Shannon's new school system

[Shannon Lee]

I have just completed the first stages of a aquaponic system for daughters school. I promesed to set up a hydro system and have done but thought aquaponics was the answer to keep everything safe and simple and future proof.
I'll attempt to put some photo's up.
Please pass on your thoughts positive and negative as I have alot to learn
Shannon

[Shannon Lee]

The system is NFT with a slot cut into the top. inside is maidenwell filling the channel. The bin has an auto feeder in order to stop kids over feeding. I am using gold fish as I cannot see the students eating there friends. They are loving the whole thing. airation is supplied with the bypass of the pump.
please any thoughts let me know.
Shannon

[Hamish]

Nice! Great to see you teaching the kids something worthwhile. You may have created the worlds first wheeliebin powered AP system! ;)

[Shannon Lee]

I do love the wheely bin. I got the local council involved and i beleive AP and hydro should be best way to recycle.

[DaveOponic]

Neat system Shannon,

I am a secondary school teacher and I ran an extra curricular club last year in my school here in Brunei. I teach in an all girl's school and the girl's were really interested in the Hydro. I didn't know anything about AP last year otherwise I would have done something like you have. The girls put together very basic styrofoam raft systems and grew some bayem (local greens) and tomatoes.

I might suggest the idea to the principal for next year, if she funds it, I'll make it.

Dave

[GreenCow]

A very unique and interesting system. Is the vertical growing pole using a drip system? Great use of the bin. Makes the system portable.

[Shannon Lee]

A very unique and interesting system. Is the vertical growing pole using a drip system? Great use of the bin. Makes the system portable.
This verticle systems come from hydrogarden out
of England. unfortunately they have not taken off, but am looking into it. They are bags of coco fibre on a central collum. The beauty is each "pod" has a compensated dripper and all you do is attach a preasure (pump up) spray bottle, pump it up untill you get run off and repeat two to three times a week. I have been using hydro nutrients but will use the fish water from now on and suppliment when needed. The strawberrys have been there for 5 weeks now and are raging. Combination of compensated drippers and spray bottles needs more exploration.
Shannon

[Murray]

Hi Shannon and welcome.
My first system was based on a 90mm PVC pipe tower with slots cut into it and then with the aid of a heat gun pushed part of the pipe above the slot inwards to create a pocket.
It grew strawberries well but blocked after a few months due to the fish solids.
http://www.aquaponicshq.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=106&d=1181515701

There are a few members who have done the wheelie Bin thing with good success.
A great thing to do in schools that is for sure.

[Shannon Lee]

well here are some more photo's of the school system. 3 weeks in and everything is taking off. Everybody including myself is amazed at the growth rate. Other than planting the only maintance that I did was a half water change. Since the last photo's I have added two autopot hanging baskets with a tomato in each. ones a tommy toe and the other is a dawf something. Everything is happy.
Plus a few shots of my shop in lismore with my NFT garden. Wont be long and it will become aqua.
Cheers Shannon

[Shannon Lee]

Here is old tech

[Shannon Lee]

Hi all,
Just completed my first tests. Result as follows
Ammonia 0.1
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate 0
P.H. 6.5

All seems well bar the Ammonia
Is the lack Nitrate and nitite due to the newness of the system and the nitrifaction process settling in.
Cheers Shannon.

[Hamish]

Hi Shannon,

Yes - the cycle goes like this.

Fish produce Ammonia
Ammonia converts to Nitrite
Nitrite converts to Nitrate
Plants use Nitrate.

With a new system your ammonia will spike, then your Nitrite will spike and then your Nitrate will raise.

Once your ammonia and nitrite are back to zero (or very close to zero) your system has cycled and it is safe to add fish (if you were fishless cycling with urea).

Or - if you are using fish to cycle the system you need to keep doing small water changes to keep the Ammonia and Nitrite levels down.

[Shannon Lee]

Thanks, I'll become the scientist I never thought I could be.
and whats better is i'm loving it.