Aquaponics without the Fish

[Ravnis]

I can hear the cringing now.

If you leave the solids in instead of removing them, it is possible to build up a reservoir of nutrient in the growbeds that can keep the system going for a while between harvests. This has it's own set of drawbacks, but I did observe this in some of my earlier systems.

EarthanGroups post about solids breaking into silts provided an explanation as to how this would happen and explains the phenomenon of the clouding of water when the beds are disturbed.

I personally would favor adding the aforementioned nitrate compounds as a little would go a long ways rather than risk anoxic areas forming in the growbeds by leaving the solids in, but that would be another low cost option with it's inherent risks.

[RS_]

Ravnis,

I don't remove solids, they go straight into the grow beds.

I have gammrus scuds, that keep the solids cleaned up very well, so there is no build up of solids in the GB's
there is a layer of fine silt about 1/2" deep on the bottom of the sump tank, and i have laundry baskets in the sump tank, that i add dry plant leaves, stem's, etc... to, so they break down and the gammrus eat it, to add back nutrients, but this dosent really help with adding nitrates to the system like feeding the fish does

I will look into the nitrate compounds to add for the extra nitrates until my fish population is larger and i am feeding more

thanks

RS

[GaryD]

In terms of the impact on nitrogen levels in the system, removal of the solids is unlikely to have a huge impact since the most readily available nitrogen comes from the fish in the form of ammonia.

The micro-solids that remain in the system (after solids removal) are also those that are most readily mineralised.

The suggestion that solids removal somehow stops the plants in a AP system from getting nutrients is incorrect. In any case, external processing of nutrients (and subsequent re-introduction) is easy.....and safer for the fish.

Gary

[ande]

Ravnis,

I don't remove solids, they go straight into the grow beds.

I have gammrus scuds, that keep the solids cleaned up very well, so there is no build up of solids in the GB's
there is a layer of fine silt about 1/2" deep on the bottom of the sump tank, and i have laundry baskets in the sump tank, that i add dry plant leaves, stem's, etc... to,

RS

Is the sump a part of the constant RAS loop, or do you dump to the sump ?

cheers