Aquaponics

tringle

Does anyone here do this. Growing fish in a tank with a hydroponic bed on top. The fish feed the plants and the plants filter the fish water. I really want to try it but would like to talk to someone about species, size, equipment etc. Many thanks Tracy

macraignil

Deep route gardening a shop in Cork and Limerick seems to specialise in indoor gardening and they might have some idea about what your planning. Their websitehttp://www.deeproutegardening.ie/ does not give much detail but it looked like they were using something similar in the shop I was in a few years ago.

FortySeven

I have a setup that is currently dismantled due to house move. A 4000 liter system that was using a combination of deep water culture, gravel beds with hydroton and nutrient film technique tubing.

It's a sump based, one pump system based around ibc containers and old bathtubs. I want carp for it for various reasons but I know a fella here in Galway using tilapia but he heats his tanks. Know another fella with a huge system that is very successful with various types of fish.

What do you need to know?

tringle

Thanks all, I need to know what species fish I can grow and does it need to be indoors or heated. I plan on using an IBC and the chop and flip method. I was thinking of trout, I don't think we will eat carp and I thought Tilapia were banned here. Will any other species work? What about any shellfish, would crawfish work?

tringle

If kept it in the polytunnel so I could grow ginger or lemon grass on top what fish species would that suit.

FortySeven

OK, trout cannot handle the heat, they are cold water fish and they will die in summer. I'm not sure Tilapia is banned. I know a lad using them but his heating bills are an added cost. Tilapia need to be warm in order to remain active. They won't die in the cold (they will in 0c temperatures so no overwintering) but they will slow down their metabolism and will eat less. This results in less waste and the system ceases to function.

Carp are the business. They will survive freezing and will even live under ice on the tank. They are much more versatile than Tilapia but much slower growing. The key to aquaponics though is to concentrate on your vegetable crop and not try to grow fish for food. The fish are a bonus when matured but it is all about the veg harvest really.

Carp are actually fairly tasty. They have a reputation of tasting like mud due to tasting like mud as they are bottom feeders, however, when grown in an aquaponics system they are living in clean water and taste as fish should. They are a bony fish though.

I have seen crawfish but I think they have to be kept separate due to territorial issues and this will minimise the amount you can fit in your system.

tringle

Thanks, when you say trout cannot handle the heat do you mean the regular outdoor summer heat they would encounter in a tank?

Thanks for all your help.

FortySeven

tringle wrote: »

Thanks, when you say trout cannot handle the heat do you mean the regular outdoor summer heat they would encounter in a tank?

Thanks for all your help.

14 - 18 celcius is optimum for trout. If they're in a polytunnel they are going to be over this in summer. They will go into a kind of hibernation mode and stop eating as warmer water has less dissolved oxygen. A couple of degrees higher and they die. Some people manage with big blocks of ice to cool them.

Slaacer

Hi, been experimenting with Hydroponics for the past 2 years with mix success but looking to go to the next steps and trying aquaponics in small scale for fun...
Don't plan on eating the fish but use them to grow vegs and herbs.

I'm finding hard to get cold water fish around Dublin. Was thinking about Koi or Tilapia (if legal).

About to get a second hand fish tank 1000×400×300 ... don't know how many litres it will hold but I doubt I'll bet able to get trouts or carps in that size tank.

Any idea?

kylith

Slaacer wrote: »

Hi, been experimenting with Hydroponics for the past 2 years with mix success but looking to go to the next steps and trying aquaponics in small scale for fun...
Don't plan on eating the fish but use them to grow vegs and herbs.

I'm finding hard to get cold water fish around Dublin. Was thinking about Koi or Tilapia (if legal).

About to get a second hand fish tank 1000×400×300 ... don't know how many litres it will hold but I doubt I'll bet able to get trouts or carps in that size tank.

Any idea?

Is that cm, inches, or what?

Coles

Can anyone recommend a source for Tilapia or Carp? Thanks.

Cmgelectrics

Hey how is your aquaponics system Coming on.. iv been searching all over the Web to find fellow back yard AP enthusiasts here in dublin

Cmgelectrics

Cmgelectrics wrote: »

Hey how is your aquaponics system Coming on.. iv been searching all over the Web to find fellow back yard AP enthusiasts here in dublin

Recently become interested in aquaponics myself.
Just moved house so had to shut down my old pond.
Currently have 12/13 goldfish and some koi in a IBC container with good filtration.
They are doing great in there.
The new pond 15/20,000Ls is not going to be ready this year so going to try some aquaponics as I'm 80% set up for it.
What are you going to grow ?

Cmgelectrics

BrownFinger wrote: »

Recently become interested in aquaponics myself.
Just moved house so had to shut down my old pond.
Currently have 12/13 goldfish and some koi in a IBC container with good filtration.
They are doing great in there.
The new pond 15/20,000Ls is not going to be ready this year so going to try some aquaponics as I'm 80% set up for it.
What are you going to grow ?

Im still putting my first system together. . My biggest issue is not being in the same place for more than a few months.. Hopefully in the next few months il have tomatoes chilli's cucumbers and green leafs growing a plenty. ...what are you going to grow... wish I had space for IBC container

Cmgelectrics

Cmgelectrics wrote: »

what are you going to grow...

My setup is outside .
So the timing is kinda bad with winter coming.I need to insulate the tank asap.
We also have a large greenhouse so this is just a fun side project.
Planning on chopping another IBC in half and doing the growing in that.

Cmgelectrics

BrownFinger wrote: »

My setup is outside .
So the timing is kinda bad with winter coming.I need to insulate the tank asap.
We also have a large greenhouse so this is just a fun side project.
Planning on chopping another IBC in half and doing the growing in that.

I assume there is no room for the AP inside your green house..
Do you know where I can get a few IBC tanks.. I'm going to rent a small garage,, space is so hard to find in the city

You'll get them off Donedeal for 40/50e a pop.
I could fit it in the greenhouse but would rather keep it nice inside!
Are you planning on growing under lamps ?
Its not really a city activity ! I'm lucky I've a half acre to play with.