Bear Ribs
Well-known member
I've been looking a bit at Aquaponic systems for growing food lately. Seems like a pretty good system for growing quite a bit in a small space. Typical garden vegetables mostly grow well, with nightshades (including potatoes) and lettuce being particularly good, though larger plants with extensive root systems like asparagus seem to have problems. Obviously, trees are right out.
I've been looking at chop-and-flip aquaponic rigs myself for the future. Pricing things out, you can get a half way decent rig for around 300-1000 USD. The downside is you need both to be able to test your water and to have a working pump.
The biggest negative I can see is the need for frequent water tests and a pumping system that can fail. With the current climate of supply chains disrupted and goods potentially being scarce I'm not eager to be dependent on an electronic part I might not be able to get in a pinch. I'm looking at wind-powered pumping options right now to have a backup system but haven't come up with a satisfactory design. The other issue is temperature as you have to carefully match your fish to the temperature of the water, at too low a temperature, f'rex, tilapia will quit eating and thus quit supplying nutrients to the plants. This can be solved with a water heater but spending more on electricity isn't the gameplan.
The upside is that it supplies fish along with vegetables which is quite nice for a home garden system. It also grows faster than soil does.
Does anybody have any experience with these grow methods?
I've been looking at chop-and-flip aquaponic rigs myself for the future. Pricing things out, you can get a half way decent rig for around 300-1000 USD. The downside is you need both to be able to test your water and to have a working pump.
The biggest negative I can see is the need for frequent water tests and a pumping system that can fail. With the current climate of supply chains disrupted and goods potentially being scarce I'm not eager to be dependent on an electronic part I might not be able to get in a pinch. I'm looking at wind-powered pumping options right now to have a backup system but haven't come up with a satisfactory design. The other issue is temperature as you have to carefully match your fish to the temperature of the water, at too low a temperature, f'rex, tilapia will quit eating and thus quit supplying nutrients to the plants. This can be solved with a water heater but spending more on electricity isn't the gameplan.
The upside is that it supplies fish along with vegetables which is quite nice for a home garden system. It also grows faster than soil does.
Does anybody have any experience with these grow methods?