Green Cow's system

[GreenCow]

Aloha all! Newbies from Hawaii. Our system is 1 month old and its been challenging to say the least. We have an Ebb & Flow system using a 3000 gallon tank and 4 4x8 growbeds. About 10 days ago we got our tilapias -- about 15 pearl white tilapias breeding size (5-6 inches), 75 grey & white juveniles, 30 pink juveniles. We're still trying to stabilize the system and hopefully get the bacteria going soon. How long does it normally take to get the bacteria going?

Thanks for having this forum. I will be reading thru a lot of threads and learning a lot.

~j

[Murray]

Hi Green cow and welcome.

It can take up to 6 weeks to fully cycle your system, but it can be shorter.
Make sure you test the water every day during this period and you may have to do some 1/3 water changes to make sure the ammonia does not get out of control.
We are not allowed to have Tilapia here in Queensland.....very heavy fines. Evidently they are an excellent fish for Aquaponics.

[Hamish]

I would guess your climate would be warm? What are your highs and lows of your water temp on average at this time of the year? Warmer water (27 degrees C) will speed up cycling.

[GreenCow]

Todays #

Water temp range 24 to 28
Amonia is 1.5
NO2 <.3
NO3 12.5
PH 7.8


I would love to raise some jade perch if only I can find a source for it here in the US. I did some searches earlier, I could have some perch fingerlings flown in from Australia for a minimum order of $3600 plus S&H -- Ouch! :eek:
Looks like we're going with tilapia since its readily available here.

[Hamish]

Tilapia are suppose to be very good fish to raise in AP. Your water temps will make cycling quicker - my system cycled in a couple of weeks at 27oC.

[GreenCow]

Hi All,
Thought it might be good to post some photos of our project. Here is a url to some pictures....http://www.flickr.com/photos/speedbump92/sets/72157605988261517/detail/

Comments welcome....

[Murray]

Excellent photos......You have a very good layout. Love the greenhouse.

I have moved your thread down from Intros to New systems...

Regards Murray

[Hamish]

Thats is one very impressive setup you have there!

[inzane]

Nice setup...

[Outbackozzie]

Wow, good looking system - have you considered putting the shade on the outside of the greenhouse to keep the air temps lower?

[GreenCow]

Hi Outbackozzie,
Thanks everyone for your kind comments about our system. It is a work in progress. Currently adding a 60 amp breaker box for electrical to get rid of the bunch of extension cords running across the lawn.

The blue shade cloth is to provide temp. shade while I am working out there. We have just started to experiment with some shade cloth over the beds and tank. Installed a sample 55% piece over some of the basil and an 80% over the tank area and work area. What percentage is most typical for greenhouse plants and vegetables?

The two 900 gal. tanks are complete and are going through the cycle process now. When I finish the electrical, the plan is to move the fish to the new tanks and re-plumb the piping. The overhead pipes will be removed and this will give us the ability to run some tension wires across the length of the greenhouse to install manually sliding shades. Still working out the design of these guys. Additionally, it will allow us to use only one feed pump to the growbeds with a gravity return to the fish tanks. I haven't completely worked out the aeration needs of the tanks with this layout, but will keep an eye on the fish when implemented.

The idea of putting shade cloth over the structure is interesting. Not sure how that would affect the water run off for the catchment system. Will have to test an area to see what happens. The sliding shades will give us the ability to un-shade an area when it is cloudy or in need of additional light.

This is our first system and the result of a lot of lurking time on the board. Thanks to everyones postings (special Thanks for Hamish for his constant involvement on the board and questions to everyone and the pm's with Murray), I think we have a system that will work out pretty well. It is a continuing challenge and a real educational experience.

[Jonathan Dyer]

Hi Greencow,

In the photos of your system what are the seeds you are germinating? To me they look like cucumber seeds.

[Hamish]

Thanks for the thanks :) Wish I had a system like yours - one day perhaps - something for me to aim for when I get some land!

The best airation in my system (even better than the air pumps in my opinion) are the venturi fittings I use on the end of any water pumped into the tank.

http://www.aquaponics.net.au/prod59.htm

As not all of the flow from the submersible pump in my tank is needed to feed the 3 grow beds I divert the rest of the flow back to the tank and have installed one of these onto it to airate the water. As an added bonus it also circulates the tank water.

I do the same with the return line from the canister filter - which also airates the water for free with the return flow of water.

I think airpumps might use less power - but in my opinon the flow and airation from these venturi fittings is excellent! With enough flow you could add a bank of them off 1 water pump.

[GreenCow]

Hi Johnathon,
Your are correct...some are cucumber, but there is also basil, green peppers, yellow peppers, cilantro, and I think spinach. Still working on the germination process, as not all germinate well.

Hamish,
The wand looks interesting...will check it out further...thanks.

[GreenCow]

Happen to find some recent photos of little greenhouse friends and recent additions to the yard.

[GreenCow]

Here is the latest hydroponic experiment...16 soda bottles on a tank of solution with pump and timer. Vegies on steriods...germinated about 2 weeks ago. Cukes and bush beans. Will add some romaine this week to see how that works. Timer comes on once per day at 5am for a few minutes then shuts off. The cocopeat stays moist all day. EC of the solution is 150.

[GreenCow]

Our little buddies waiting for their lunch...they are always hungry and will eat your arm off if you let them. The water isn't as clear as normal because I dug up a grow bed to experiment with a new type of drain. (talapia) Flower is from the outside tank.

[Hamish]

Nice pics - the soda bottle system - it is running off hydroponic nutrient?

[GreenCow]

Hi Hamish,
Yes, the soda bottle experiment is running on a hydroponic solution with an EC of 150. Had a bunch of pvc parts laying around and was just having some fun. Also, needed a break from everything.

[GreenCow]

Here is another picuture of the hydroponic experiment. Last picture was 5 days ago. Single plant is Romaine and about 3 days old.

[GreenCow]

Pictures of the new fish tanks. About 3400 liters each. Still waiting for some rain to fill the second tank. Seems we are having a very dry summer, with no rain in the long range forcast. Strange for Hawaii. Tanks made with lumber and pond liner with gravity feed from the grow beds. Growbed supply pump is in upper left corner of 1st pic. Rated at 13,800lph.

[GreenCow]

Pictures of the re-plumbed grow beds....now all gravity feed into the outside fish tanks. Return with single pump on a 6 min bed flood and 30 min. drain.

[GreenCow]

Breeding tank is set up and algae is on the rise. Fish are tilapia with female carrying eggs. Will post pics of the fry as soon as avail. Female is the light colored smaller one. Tank is 475 liters with 3200lph filtration system.

[GreenCow]

Cucumbers starting to get it together. Not on the aquaponic system, but watered with fish water from outside tanks.

[GreenCow]

Little guys are always hungry.....