Im building an aquaponic hoophouse

[spuds]

Today I tossed in a handful of mulch loaded with worms into each bed,worms crawled right in,very cool.Plus the little bit of mulch introduces lots of beneficial bacteria.

Its interesting in that once worms and proper bacteria to convert the ammonia from fish waste to nitrites gets established,then another bacteria grows that converts the nitrite to nitrates that the plants use as food.

Then the system can actually run a couple months without any fish as the beds and worms alone create enough nutrients to feed the plants.This process takes from 6-10 weeks usually to get going. It turns the beds into what they call the bio-filter.Im starting the process without fish to establish the cycle as Ive read on the net.

Sprinkled beds with lettuce and radish seeds,see what happens with those.

Got the siphons totally dialed in,they are functioning great.I drilled a 5 mm weep hole at the bottom of the siphon stand pipes so when power is turned off the beds will drain thru those holes.Its has slowed filling from 7 to 10 minutes per cycle as a small amt of water is continually draining.

Its running beautifully.I need to go to  the store and pick up a timer for the pump,and I need to get my air stones hyper oxygenating the tank,according to my friend with the hydro system that oxygenated water is what really makes his system perform.

So thats whats happening,all in all really happy at this point.

[spuds]

Fascinating stuff Spuds!!  Thanks for keeping the updates coming!   (And that little raccoon at the end just cracked me up!!)

Yup,the little terrorists have already discovered it.Dogs had a raccoon fight last night,but they escaped.When plastic cover goes on I will have a 3 foot high fence of small chicken wire around greenhouse,and my solar powered electric fence charger that will power it,they do NOT like my solar fence,Im sure they have put out a contract on it,sneaky little so and so's!

BTW,those solar electric fences work pretty well,but needs a sunny spot in winter.I will be posting on that,its an awesome device and really well built,worth  the money.FYI,it was originally designed for the military,then went to the civilian market,they can power up to 40 miles of fence on the larger units,great product!!

[spuds]

Time for some updating.I got the grow-beds proofed out.Was a problem with the siphons sucking up the rocks and sending them to water tank.Finally re-did siphons again,this time the bell is 2 Inch pvc over 1 inch standpipes.That didnt work with just water,but water traveling thru the media does something and they work very reliably.So just cut some slits in side of bells,and rocks cant get sucked up.Makes a clean set up too.

So its all running,I can get the other side beds going now too.

Im very happy with the air powered water pump,quiet and reliable and I dont have any water/electricity mixing,I like that a LOT!

Ready to pick up a few goldfish feeder fish to get the tank nutrition running,got some things planted,not doing too well,saw some radishes coming up,but its getting chilly here,so for weather and such,again pleased where the system is at.

[spuds]

Got the duck pond moved up top,1 ponds worth does 2/3rds of the trees watering.

[tlg4942]

 I like these updates..  This will be worth the effort when it all comes together. 

 

[spuds]

Got some fish,15 feeder goldfish and minnows



Got some mosquito fish from the County Vector control,maybe 10-15?



Got a male Betta,we shall see,others very water temp hardy,not sure on Betta



Got some water plants



My very happy fish,nice to see all the life in the system now!





A 2 day celery stem,wow! Talk about happy!



Happy tomatoes,strawberries and baby radishes.



Now that weve got the growing part going on in the next 2 weeks from now can get greenhouse covered....will see.

[muebe]

Great progress Spuds!

[spuds]

Thanks Mike (and all following),in starts and fits its getting there. 

Hard to believe its about finished.

 Putting in the fish makes it so alive.Very cool.This is a great tank for little fishes.

 The minnows are friendly and curious,right at home.The goldfish,a little behind them.The mosquitoes are skitterish(is that a word?),and 'Red Alpha' Betta (RAB) is hiding,little concerned about him,but he looked so miserable at the store we are going to try to make it better for him.Hope we dont kill him.

[TentHunteR]

'Red Alpha' Betta (RAB) is hiding,little concerned about him,but he looked so miserable at the store we are going to try to make it better for him.Hope we dont kill him.

Do you think the water temperature may be too low for a Betta?

[drholly]

'Red Alpha' Betta (RAB) is hiding,little concerned about him,but he looked so miserable at the store we are going to try to make it better for him.Hope we dont kill him.

Do you think the water temperature may be too low for a Betta?

My daughter has had the same problem at home - temp is important for these fish

[Las Vegan Cajun]

Glad to see that it's all coming together for you spuds, it's been interesting reading and following your progress on this project.   

[spuds]

Yes,concerned on water temp for RAB,conflicting info on what he can handle,rest look to be good from 33F to 104F.

[tlg4942]

 The Beta is going to need the water temps between 75 and 85 to thrive.  If I have been paying attention properly you are using air to move the water. ?  If so, your water is going to stay on the cool side for him. Winter will be tough.
 Otherwise your system looks great!   

[spuds]

Im afraid you are right,I dont see him today,may already be a lost cause darn it.

UPDATE-Alive and well,just a shy little fella.

[spuds]

Lost 4 goldfish and a mosquito over the weekend.Put the air bubbler in,maybe that was it(Low oxygen)? Or there was brown algae on water pump hose,thats gone,maybe they ate it and a problem? The water is certainly clearer.

RAB is real happy getting in the bubble stream,his fins all out.

Also on a timer now,30 minutes on,30 off during day,4 thirty minute cycles thru the night,to save a little electricity.If my calculations are right,figuring electric at 20 cents a Kw/Hr delivered,will cost 2.80 US a month to run,dang good,and water usage is next to nothing,very efficient.Of course not much growing or heat either at present.

Air pump setup





Siphons working great!



Finally a fish picture,my camera just cant deal with water and reflections



Added a couple more celery