maxim_nz Posted April 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Well it's been 4 weeks and 1 day since planting, despite cold temps and a nights snail raiding party the lettuces are doing brilliant. The peppermint doing ok, and basil is still going (probably needs more light) As a reminder nothing but used goldfish water is feeding these plants (no dirt, just clay balls for grow media) Here is 28 days growth since planting and a reminder here is 1 days growth The duckweek is going amazing as well, must have scooped out well over 1 square meter of the stuff tonight (duckweek is one of natures best nitrate convertors) So if I can do it, you can too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burrowssj Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 Great work! You have got me keen to get something happening. I'm going to start with Watercress and Karawaka's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBossPants Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 I would have thought that duckweed would slow the plants growth, competing for nutrients etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted April 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 I would have thought that duckweed would slow the plants growth, competing for nutrients etc. yeah it does/would. I try and keep it to the drain chamber in the grow bed, but it does escape into main pond. Dried and mixed with something (ground up trout pallets etc) it makes excellent fish food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 In case anyone cares.. aquaponics pond: mid winter update. - We ate all the lettuces :thup: they were real good, all off them - the basil just didn't mature after a promising early start :dunno: - I added some MINT which has gone haywire with the biggest MINT leaves I've ever seen (my young kids were amazed a plant leaf tastes like toothpaste!) - I added chives, which adds a little zest to those few winter salads, and they have ballooned out heaps. - And parsley going ok too (which amazes my mother-in-law as her parsley is gone for the winter) - and also used a fine day to go to Whitemans Valley Goldfish farm to get 20 x new goldfish to help the others grow my tomatoes. They have some :nfs: for sale, and would recommend it. I figured adding another 20 in the middle of winter to the 15 or so current inhabitants wouldn't suddenly overload the bacteria balance given everything is on go slow.. Just need some warmth and sun now! I'm anticipating a huge crop of summer tomatoes I can post a picture if interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 Good to hear its going well! I'm keen for a picture or three Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 sounds great. pics or it didn't happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 yeah, ok it never happened.. Some of my new gardeners Goldfish grown MINT leaf with $2 coin for scale It's worth noting again that this is really just an experiment in natural biological filtration, and the edible plants are just a bonus :spop: The is no direct sunlight on the pond at all now, so I'm amazed at what has kept going through these cold months. Anyone else out there doing something similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 1 more pic Show you the plant mass (chives, Mint, Lettuce, Parsley) that the goldfish waste builds up. It all tastes good too (plants that is) :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critter_crazy Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 Wow this is such a neat set up! I want one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Anyone else out there doing something similar? Still digging my pond, although I have planted some bananas around the edge. :digH: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 How big is the pond going to be sam? - digging :digH: with shovel or front end loader ;-) - I think the key with aquaponics is basically concentrated fish in balance with basically the same amount of grow bed and bacteria as there is water. Aquaponics does not scale as well as basic hydroponics and it seems to work better in smaller (say 4000 gallon) tanks than huge if you are digging it out with your grandads D2 bulldozer.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'm using a shovel. The pond is about 3m X 5m wide and 1m deep with a small island in the middle. I am taking my time getting the shape right. The only thing I'm not quite sure about is how much light to let in for the plants and the right amount of algae for oxygen levels. It is nice and cool where it is and there is a constant flow of water, so I would imagine it would cope with a high amount of algae, but on the other hand, I don't want the water temp to be too high for the fish in the middle of summer. I guess I will find out when the pond is finished and then thin the trees 1 at a time until I get it right. I hope to have it finished and planted out by the middle of summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Sam: pond construction sounds great. got any pictures to share of that or your pond goldfish/nznatives? (what does flow of water mean to pond you are digging? - aquaponics should be a complete closed cycle system ie: very water efficient) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 My pond is a little different, as I am using a small stream and wish to use the flow to deliver the fishy water to the plants that will be on the island and have watercress and other water plants around the edge. I intend to use the Banded Kokopu, Shrimp and Koura that are already there.I will take a picture of how it looks to post later today. 8) Can you dig it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 This is what I have got so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted July 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 Nice going Sam!! :digH: Keen to see some more picture progress later in the year :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted October 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Aquaponics Pond Update 2/10/2011 ------------------------------------ Things still growing well :-) Still getting mint/fresh parsley and chives for salad additions about 3 times a week, so uncontrolled growth would be a lot more than these photos. Finally getting good daily sun on pond Goldfish grown mint leaves for scale: This is one of the largest I have not eaten yet and holds the weight of a 20 cent coin without bending. This is the new growbed I am building up for tomatoes and tomatoes raised from seed (which germinated well under the fluros of the tropical tank) There is every kind of tomato growing in this, from purple russian to scrap anything seeds off the kids plates Fish (around 50+ goldfish doing well, and water quality and clarity has been superb) cats drink it as well. Strawberries growing in milk bottles (yet to get pump for full height strawberry tower) Bought the "flowering semi aquatic plant" from bunnings.. it's gone flower crazy Lastly: Overall pic of original growbed This still requires almost zero maintainance, a small top up of water once a month or two. You just feed this fish, nitrifying bacteria does the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcculloch Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 That's awesome would love to do this one day. Really wish we were allowed to keep koi though.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 This is a very cool setup, nice job! I'm definitely keen to set something like this up one day too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 That's quite amazing! how does it fare in the winter cold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxim_nz Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 That's quite amazing! how does it fare in the winter cold? Answer "S'no problem" Yes, I did throw 2 large sheets of polystyrene over the pond to keep the snow out on 17th August 2011 (it was like a Christmas card at our place) and I had a 300W heater in pond on lowest setting to "try' and keep fish alive. Result: no fish deaths, plants got flattened somewhat by snow, but a few days after you couldn't tell. I think pond dropped to about 6C at lowest point. Have you ever tried to kill mint anyway? (apparently seasoned aquaponics nerds never plant mint anyway, or keep it really tightly boxed in..) I've trimmed mine right back now to give strawberries and tomatoes some space and light. Got tons of it anyway, just chucked it out via compost bin.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Good work mate! Got to LOVE the mint for its survival qualities. I'm right into choosing my weeds. Planting usefull things like mint to overgrow kaikuia etc. It likes a good chop back too. Grows lovely fresh leaves afterwards. I'm about to plant zambos and gourds into a floating container in my fish pond. I'm really happy, this year there are so many frogs. Has anyone else noticed a frog population boom? :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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