed.


C-Dawg
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:15 am

Post by C-Dawg »

@Spartan_Warrior: I've seen the IBC containers for sale on CL in my area for a wide range of prices - sometimes as low as $25 each. I'd keep an eye on it and jump on a deal if one pops up. I've also seen several examples that were just built using 2x4 and pond liner. That should be fairly inexpensive and would let you customize it to whatever space you have available.
@Noob: The material is called expanded shale I believe. It's expensive - but not a requirement. Crushed granite is also used in a lot of examples. Cheap gravel would probably be fine too as long as you can clean it well enough. It just needs to be something non-toxic that can support the root structure of whatever you are growing while allowing water to fill and drain. For things like lettuce - you don't even need a material, you just need something that floats with a hole cut in it for the roots to grow into the water.
I found a local guy that runs classes every few weeks for $30. He'll show you his set up, talk about different options, answer questions, and may even help you put yours together. You might be able to find someone similar in your area. I would check out some of the forums or look for a meetup group.


Spartan_Warrior
Posts: 1659
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:24 am

Post by Spartan_Warrior »

@John Galt: Had a chance to look through some of the articles you posted. Very helpful, and answered a lot more of my questions. I particularly liked the cost-benefit analysis in the final report.
I think I want to seriously try this, although I do have some lingering questions. Perhaps they would be best asked in a forum devoted to the subject, but I'll throw this one out there anyway:
Is it feasible to create a system like this indoors, in, say, an unfinished basement? Or is the smell/leak potential too much?
If the answer is no, which I suspect, I probably have to build an outdoor shed to house it which greatly increases the initial input costs... and complicates the whole thing for my non-DIY self. Ah, well. Gotta learn some time.


C-Dawg
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:15 am

Post by C-Dawg »

@Spartan_Warrior: I've just researched and tinkered a little with this stuff so take anything I say with a grain of salt since I haven't actually done anything more than build a proto type using a couple trash cans.
That said - from what I've read - it should definitely be feasible to do this in a basement provided you're willing to run UV lights. It's very similar to a hydroponic set up in that regard. As far as the smell goes - the idea is that it is self cleaning so it shouldn't smell much more than any other indoor aquarium. Leak potential might be my biggest concern - but should be avoidable with proper planning / construction.
For outdoors - I don't think a full shed is necessary. A green house should do it and I'd imagine you could find either a kit for one or a used one. If you're in a particularly cold environment - that may dictate what kind of fish you use - but I read about some examples of people using heaters. A few examples involved putting the fish in a garage/small shed with heaters and just plumbing to the outdoor plants (avoids the need for UV lights).


Noob
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2013 2:00 pm

Post by Noob »

@Ayn Rand(haha).. John Galt, I was trying to track down what I was reading before, but I think I confused what I was reading on hydro with aquaponics. What I was referring to wasn't the gravel bed underneath, but the actual portion that the plants are put to bed in. I had read that it was some sort of cocunut shell mixture with soil and something else.. That way you don't get that muddy runoff into your water. But I can't find where I was reading it now. But, the setups I was looking at also were directly above each other.
@SW.. I saw one guy in CA had a setup on his balcony(not ideal for you in a cold climate like me..BUT..) he was just using some recycled wooden barrels for his fish, and a couple of old window planters that he got from a dump somewhere. I haven't started on this setup YET. Only because I've still got a few months before I go ER and have all the time in the world to play around with projects like this. But this is the direction I want to go I think.
I'm just not sure if when I get back I might want to build on a greenhouse to my patio. Just not sure how to go about it. I have a wooden deck above my cement patio and both run the length of the house on the south side where the most light comes in. I want to build a greenhouse under the wooden deck, which I know will hamper some of the lighting, but mainly just use it as a grow room. The problem is building the roof of this grow room so that it incorporates well with my house so as not to P-O the neighbors ;p and at the same time be functional and being under the wooden deck I'm not sure how I want to engineer the roof of the grow room for water runoff. I'm thinking adobe roof style water draining into some pipes that run along the front glassed wall and then into storage units for later use.


User avatar
jennypenny
Posts: 6851
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:20 pm

Re: Aquaponics

Post by jennypenny »

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3131&hilit=aquaponics

I like that he found unused space in an industrial complex for his set-up.

thebbqguy
Posts: 436
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:33 am
Contact:

Re: Aquaponics

Post by thebbqguy »

I have researched aquaponics extensively and toured 10 aquaponics farms ranging from basic backyard hobby systems to full scale commercial operations.

In my opinion, a small system is not really worth the effort because it will never provide enough fish or the wide variety of produce to fulfill my expectations.

I made my own system for roughly $1,200 from two 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tanks and a 200 gallon plastic fish tank purchased from a commercial fish supplier. It worked great in Florida, but it is not feasible in Michigan.

In my opinion, a media system with four 75 gallon tanks for the media (gravel) paired with a 300 gallon fish tank (Rubbermaid makes one that works perfectly). Catfish are much better than tilapia based on my findings. They are much more tolerant of temperature swings and they grow much larger to provide significant protein.

I also think it's better to make it yourself instead of buying a system. It forces you to learn how everything works so when it breaks or you kill all your fish you'll know exactly why it happened and how to fix it. I'd suggest you start with cheap feeder goldfish in the begining because when you kill your fish the first time you won't have much money invested. That may sound harsh, but believe me it will happen. Even the professionals who have been doing it for years have trouble with dying fish occasionally.

Here's a link that might help: http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/

susswein
Posts: 138
Joined: Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:00 pm

Re: Aquaponics

Post by susswein »

An aquaponics system like this is an integral part of the earthship concept. You can learn more about it by googling "earthship".

white belt
Posts: 1452
Joined: Sat May 21, 2011 12:15 am

Re: Aquaponics

Post by white belt »

I'm resurrecting this thread because it seems every 6 months or so I go down the aquaponics rabbit hole to research feasibility. I'm focused on looking at things through a low energy intensity future lens.

First off, if you want an overview of aquaponics and the latest academic research you can check out here: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/1 ... 5943-6.pdf

I will note that I am much more interested in fish production than produce production. This is because it is quite easy to produce vegetables in a variety of ways at household scale, but extremely difficult to produce animal protein at household scale without lots of external inputs.

The way I see it, you basically have 2 options if you are interested in household-scale aquaponics (not interested in selling commercially):

1. Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) - this is your basic backyard aquaponics setup. Components include a fish tank, grow beds, solids filtration, biofiltration (often done by grow bed material), some kind of pump, and possibly aerator.

Advantages
-more control over variables like water quality
-wealth of resources available online for DIY construction
-high fish stocking density possible (1lb of fish per 5 gallons of water)

Disadvantages
-requires constant electricity
-large biofilter and solids filter require a lot of extra material
-more complex system means more possible points of failure

2. Still pond system - this is an environment that utilizes natural filtration and aeration. This requires time for micro-organisms to establish themselves in the system.

Advantages
-no external filters needed (although there will need to be surface area for bacteria to colonize)
-no electricity needed
-less complex system means less maintenance and labor needed
-fish will likely eat more insect larvae due to still water, reducing feed requirements

Disadvantages
-low fish stocking density (1lb per 24 gallons)
-less control over water quality so less room for error
-natural aeration necessitates a much higher water surface area to depth, which takes up more ground space


So now that we have that overview, let's build out a basic system. I'll lay out a few assumptions that are particular to me, but of course it will depend on one's own situation:

-The system will only be operational from late spring to early fall so that I don't have to spend energy on heating it in the winter
-I will use common baitfish for human consumption*
-My plants will be duckweed to provide fish feed (they would probably grow in seperate shallow beds so they aren't blocking gas exchange in the main tank)
-The system is located outside (probably with a net over it to keep larger critters out while allowing insects in)


RAS
So let's say we want size a system for 120 lbs of fish output a year (assume 2 breeding cycles, harvesting 60 lbs each time). Here's what RAS system would need to look like:

-300 gallon stock tank
-55 gallon drum for biofilter
-55-100 gallon drum for sediment filter
-duckweed bed
-pump*

This would be a very effective system. I'd have to build in redundant power and backup systems to prevent fish death when things fail. 55 gallon drums can be found used pretty cheaply, so costs on this likely wouldn't be prohibitive.

Still Pond

Now let's size a system that should take up similar amounts of space (625 gallon stock tank with 8 ft diameter x 2 ft height). Assume I have to displace 25 gallons of space for gravel at the bottom to facilitate a natural biofilter, I'll go with 600 gallons as the capacity. Such a system running 2 cycles a year would give me a total of 50 lbs of fish output annually. Certainly not as much output as the first system, but considering there is no electricity input, less materials, and likely less labor required to maintain the system, I'd still call that pretty good.


I couldn't really find data on minnow nutrition, but since they are comparable in size to anchovies, I'm going to assume a ballpark figure of 93 grams of protein per raw pound. This means in the intensive system we're talking about 11,160 grams of protein annually and in the extensive system we're talking about 4650 pounds of protein. If we assume that the average person needs 50 grams of protein a day, that means the intensive system would cover a person's protein needs for 223 days and the extensive system would cover a person's protein needs for 93 days (if they had no other sources of protein).

That's what I have so far. I still need to run the numbers on surface area required for using duckweed as the only feed source.


* = This is mostly for efficiency purposes. First off, eating lower on the food chain makes most sense from an energy perspective. It also makes sense to use small fish that can be eaten whole because their bones and organs contain valuable micronutrients, while larger fish like catfish or bass may only have an edible weight of 25%. There is a history of American Indians eating shiners and minnows, along with a global history of eating all sorts of small fish (anchovies, sardines, etc). Fathead Minnows seem most suitable to my region and have a rapid growth rate. They can go from egg to ~1.5 inches in 6-8 weeks. This rapid growth rates means I could get 2-3 breeding cycles over the warm months, which dramatically increases my output. There should be much lower risk of microplastics when breeding minnows in a controlled environment compared to capturing them in the wild.

** = With smart design and a pneumatic ejector pump, you actually can use an air pump instead of a water pump. This is much more energy efficient (e.g. a system of this size might only require something like 12 watts of power to continuously pump). See here for a DIY build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44L6S3DIwfg

Edit: My initial biofilter estimates were off so I found a better formula which says only ~50 gallons of biofilter space would be needed for 60 lbs of fish.

Edit2: I just ran the numbers and I would need something like 37 sqft of grow space for duckweed to feed 60 lbs of fish (assumption is I harvest half each day for feeding and it grows back). The nice thing about this is you only need a few inches of water since duckweed only grows on the surface.

Post Reply