Todd61's system

[Todd61]

Here's a couple pictures of my system. Single media bed, expandable to 3. The fish tank is 300 gallons and the grow beds are 80 gallon. We also put the siphon vent in the grow bed so it won't stick out. Very reliable for the siphon.

I call it the Chef's Garden but now that I know it was designed by Gary a while back maybe I should call it Gary's Garden??? We do sell the kits in the US. Just click the link below for more info. If things go well we would like to offer more systems and different grow beds in the future. For now we're starting small.

I'll be adding more pictures as we just replanted the bed so there's not much to look at right now.




Seedlings Jan 28 12 006.jpgChef's Garden 005.jpg

[vihalvor]

nice system
if you are making and selling systems like this, you might want to have a look at the more recent and developed systems.
Perhaps hook up with Gary and Madodel, to see if you can import and resell their systems as they are today...
systems including filters are definately the way to go

[GaryD]

Hi Todd,

Don't be concerned. You're a long way from Oz......and I don't sell systems or components.

I think "Chef's Garden" is a good name.

Your next mould should be a 6' x 4' grow bed......or even 8' x 4'. You could run three or four such grow beds on a tank of that size......at which point I'd consider converting the overhead grow bed into a filtration module.

Stocked with tilapia, such a system would grow a lot of clean fresh food.

Let me know if I can assist you with the design of that module.

Gary

[Todd61]

Gary,
Thanks for your offer to assist in design. Very kind. If the company becomes successful I am looking at getting an 8' x 4' mold made and if so, I will contact you about additional designs. I think that would really improve the flexibility of the system.
I have been reading quite a bit about additional filtration on this forum, something I have not considered before. Are there dissolved solids in the water that are enough to fertilize the plants or is the intent to reduce but not eliminate the solids.

I also subscribed to the microponics newsletter. We hope to move in the next 6 months to an area we can develop to expand our food growing capabilities similar to what you have done.

Take care

Todd

[GaryD]

Hi Todd,

Are there dissolved solids in the water that are enough to fertilize the plants or is the intent to reduce but not eliminate the solids.

All of the solids capture devices in common AP use will still leave some suspended particulates left in the system. Those solids, coupled with the dissolved solids and the ammonia produced by the fish' breathing, will certain be sufficient to drive your little system.

If you were to substantially expand the system, you could capture the solids, mineralise them externally and then put the nutrient-rich liquor back into the system.

External mineralisation comprises aerating the solids for a day or two......then letting them settle out....then pumping the clear liquor back into your system......and disposing of the sludge (into your worm farm or compost heap).

We discovered, when trialling the microFish Farm (our name for your Chef's Garden), that it was limited by the capacity of the overhead grow bed/bio-filter.

This can be reconciled in a number of ways including:

• Limiting the number of fish that you keep in the tank - the least satisfactory solution if you like to eat fish.
• Using water from the fish tank to water all of your other gardens - thereby limiting the build up of solids in the system by ensuring a consistent flow of fresh water through the system.
• Fitting solids removal devices - you could convert your existing overhead grow bed to a filtration module.
• Adding additional grow beds - no reason why you couldn't use more of the small overhead grow beds for which you already have a mould.

.....or any combination of these.

Your system has the capability to be very productive.....but you'll only realise its full potential by removing solids. If you can manage solids more effectively, you can fill the tank with tilapia - and really make it really fly.

Gary

[Todd61]

Gary,
I was re-visiting this thread and have a question. On the simplest of levels to remove solids, would a screen type filter at the growbed inlet be sufficient for a short term solution?
I will take another look at your systems to review your set ups as well.

Thanks

[GaryD]

Hi Todd,

That depends on what you mean by the term "screen" filter.

Probably the easiest way to reduce the amount of solids going into your grow bed would be something like a bag filter.

You could insert a piece of slotted (or drilled) 100mm (4") PVC pipe into the grow bed and drop a bag filter into it. You should be able to pick up a 200 micron one from an aquarium supplier.

As it becomes soiled, it will trap even smaller solids.

Set it up in such a way that the inflow drops into it and so that it can overflow into the grow bed if the bag becomes clogged.

You can just rinse this out once or twice a day.....depending on how quickly it gets grotty.

Might be worth having a spare on hand......so that you can change it at short notice and just drop the dirty one into a bucket full of water until you find the time to turn it inside out and give it a wash.

Make sense?

Gary

[Todd61]

Thanks Gary, makes a lot of sense

[Todd61]

One more question Gary. Since you have used the same system, Micro Fish Farm/Chef's Garden, with 1 growbed I am looking at 30 fish as a stocking level and with 3 growbeds 60 fish. Do these seem reasonable to you? If I add solids filtration how much of a jump will I get as far as stocking densities.

Fish Tank is 300 gal/1135 lts Growbeds are 80 gal/300lts

Thanks

[Pugo]

Depends on what kind of filtration you use, and how much water, my fish density it 100 plus fish. Which is like 1 fish to the gallon in the tank. but there is much more moving through the system.