Countertop Aquaponics-Jason's new system

[Ravnis]

Nice setup.
How are the plants now, I found that the problem with the shape of the totes that a dead space formed in the bottom and solved it by adding a hole in the bottom to constantly drain. The problem I discovered was before I did this the nitrate was changed back to nitrite by anerobic bacteria. Of course this happened during the cycling of the tank that was taking exeptionally long. So you're system might not have this issue.

The way I see it, If your smart enough to even consider doing AP, you have a great mind :)

[Jason Palenske]

I think you may be right, I built mine constant flow so that does make a difference. Our main dilemma has been a lack of light causing us to lose a few of the weaker plants. Even the supplemental grow lights just aren't as good. It gets moved over under a window soon so that should make the difference.

[Jason Palenske]

Well our move to the window has made a big improvement in the plants. And now we have had our first batch of Guppy Fry! I tell you saving babies guppies from their carnivorous parents is no easy task, especially considering they're only 3-5mm apiece. But we now appear to have about 20 safely tucked away in the nursery and it appears we may have more on the way.

[Eri B]

Hey Jason,

was just reading about you saving the guppy fry, have you thought about
using java moss as a floating nursery in your tank? I have used this in my
tank for about 2 years now and it is a great place for the small fry to hide
as well as a great source of microorganisms for the fry to eat! Of course
you will need to suppliment their diet with fry food but at least this way
you may be able to leave the fry in the main tank and not worry about
having to check every five minutes to see if any more have been born! Of
course your adult guppies may be too rough to use the java moss but I have
found that it works fine.

Anyways thought I might suggest it!

:) Erica

[Jason Palenske]

Thanks Eri, i actually use to have java moss in an old tank as a kid but these guppies are proving to be more aggressive. The plants we have now have plenty of room to run and hide but their just running them down. In fact I had to stop typing this post out to save another one.:eek: We're gonna look at just setting a nursery tank up and move the females when they're getting close and easier to watch.

[Jason Palenske]

Finally have some updates for how everything is progressing.

First of all we set up a nursery tank for the guppies and have about 35 fry growing nicely along and we're hopeful they'll turn out some good color. The local pet shop I frequent will trade them for store credit or buy outright if we really want so it is a win win situation.

And now for the pics!

Our new upgraded shelving system and plant growth.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/Eco-Shed/100_6095.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/Eco-Shed/100_6098.jpg

Happy happy Goldfish!
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/Eco-Shed/100_6099.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/Eco-Shed/100_6103.jpg

And some rabid monkeys that infest the local area.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/Eco-Shed/100_6090.jpg

[AquaTrox]

After an immediate water transfusion and an an adjustment of the grow bed to allow proper ventilation their was immediate improvement. All our previous work had been undone by simple thermal dynamics I hadn't taken into account for in my initial design. Fortunately we figured it out before any more goldfish were sacrificed needlessly.


I know you've moved on from your original setup but what did change to allow for ventilation?

[Jason Palenske]

I used a smaller grow bed that did not cover the entire fish container. If your doing something that small I would suggest going to the store and looking at the new sterilite storage containers and see what you can find that will stack but still leave about 2 inches of space open for air. That or use a small aquarium to feed a grow bed. I'll post some new pictures tonight of how things have gone.

[Jason Palenske]

Well I figure it is a new year so time for some updates.

First some happy goldfish
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/jasonpalenske/gardening/100_6335.jpg

Our peaceful and horrendous Impatient
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/jasonpalenske/gardening/100_6331.jpg

Bell Pepper on its way up
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/jasonpalenske/gardening/100_6330.jpg

Our transplanted lettuce getting ready to go to seed
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/jasonpalenske/gardening/100_6328.jpg

Tomatoes and more basil, also almost ready to seed, threatening take over of the house
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/jasonpalenske/gardening/100_6333.jpg

And the new and battened down waterline installed today
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/jasonpalenske/gardening/100_6336.jpg

Here in about a month or two I will begin building my portable PVC greenhouse so we can move outdoors to ever greener pastures.

All in all considering we are in the middle of winter and everything is indoors I'd say we proved it can be done in a small space indoors. We have harvested beans, basil, and lettuce. Our Cucumbers are beginning to fruit with a little help and the tomatoes should start soon. Overall I'm pretty happy.

[Dufflight]

Its looking good. Nice to check in on your progress.:)

[Jason Palenske]

Thanks Duff. My kids have fun with it and their eager to get something larger outside. I'm working on my design for a portable greenhouse right now in case the Landlords get upset about it sudenly materializing one day, but we should be okay. I got a bunch of herb seeds for christmas so I think we'll plant up something small and get those going. We've deseeded just about everything we can so we should have a large variety of plants for spring.

[Jackalope]

Well I figure it is a new year so time for some updates.



I wish I could see some of your pics, for some reason I'm not seeing the Photobucket images ..... I saw some that someone posted, Hamish or Dufflight maybe, I don't remember who since there are 9 pages to go thru ...... from everyone's comments, your setup must be a doozie ;) We have to go 110 miles one way to Billings to buy our fish at Petsmart (the only "local" petshop 32 Miles away, has the sickliest looking, obviously diseased goldfish you've ever seen), so we are proceeding very slow as well. Hopefully, within the next two weeks or so, we'll have our grow-beds up and running. From reading about your experiences, I think we'll run the fish-waste water through them for a week or two before we attempt to start any plants. Hopefully, it will give it a head start on the bacteria that are needed for converting the waste. Thanks for chronicling your experiences, it will help out as we get further along ;) I really appreciate the comments from the veterans here, it helps a lot :D

[Jason Palenske]

Thanks Jackalope it has been fun. Instead of driving so far you also want to try a bait shop if you have one local, they usually have feeders of some kind. May be worth a shot instead of driving far. Take care of the two you have left and they will live a long time.:D

[Jackalope]

No bait shops here either, only one sporting goods store - no live bait - thanks anyways