Countertop Aquaponics-Jason's new system

[Jason Palenske]

So since we currently rent the space our home sits on, and space is a commodity, I decided to start small and make an Aquaponics unit that could sit on our countertop and not take up too much space. Now this is in no way to be considered a high yield project but merely a space saving experiment to prove the concept. Then I can move on to making my Eco-Shed to house my larger system. it will also be built to be year round, as our winters here can include a couple feet of snow on the ground. Now since I was raised in the states and we don't use the metric system all of my measurements will be in inches and gallons, I'll try and convert whenever I can.

Now from my readings I'm going to follow Gary's example of of showing my goals of what it needs to do and then see if form follows function.

Goals:
Space saving: takes up a footprint of no more than 3-4 square feet, or roughly 1 square meter.
Economical: not require more electricity than your average home aquarium.
Asthetically Pleasing: Not my own requirement for this first one but my wifes, it is taking up her counter space after all.
Viable Crop: Can produce a viable crop to be harvested on a reqular basis, in this case herbs or perhaps lettuce.
No chemicals of any kind including supplements.
And finally, made entirely from materials either recycled or easily found within a local department or hardware store,
and a budget of $40 excluding fish and plants.

Seems a little daunting, but so far so good.

I'm doing my build today so I will take pictures as I go.

[GreenCow]

Hi Jason,
Welcome....there are some small aquaponic projects that are very successful. I remember reading about the 1 foot project. You might find some info on that.

When you have photos avail, please post.

Good luck with the project.

[Jason Palenske]

The Concept

Now since we are space saving I need to be very creative in my delivery of water from the fish tank to the grow bed. So I have decided to do a stacking style system that uses a hydroponic trough with continuous circulation and pea gravel, or aquarium gravel, used as a support and bio filter for the plants. For a pump I'm using a $10 aquarium pump guaged for 5-15 gallon aquariums. (not sure how many liters that is)



The Equipment

For my Tank, I am using a rubbermaid container that I picked up at Target for about $5 that holds roughly 5 gallons.



For my grow bed I will be using another smaller container made by Sterilite that costs about $3 that holds roughly 2 gallons.



Now the grow bed will have two pipe fittings built into the bottom, one for drainage, and one for the feed for the circulating pump. The lid of the Tank will have two holes for the pipes to fit through but will otherwise have no alterations planned for it. Construction may decide otherwise.



In the bottom of the grow bed I will attach 6 caps from 12 ounce gatorade bottles, the bottles themselves will be cut in half, the top portion will be used inside the the grow bed and have holes cut for drainage and circulation. This is where the plants will be supported and can be removed easily without disturbing the whole system. The bottom of the bottles will be used as seedling planters for future plants.



My pump is a side attaching aquarium pump that will be mounted on the grow bed and and then hang down the side of both containers. My drainage will be attached to the bottom of the grow bed and set to height I want my water level so it will auto drain back to the tank, especially important as this is a recirculating system. It will also serve to aerate the water as it drips down. The gravel will help promote good bacteria growth, I hope, and protect the roots of the plant. The plant themselves will be planted approximately 1 inch or 3 1/2 cm above the water level so they do not drown but the roots can easily reach the water. The screw in bottles are for easy transplanting.



There you go, one assembled Counter Top Aquaponic System. I can already see alterations or alternate materials I would like to use, but for my first set up I kinda like it.

[Jason Palenske]

Hi Jason,
Welcome....there are some small aquaponic projects that are very successful. I remember reading about the 1 foot project. You might find some info on that.

When you have photos avail, please post.

Good luck with the project.

Thanks for the suggestion GC, I've actually read about that some.

The system is together now and I've begun circulating the water.



I only sprung one leak around my pump intake but it isn't proving to be more than a trickle. I think I didn't have it all sealed.



Water level is proving to be maintain exactly where I want it to be.



Once I have the rest of my gravel in it should displace the water to just the right level.

My Drain is working and the water flows

[GreenCow]

Great photos....neat little system. Look forward to hearing about your progress.

[Jason Palenske]

Thanks GC.
Me and my boy will be off to the store later today to pick out some fish. Mainly your ordinary fancy guppies, although the boy wants a catfish. Although not a food fish the guppies can have a high population in a small area and the poo they churn out should be plenty to feed some plants for the experiment. That and they're a very durable fish that can handle trauma fairly well. The catfish depending on type may be interesting. The nice thing will be they can be fed through the drain directly through the grow bed without having to remove anything.

[anniefish]

Hi Jason,
very impressed, love the coloured gravel, I'm sure it will be a winner.
Annie

[Jason Palenske]

Hi Jason,
very impressed, love the coloured gravel, I'm sure it will be a winner.
Annie

Thanks Annie.

So we went to get fish, needless to say my son has a lot to learn. Unfortunately our local store was all out of guppies. So we went with an old standby, Goldfish! 13 bright and happy goldfish, capable of handling just about any drama young children can dish out. Unfortunately and tragically, the catfish didn't make. I think the travel and the temperature extremes inside and out were to much for it to bear.

We also now have one plant, an old creeping vine my wife has been trying to kill for the last 5 years plus, it was still refusing to give up in the same soda bottle that it was originally put in as a cutting. Proof that hydroponics work!

So far so good. I'll get a picture up soon and we'll watch the vines progress while I see about other plants.

[Jason Palenske]

The Unstoppable Vine!


Happy Happy Goldfish!

[Jason Palenske]

Later this week I plan on getting some experimental cuttings from my mother in laws garden. It should give us some reasonable diversity of plants.